By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Beginning at 9 a.m. today, Madisonville's main drag will be a race drag for 13 soap box drivers hoping to capture first place in the city's first-ever All-American Soap Box Derby race.
After several months of preparation and waiting, the drivers will compete on Main Street between Fifth Third Bank and the former Bartholomews Restaurant. The race will be hosted by the Pennyrile Soap Box Derby Association.
Although numbers may be lower than the association originally expected, interest has grown considerably as the word has spread.
"I really think that this is something that Madisonville and Hopkins County is going to be able to wrap their arms around and take off like a rocket with," vice president Brien Terry said. "It's not only a sport, but there's a big factor that comes into play. It's a chance for a kid and an adult to spend some quality time together."
Today's race will be a double-elimination event. Each driver must lose two heats to be eliminated from competition. During a heat, two drivers will race and then swap lanes to ensure fairness. The day's ultimate winner will advance to the World Championship race to be held July 25 in Akron, Ohio.
Terry, who has helped two of his children race, said he has seen quite an array of strategies to winning.
"Everybody has a different philosophy," he said. "You kind of have to watch and listen and see who's winning to figure out who might have a better edge."
After several months of preparation and waiting, the drivers will compete on Main Street between Fifth Third Bank and the former Bartholomews Restaurant. The race will be hosted by the Pennyrile Soap Box Derby Association.
Although numbers may be lower than the association originally expected, interest has grown considerably as the word has spread.
"I really think that this is something that Madisonville and Hopkins County is going to be able to wrap their arms around and take off like a rocket with," vice president Brien Terry said. "It's not only a sport, but there's a big factor that comes into play. It's a chance for a kid and an adult to spend some quality time together."
Today's race will be a double-elimination event. Each driver must lose two heats to be eliminated from competition. During a heat, two drivers will race and then swap lanes to ensure fairness. The day's ultimate winner will advance to the World Championship race to be held July 25 in Akron, Ohio.
Terry, who has helped two of his children race, said he has seen quite an array of strategies to winning.
"Everybody has a different philosophy," he said. "You kind of have to watch and listen and see who's winning to figure out who might have a better edge."
As veterans and organizers, Terry and Pennyrile Soap Box president Bill Farrell have been the go-to individuals for advice in this year's race.
"We do have a little more knowledge than most people here just because we've gone out and done a little bit more," Terry said. "We've been sharing everything that we know because we want everyone to have an equal shot at it."
Since Monday, Terry has been inspecting cars at the event's impound at West Broadway Elementary to ensure safety and regulations.
"It kind of feels like I've moved into West Broadway school," he said. "It's been about 9:30 every night before I've left. I'm looking to put a cot over there I think."
Drivers will meet at 7:15 a.m. today at the school and load cars onto two trailers that will carry them to the pit area at Fifth Third Bank. Starting at 8 a.m., each racer will get one practice run on the course.
Following the practice runs, official competition will commence.
Soap box racing has long been a popular event in other areas of Kentucky such as Bowling Green, but Terry and other Pennyrile Soap Box officials said they think Madisonville could be the newest hot bed.
"The longer we do this, the more we come across people that hadn't heard about it or just heard, and if these people are any indication of what is going to take place, next year should be bigger and better," Terry said. "It seems the word is starting to spread."
"We do have a little more knowledge than most people here just because we've gone out and done a little bit more," Terry said. "We've been sharing everything that we know because we want everyone to have an equal shot at it."
Since Monday, Terry has been inspecting cars at the event's impound at West Broadway Elementary to ensure safety and regulations.
"It kind of feels like I've moved into West Broadway school," he said. "It's been about 9:30 every night before I've left. I'm looking to put a cot over there I think."
Drivers will meet at 7:15 a.m. today at the school and load cars onto two trailers that will carry them to the pit area at Fifth Third Bank. Starting at 8 a.m., each racer will get one practice run on the course.
Following the practice runs, official competition will commence.
Soap box racing has long been a popular event in other areas of Kentucky such as Bowling Green, but Terry and other Pennyrile Soap Box officials said they think Madisonville could be the newest hot bed.
"The longer we do this, the more we come across people that hadn't heard about it or just heard, and if these people are any indication of what is going to take place, next year should be bigger and better," Terry said. "It seems the word is starting to spread."
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