Terry Lindsey Live From Saturday's races in Tallahassee

Soap Box Derby - Breaking News - Hot Air Balloon Lands on Track

Disaster averted in Tallahassee Soap Box Derby race as a wayward hot air balloon narrowly missed 2009 champ Allison Lindsey this morning in Tallahassee, Florida. Details to follow -

All American Soap Box Derby Florida Update

All is well in the All American Soap Box Derby Rally divisions in Florida. Good racing a week ago in Sanford. Allison Lindsey won 2 of the 4 Masters races, National SS Points Champ Ambree Garren is now in Masters. Allison got knocked out of Sundays PM Single Elimination by having to race Ambree in 1st round and losing by .006. In Stock and Super Stock, the Dylan's, Gunn & Perry are pretty well sweeping most of the races.



Kathryn Lindsey continues to do well. The Sanford gang heads for Ocala, Florida this coming weekend. Then back to Sanford for the huge Toys for Tots race. Send gift cards so we can help the kids. Details here:

Adults will man the big cars for a sweet trip down the big hill in Florida!

Race Driver William

All American Soap Box Derby Florida Update

Sanford Toys for Tots Rally

2010 Toys for Tots Rally in Sanford, Florida. In an effort to help underprivileged children, the United State Marine Corps and Sanford Soap Box Derby wil have a Rally Race and this year race organizers encourage donations from around the world. If you cant make it to the race, please send gift cards for the kids to: Race Director Eric Griffin Care of the Sanford Recreation Department 300 North Park Avenue Sanford, FL 32771 .

Race Driver William

Thanks Innovative Dynamics!

Innovative Dynamic Gravity Sports

Gale on Derby - Car Set Up and Driving

About twenty years ago, while living in South Dakota, I received a request for assistance from a family racing AA in Colorado. They were building a Senior Division car (these were build from scratch cars) and asked me for any advice that would help the car go as fast as possible. The driver was fourteen years old and large for his age (the maximum driver age was fifteen at the time). Basic car construction, axle mounting, weight distribution, driver fit, etc. advice was provide to them.

When it was time for their AA Local race, I made the trip down to provide advice on how to set the car on the ramp and drive the lanes. This was my first time at the Denver race site and I spent about an hour in the morning reading the track and ramps to determine the best way to align the car on the ramps and drive the lanes.

The race was on a city street with a little more crown than most streets. The track surface roughness was fairly consistent across each lane and there were no major obstructions such as maintenance access covers. It was a typical street track that indicated a quick drive to the outside after release from the ramp and then straight to the finish line.

I provided this advice to the family. What I did not know, never having seen the driver in action before, was that the driver could not hold a straight line after moving to the outside. He kept trying to steer back to the center of the lane. He wove back and forth all the way down the track. Needles to say, it was two runs down the hill and out (this was before lane and wheel swap racing). The family was very disappointed and decided to retire from racing.

The next year, the local did not have enough cars to fill the field and have a legal race. They needed one more car to fill the field so that the winner could make the trip to Akron. The local contacted the family I had assisted the previous year and requested the driver compete so that the race would be legal. The family agreed to race. They pulled the car out of storage and just cleaned it up for appearance.

I again attended the race but this time my advice was to drive straight down the hill. Do not attempt to drive the crown. The driver drove absolutely straight down the hill without any weaving back and forth. He won the race and went to the Akron Championships.

He could drive straight from the ramp but could not adjust to driving the crown and then straight.

The moral of this story is that there is no single “best” way to assemble a car or race a car.

The parts in your kit are not the same physical size and shape as the parts in other kits. The assembly of parts in your car is not the same as the assembly of parts in other cars. They may look the same but are not the same.

Your driver will not have the same skills as other drivers, which is OK.

Derby racing is finding the best way of using the parts you have and finding the best lane drive based upon the skill of your driver.

Paul Gale

Adult Soap Box Derby Racing Video

Yakima - Portland Adult Soapbox Derby from Pollinate Media on Vimeo.

Ultimate, Ultimate Speed Division 2009 Videos and Pictures

A Contributor has just produced a multimedia page with every detail, every heat video, and tons of pictures from the All American Soap Box Derby's Ultimate Speed Division races in Akron. Thanks to Texas Derby for all of the hard work!

Ultimate, Ultimate Speed Division Results Site

RDW

Florida Ultimate Speed Wheel Test

Florida All American Soap Box Derby Video 1948

Soap Box Derby Expert on Running Light

Gale on Derby - Volume 2

Soap Box Derby Expert, Paul Gale has more information on the relationship between the car weight and achieving maximum potential energy. "Maximum Potential Energy (PE) is obtained by correctly positioning the driver and added weight within the car. Although on most tracks cars run faster when at the maximum allowed total weight, there are tracks upon which cars will be faster racing at less than maximum allowed weight."

"Regardless of the cars total weight, it is always important to position the driver and added weight to obtain maximum PE. Caution: Racing at less than maximum allowed weight should only be done on calm weather days or on indoor tracks. If a cross wind or uphill wind is possible, it is probably better to race at maximum weight. If rain is possible, it is better to race at maximum weight. If the track surface is very rough, it is probably better to race at maximum weight."

In short, running light is possible, but only under certain wind, track, and weather conditions. Keep checking back for more information from California Derby Guru, Paul Gale.

Paul Gale

Soap Box Derby Car Weight

Winner of Winners Update from Akron

Savannah Fitzgerald is now Racing for Winner of Winners in Stock at Akron.

Savannah and Cora Lee had a great time at Universal Studios at Christmas Time. Looks like she is have a great time on the Big Hill with her Daddy today!

Way to Go Savannah.

Akron Update - Savannah Fitzgerald and Zero Error Double Phase Heat One

Savannah Fitzgerald and Zero Error Double Phase Heat One!

Check Back for More Live Coverage.

Savannah's Missing an Engine in Akron

If anyone sees our friend Savannah's engine, please let us know. She lost the engine to her car and is now going to Akron for the big rally tomorrow.

The engine was a Briggs and Stratton and used to be in the back of her car. Please leave any information with Derek F at topside tomorrow.

Thanks.

RDW