2005 TAMPA BAY SOAP BOX DERBY
YET ANOTHER SUCCESS
On June 4th 25 drivers competed in the 6 th Annual Tampa Bay Soap Box Derby on the main Campus of USF. The event title sponsor was The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and local dealers and the presenting sponsor was The South Tampa Chamber of Commerce.
 Eleven Super Stock Division and 14 Stock Division contestants raced in double elimination until our champions were determined. The Stock Champ is Zack Boothe from Lakeland and the Super Stock Champ is Cory Schurr from Sarasota. Both of these drivers and their cars represented the Tampa Bay area in the 68 th International finals in Akron, Ohio on July 30, 2005. Breanna Boothe from Lakeland competed in the Rally Super Stock Division as our champ. The drivers are experienced and extremely competitive and did well. In 2004 our two local champs and our rally champ all finished in the top 24 in their divisions. 
Soap Box Derby is a gravity powered downhill race in cars constructed from standard kits and the drivers come from diverse backgrounds. The majority of our kids are from local Boys and Girls Clubs but we are increasing in family teams. In addition to the annual local competition, drivers may compete for rally points during the year at locations in various parts of the country including Sanford, Florida where there is a permanent track.
 Our 2002 Stock Champ and our 2003 Stock Champ were from South Tampa Boys and Girls Clubs. Our 2002 Stock Champ finished 3rd in the International Stock Division finals. She defeated drivers from across the USA and from other countries. Both these Champs are girls. So far we have had 2 local winners from Tampa, 1 from Brandon, 1 from Clearwater, 2 from Lakeland and 3 from Sarasota. We have had 2 Rally champs go to Akron including one from Sarasota and one from Lakeland. This truly is a Tampa Bay event. In fact we had drivers from Naples and Floral City this year, so one might call it a West Coast of Florida event.
The Derby requires sponsorship money to cover race expenses and the travel expenses to and from Akron for winners and their cars to participate in Derby Week and requires many volunteers. Our volunteers come from organizations such as the South Tampa Chamber, the USF Alumni Association, Tampa Hyde Park Rotary, the Tampa Jaycees, Boys and Girls Clubs and corporate sponsors such as Seminole Electric and Centex Construction. We could not conduct the Derby without this support and thank the sponsors and volunteers for their participation.
In the fall of 2005 we are starting a handicap division in cooperation with Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation who operate an after school program for handicapped youth. We will conduct local competitions through February 2006 and will send our champ to Akron to compete in the Super Kids finals two weeks after the All American Soap Box Derby finals.
 Tampa Bay Soap Box Derby is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Prospective sponsors or volunteers may call 813-546-8905 or e-mail aholbrook626@aol.com for information.
Tony Holbrook
Derby Director
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