Akron, OHIO (May 27, 2024) – Edgar “Ed” Harmon, 90, a 2019 inductee into the International Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame, located in Akron, Ohio, died on May 24 after a short battle with cancer. A life-long Akron resident, Ed raced in the Akron local race for...
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of an outstanding member of our Soap Box Derby family. Butch Mitchell, a dedicated and passionate volunteer who poured his heart into the Soap Box Derby, has sadly passed away. He was born on April 14th, 1941. Butch...
John Peter (JP) Fedele, former race director of the Madison, Wisconsin Soap Box Derby and active volunteer for the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby since 1982, died in Madison on October 19 at 72 years old. Fedele was inducted into the 2023 Soap Box Derby Hall...
International Soap Box Derby, Inc., has named Scott Taylor, a 37-year veteran of leadership posts in non-profit organizations, to serve as its president and chief executive officer effective Monday, August 21. Taylor currently is executive director of The Portage...
AKRON, Ohio – Ukrainian-born Dasha Driscoll, 12, will represent Omaha as well as her home country in the 85th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby on Saturday, July 22 at Derby Downs here. Dasha won the novice Stock division at the Omaha Soap Box Derby in June in...
AKRON, Ohio – Officials of International Soap Box Derby (ISBD) are introducing a new wheel which will be used on competitors’ race cars during the 85th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby world championships at Derby Downs later this month. The new UniGrip wheel...
AKRON, Ohio (July 05, 2023) – Four young volunteers of the Soap Box Derby program have been selected to receive the program’s Youth Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes volunteers under the age of 21 who have made a positive impact on the Soap Box Derby through...
AKRON, Ohio (June 26, 2023) – Three long-time volunteers will be inducted into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame during the post-race awards ceremony for the 85th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby on the evening of Saturday, July 22. “The Soap Box Derby Hall of...
AKRON, Ohio (June 21, 2023) – Over recent weeks at Derby Downs here, students from Northeast Ohio schools and have competed in the Gravity Racing Challenge, an education program that teaches physics, gravity, wind resistance and other principles of STEM (Science,...
AKRON, Ohio —International Soap Box Derby, Inc., is seeking nominations for the organization’s Class of 2023 inductees into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame and for the President’s Youth Volunteer Service Award. The Hall of Fame honors men and women who have made...
COLUMBUS, March 30, 2023 – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine hosted a ceremony at the Statehouse in Columbus on March 29 to mark the designation of the Soap Box Derby as the state’s “official gravity racing program.” Following review and approval by the House State and Local...
Michael Rushing, a long-time volunteer in the Cape Girardeau (Missouri) Soap Box Derby program and at the First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby, died on March 5. He was 79. Mike was inducted into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame in July 2022. He had been...
Hello Derby Nation, As announced earlier this year, Mark Gerberich’s tenure as president and CEO of the International Soap Box Derby (the “Derby”) will conclude on February 24, 2023. Under Mark’s leadership, the Derby has returned to financial and operational...
AKRON, Ohio – International Soap Box Derby, Inc. (ISBD) and Myers Industries entered a partnership that allows the Soap Box Derby to discount the price of Super Stock car kits and Super Stock car shells for the next 3-years. Myers Industries will be a major sponsor...
AKRON, Ohio (Jan. 24, 2023) – The International Soap Box Derby is announcing that registrations are now available for all the organization’s community events at www.soapboxderby.org. Classic events like STEM Summer Camp, Inclusion Day, Senior Day, and more will be...
AKRON, Ohio (Jan. 16, 2023) – International Soap Box Derby, Inc. (“Soap Box Derby”) announced that Mark Gerberich has resigned as president and chief executive officer, effective Feb. 24, 2023. “The board of directors of the Soap Box Derby is grateful for Mark’s...
AKRON, Ohio (Jan. 10, 2023) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a bill that designates the Soap Box Derby as the state’s “official gravity racing program.” House Bill 423 was sponsored by Akron area House of Representatives members Bill Roemer and Bob Young and was...
AKRON (Dec. 14, 2022) Directors of International Soap Box Derby, Inc. (ISBD) re-elected directors whose terms expired in 2022 and elected a new board member at the organization’s recent annual meeting. Board members who were re-elected to another three-year terms are:...
George Rodenbaugh, who served as a regional director for the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby for nearly three decades, died on October 18. He was 85. George was a Philadelphia Police Department police officer for 20 years. After retiring from the police...
Jack Engelke, who had a long history of volunteer efforts for local, regional and national Soap Box Derby activities, died on Monday, November 28, at his home in Naperville, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. He was 80. Jack grew up in Wisconsin, where his first involvement...
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