POTTSTOWN >> Drivers took to the streets Saturday as the annual Pottstown Soap Box Derby took over Wilson Street once again.
As family and friends shouted their names and cheered them on from the crowded sidelines, racers competed for their spot at the top of their division.
The event brought in 45 drivers this year, ranging in age from seven to 21, and brought together both seasoned veterans of the race and a few newcomers.
“It’s nice this year that there’s so many more cars and more interest because it’s a really cool thing,” said Karen Brown of Pottstown, who has been coming to the derby for about eight years with her son, Gavin. “It’s a really good time. Both of my sons went out to Akron and it is just amazing out there. So once you get that in your blood you want to go again.”
And having experience with the races has its perks, according to Gavin, who said he had learned how to better handle his car after racing for so long.
“It kind of gets frightening because the road has a lot of bumps and little hills, so it’s kind of scary when your steering wheel is straight but you’re drifting to the right. You have to adjust and you never know what’s going to happen,” he explained. “When going down the hill there’s always bumps and you never know what the road’s going to throw at you so it’s better if you’re drifting out that you don’t quickly jerk back. You just have to go with the road because it makes you go faster.”
For all the experienced drivers there on Saturday, there were just as many newcomers.
“This is our first year. We have three boys involved in the race,” said Alyssa Vidal as she stood near the finish line.
Vidal said she got involved with the race because of some family friends who had done it before.
“I knew about the race just because I had read about it and my kids and I had talked about doing it but didn’t know how to get involved … It’s been really exciting and fun.”
The excitement and fun are what seem to keep people coming back each year. In addition to connecting with the community, many attendees Saturday said that witnessing the children smile at the finish line was the best part of the day.
“Today’s been going excellent,” said Mike McKain of the Pottstown AMBUCS Race Committee. “The weather is beautiful, and seeing the kids’ faces as they come down the hill is just great. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
When all was said and done Saturday, it appeared all of Gavin Brown’s tricks had paid off. Brown walked away with the first place trophy in the Masters division along with Laura Lambert in the Superstock division and first timer Alejandro Vidal in the Stock division.
All three winners will head to Akron, Ohio next month to compete in the national championship against other local winners.
