HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Racers are getting ready for this weekend’s 19th Annual Soap Box Derby, a fun, fast paced family event that continually attracts community support. On May 3 at Ruff Park in Hopkinsville, racers will arrive, ready for their chance to qualify for the International Soap Box Derby in July.
Participants as young as seven years old have been working on perfecting their cars just in time for the big day. Starting at 8:30 a.m. stretching through 5 p.m. on Saturday, 28 races will occur between three divisions. Bluegrass Youth Racing Foundation President Annie Catron said this year they have several returning racers along with many new ones who are eager to try out the track. The day will feature double elimination races, meaning that each driver will be racing down the hill at least four times before a champion is named.
“Our goal is to introduce kids to STEM related activities in a fun, hands-on way and foster the mentor, mentee relationship between the racer and their car handler, be that a parent, guardian, older sibling, or community volunteer,” Catron told Christian County Now. “While we have set the field for race day, we would love to have the community come out and cheer on our local racers. The day is fun for all, and Ruff Park provides a great opportunity for parents with young children to come out and see what soap box derby is about.”
Kiwanis Club of Hopkinsville first started the derby here in 2006 and continued to expand it every year. Formed by a group of parents and volunteers, Bluegrass Youth Racing Foundation got involved in the event in 2024 when Hopkinsville Kiwanis stepped away.
This local tradition has been months in the making, with a pancake breakfast held in early March to raise funds for the event, and a separate event held to give potential participants a chance to try out a car before the race. Leading up to the race, several workshop days were held at the Hopkinsville Soap Box Derby facility to assist participants in assembling their cars.
The day before the derby, the Hopkinsville Super Kids Race will also be held at Ruff Park at 6 p.m. This popular event is open to pre-registered special needs children who are given the chance to race down the hill alongside an experienced driver. The community is invited to join both of the events and cheer on the participants.
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