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South Jordan Journal

Bronze Bomber for the win

May 02, 2022 08:35PM ● By Karmel Harper

By Karmel Harper | [email protected]

With vehicles ranging from Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine van, a Star Wars X-Wing fighter jet, and a sleek Hot Wheels racer, Daybreak’s second annual Soap Box Derby on April 23 thrilled the community as neighbors cheered each racer on.

Eighteen stock and five freestyle gravity-powered vehicles rolled along Kitty Hawk Drive to compete for wheely cool trophies created by Sugarpost from old car parts. The Stock division is the original Soap Box derby car and has been around for over 60 years. Stock vehicles are typically built from kits.

The Freestyle division is for the more creative racers who prefer to build their vehicles from scratch in shapes and styles limited only by their imagination. 

Larry H. Miller Ford in Draper sponsored the event and even entered their own vehicle in the race. The dealership’s Social Media Manager, Sophia Foresta, who helped build their Derby car, said, “This event goes hand-in-hand with our company’s love for cars. Even though the Fords we sell have an engine and a motor, this is an awesome opportunity to be a part of our community and be involved with the amazing events Daybreak has to offer. It’s great to be out here, meet Daybreak residents, as well as participate in all of the fun.”

Kids of all ages participated as drivers, including 9-year-old, Lex Francis, who drove the Daybreak car. “It’s scary when you’re on the ramp about to start but once you get going, it’s a lot of fun,” Lex said.   

Though some of the races were incredibly close, there could only be one winner in each division. Luke Zander, of Zander Realty, won the Freestyle division with the Zander Green Machine, a racing “house” built from cardboard which took about a week to build according to Zander. The Stock division champion was 14-year-old Bennett Hinkins, who was undefeated by driving the Bronze Bomber, which was sponsored by Anderson Hinkins Law. 

A live DJ, food trucks, race tattoos, and the opportunity to paint a stock car with colorful handprints also provided fun family activities, which would not be possible without the many volunteers who helped out at the event, such as Christa Zeek.

 “I wanted to volunteer for the Soap Box Derby because my parents volunteered for Derbys in Hamilton, Ohio when I was a kid,” Zeek said. “But back then, only boys were allowed to race. Now, it’s fun to see so many girls racing and I can participate in my own way.”

As Daybreak’s 2022 Soap Box Derby took place during National Volunteer Week, it was the perfect way for LiveDAYBREAK’s volunteers to experience how their time and efforts can bring the community together.