Race day nears
Published 12:00 am Friday, March 15, 2002
Fast and furious fun returns to Troy on Saturday with the third annual Troy Soap Box Derby.
The race, which begins at 9 a.m. on Elm Street, lets young drivers match their skills as they navigate down the incline in hand-built, motorless cars.
Thirty youngsters, ages 9 to 14, are registered in to compete in three divisions: stock, super stock and masters, which was added in Troy for the first time this year.
"We’re really excited about the masters division because that shows that we are growing," said Robert Stewart, grandfather of driver Jamie Collins. "Last year, we only had two masters cars and that wasn’t enough for a division. This year, we have six and that makes us eligible for a division."
Stewart said the masters cars are more aerodynamically designed and are capable of greater speeds. "Those little cars can really run," he said. "The stock and super stock racers get up to between 30 and 32 mile per hour. On the trial runs last Saturday, the masters were going about 35 miles per hour and that was without the benefit of the starting ramp."
The races will last about six hours.