150-801: The Soap Box Derby is a youth-oriented soap box car racing program, founded in 1934 in the United States by Dayton, OH native Myron Scott , a photojournalist employed by the Dayton Daily News , and preceded by events such as Kid Auto Races at Venice in 1914. Proclaimed " the greatest amateur racing event in the world ", the program culminates each July at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship held at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio , with winners from their local communities travelling from across
300-604: A logistics hub. The city is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , a significant contributor to research and development in the industrial, aeronautical , and astronautical engineering fields. Along with defense and aerospace, healthcare accounts for much of the Dayton area's economy. Significant institutions in Dayton include the Air Force Institute of Technology , Carillon Historical Park , Dayton Art Institute , Dayton Performing Arts Alliance , National Museum of
450-502: A soapbox . In Scotland and northern England it has also been called a bogie , cartie/cairtie , guider or piler . In Wales it is often referred to as a gambo . In Australia they are called billy carts , and in Brazil it is known as rolimã . In addition to being built by children, there are organised competitions and races ("soapbox or billycart derby") that often engage the enthusiasm of adults. However, these are usually entered into in
600-468: A 1,600 feet (490 metres) paved track with landscaping, installation of the rented grandstands and bleachers, and the erection of a wooden, two-deck bridge over the finish line, all by WPA workers. Of the 1,600 feet, 1,175 feet (358 metres) of it was the race course, with the top staging area and bottom run-out comprising the remainder. Extensive infrastructural provisions were made for the expected media as well. Exactly three weeks later, on August 16, 1936,
750-483: A Derby family had advantages, as each member benefited from the other to improve their chances at winning races. Below are examples of members from the same family winning multiple All-American World Championships. A Derby family success story is that of Ken Cline, 1967 World Champion and AASBD Hall of Fame inductee in 2017. Ken came from a large family of nine kids, each having raced in the Soap Box Derby. Their father
900-693: A World Champion to race in Akron and advancing to the second round after beating the Akron Champ in the first. His son Houston raced also in the Junior Division. Cline became director of the Lincoln, Nebraska local race, and helped organize the Greater Chicago Soap Box Derby when he moved there in 1986. After becoming its director he served as regional director for Midwest states in 1990. Cline was part of
1050-506: A boy could purchase at his neighborhood Chevy dealership. Weight and dimension restrictions of the car remained generally the same during this time, but as more subtle rules changes were being introduced by the late sixties, car designs became more creative or ingenious in response. Part of the attraction of the All-American was the parade of Hollywood and well-known celebrities that made appearances annually. Names like Abbot and Costello ,
1200-406: A boy would build a car for each year he competed, passing it down to a younger sibling as he outgrew it. Soap Box Derby's "boy built" rule was understood—albeit frivolously—to mean that dad could help to some degree with his son's construction of the car, which was most often the case, but the outcome meant that father and son worked together, forging a healthy and long lasting relationship that became
1350-471: A brand new bike. In December doctors discovered that Doug had a terminal malignancy , a cancer called lymphosarcoma . His physician, Dr. Leonard Green, stated that all he could do medically was postpone death. Undaunted, Doug expressed his wish that he win next year's Soap Box Derby and earn a trip to Akron. "He never gave up," Green said. On July 4, Doug, now age 13, repeated his win in Valparaiso, this time as
1500-488: A can of graphite paste, a dry lubricant , to rub all over it in the hopes that it would make the car slicker. While doing so he managed to get some on his clothes and face, giving him the look of a chimney sweep . When Gil emerged the winner at the All-American, the press eagerly snapped photos of the cheerful champ with the blackened face, dubbing him the "Graphite Kid." His photo appeared in Life Magazine . The next day
1650-415: A class A entry, and then headed to Gary to compete for the regional title and a chance at Akron. On the day of that race Doug was down 40 pounds from his usual 110-pound weight, and at the time trial run he had to be helped in and out of car due to his weakened condition. When an axle broke halfway down the track, his car veered into the guard rail, ending his chance to compete. Uninjured, he continued to watch
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#17330845330911800-563: A community social activity. The form of the cart is similar to Australian billy cart design. However, the wheels are often motor cycle wheel bearings. In Brazil gravity racers are known as "carrinhos de rolimã." Traditional designs are very minimalistic, with an open board-like body and wheels made up of naked ball bearings (no tyres allowed), usually discarded parts obtained from auto mechanics. The first recorded gravity race took place in 1904 in Oberursel (Taunus) near Frankfurt , Germany. It
1950-506: A film crew wanted to capture Gil racing down the hill, having him trail behind a pickup truck where the camera was mounted. When the director yelled "stop!," meaning "cut!," the driver of the truck heeded, while Gil, unaware, continued headlong into rear bumper, injuring his back and landing him in the hospital for a week. Gil eventually recovered. Graphite use continued the following year with boys like class B entrant John Englert of Iowa City, Iowa , even dusting his car with talcum powder over
2100-507: A fixed rear axle , and a steerable front beam axle – usually with a very simple single central pivot . A seat is arranged at the back, and perhaps the seat area is enclosed, as in the original soap-box design. More sophisticated designs might employ a fully enclosed body. The types of wheels employed vary according to what can be obtained easily – wheels from baby carriages, pushchairs, prams, and discarded bicycles being common. Ready-made wheels are also available from hardware suppliers. Steering
2250-405: A flattened lunch box—Joe's car was hastily made race-worthy again. Three of the damaged wheels had to be swapped with replacements from an older set from 1947, considered by Derby fans to be some of the fastest wheels ever used on a Derby car. In the four heats that followed Joe would come out on top, each time winning by a larger margin. He remembers seeing pieces of his car fall off as he raced down
2400-446: A full lay-down position instead of the standard sit-up configuration. At the onset of the 1970s Derby Downs was confronted with social pressure brought on by the Women's Liberation Movement demanding that institutions like the Soap Box Derby embrace more modern trends. In 1971 it was announced therefore that girls would be allowed to race for the first time. In 1933 Alice Johnson (1921–1985)
2550-416: A generous financial campaign by its national sponsor, Chevrolet Motor Company . At the same time there was enthusiastic support from coast to coast of numerous local newspapers that published aggressively during the summer months when races were held, with stories boasting of their own community races and of their Champion travelling to Akron with dreams of capturing a National title and hometown glory. In 1936
2700-418: A highly technical thing to achieve especially for the amateur builder, and given that some aerodynamic drag is inevitable, a heavier cart will always do better than a lighter one with the same drag coefficient – its terminal velocity will be higher. For this reason there are usually class weight limits in most controlled forms of the sport. Since some of the potential energy due to gravity must be converted to
2850-436: A male householder with no spouse present, and 38.2% had a female householder with no spouse present. 47.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95, and the average family size was 2.83. 18.9% of the city's population were under the age of 18, 65.0% were 18 to 64, and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The median age
3000-540: A manufacturing boom throughout the city, including high-demand for housing and other services. At one point, emergency housing was put into place due to a housing shortage in the region, much of which is still in use today. Alan Turing is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. He visited the National Cash Register (NCR) company in Dayton in December 1942. He
3150-454: A park. The Old Court House has been a favored political campaign stop. On September 17, 1859, Abraham Lincoln delivered an address on its steps. Eight other presidents have visited the courthouse, either as presidents or during presidential campaigns: Andrew Johnson , James Garfield , John F. Kennedy , Lyndon B. Johnson , Richard Nixon , Gerald Ford , Ronald Reagan , and Bill Clinton . The Dayton Arcade , which opened on March 3, 1904,
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#17330845330913300-526: A part of the local industry that was expanding rapidly. Advancements in architecture also contributed to the suburban boom. New, modernized shopping centers and the Interstate Highway System allowed workers to commute greater distances and families to live further from the downtown area. More than 127,000 homes were built in Montgomery County during the 1950s. During this time, the city was
3450-448: A place to gather and socialize. This period witnessed the growth of the Derby family (pictured), with fathers who were once racers themselves now putting their own sons into cars to compete. Often with mom's help or support, even sister, an uncle or cousin throwing in, Derby became a family enterprise where two or more brothers would possibly compete against one another in their local race, or
3600-420: A race and that he would contact the local newspaper to have them cover it. The other participants were Dean Gattwood, Tracey Geiger Jr., Robert Gravett, James P. Hobstetter and William Pickrel Jr.. Of the six, Condit won that race, with Gravett taking second. Myron Scott , a 25-year-old photojournalist for the Dayton Daily News looking for ideas for its Sunday Picture Page, was one of two photographers that got
3750-463: A restaurant or a shopping center downtown, people crowded around, saying that they were praying for us. Warren Christopher was given at least one standing ovation in a restaurant. Families on the airbase placed "candles of peace" in their front windows, and people gathered in peace vigils outside the base. One day they formed a "peace chain," although it was not large enough to surround the sprawling eight-thousand-acre base. Ohio's famous ethnic diversity
3900-598: A south-side neighborhood of Dayton, with a crowd of onlookers coming to watch. Seizing on a publicity opportunity, Scott decided to plan an even bigger city-wide event with the support of his employer, the Dayton Daily News, which recognized the hope-inspiring and goodwill nature of the story—especially during the Depression. It posted advertisements of it almost daily to stir interest, and included an application which stipulated "for anything on four wheels that will coast" for
4050-426: A spirit of fun rather than serious competition. Often they will be fundraisers for charity. Many, but not all, events impose the following rules: Soapbox cars weigh an average of 150 pounds (68 kg) and reach top speeds of 20 to 30 mph (30 to 50 km/h). Many cities have permanent tracks where drivers compete for prizes. A typical gravity racer cart is usually made of steel, and has 4 wheels, arranged as
4200-399: A suitable slope. Races will usually take place downhill and the most efficient and skillfully driven cart will win – gravity applying equally to all. Gravity racer carts also make great construction projects for children, requiring only an intuitive sense of engineering, and a few basic construction skills. There are also pre-designed kits available, though for many this defeats the purpose of
4350-424: A term also used metonymically to describe said organization. The name Soap Box Derby is a registered trademark , and used to identify the sport overall, with those actively involved referring to it simply as "Derby." The official name FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby is used solely to identify the annual World Championship race itself, and referred to similarly as "the All-American." Eligibility to race in
4500-442: Is also a large area that encompasses several neighborhoods itself and has seen a recent uplift and revival. Dayton's suburbs with a population of 10,000 or more include Beavercreek , Centerville , Clayton , Englewood , Fairborn , Harrison Township , Huber Heights , Kettering , Miami Township , Miamisburg , Oakwood , Riverside , Springboro , Trotwood , Vandalia , Washington Township , West Carrollton , and Xenia . In
4650-422: Is land and 0.85 square miles (2.20 km ) is water. Dayton's climate features warm, muggy summers and cold, dry winters, and is classified as a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfa ). Unless otherwise noted, all normal figures quoted within the text below are from the official climatology station, Dayton International Airport, at an elevation of 1,000 ft (304.8 m) about 10 mi (16 km) to
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4800-415: Is more formally organised, such as for annual Billy Cart Derbys throughout the country organised by community groups such as Cub Scouts , the vehicle may be constructed to either a traditional or professional standard in accordance with rules and regulations set by the organisers to ensure fair and safe competition. In Indonesia gravity racers are also known as 'gokar'. They are raced in different regions as
4950-492: Is subject to severe weather typical of the Midwestern United States. Tornadoes are possible from the spring to the fall. Floods, blizzards, and severe thunderstorms can also occur. On Memorial Day of 2019, Dayton suffered extensive property damage and one death during a tornado outbreak , in which a total of 15 tornadoes touched down in the Dayton area. Although some of the tornadoes were only EF0 and remained on
5100-559: Is the county seat of Montgomery County. Dayton was founded in 1796 along the Great Miami River and named after Jonathan Dayton , a Founding Father who owned a significant amount of land in the area. It grew in the 19th century as a canal town and was home to many patents and inventors , most notably the Wright brothers , who developed the first successful motor-operated airplane . It later developed an industrialized economy and
5250-577: Is to be implemented through the year 2020. Dayton is known as the "Gem City". The nickname's origin is uncertain, but several theories exist. In the early 19th century, a well-known racehorse named Gem hailed from Dayton. In 1845, an article published in the Cincinnati Daily Chronicle by an author known as T stated: In a small bend of the Great Miami River, with canals on the east and south, it can be fairly said, without infringing on
5400-499: Is typically actuated using a rope connected to the ends of the steerable beam (which can then double as a useful manual pulling device). More sophisticated steering methods are sometimes seen. Brakes are also commonly used, and most soap-box cart racing contests require these. Often a simple friction brake operated by a lever which bears on one of the tyres is all that is required under the rules. Gravity racer carts are unpowered, and are either pushed by willing helpers, or are run down
5550-580: The CareSource Management Group finished construction of a $ 55 million corporate headquarters in downtown Dayton. The 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m ), 10-story building was downtown's first new office tower in more than a decade. Dayton's two tallest buildings are the Kettering Tower at 408 ft (124 m) and the KeyBank Tower at 385 ft (117 m). Kettering Tower
5700-840: The Catterline Cartie Challenge in Scotland and the Belchford Downhill Challenge in Lincolnshire, and there are now several dozen known races across the UK. An annual Soap Box Derby has taken place in mid-July at Richard's Castle on the Shropshire/Herefordshire border since 2004. In addition to the local community races, there are a small number of races which attract more serious competitors, such as Cairngorm Soapbox Extreme (held at Cairn Gorm from 2009 to 2012) and
5850-570: The Dayton Agreement , a peace accord between the parties to the hostilities of the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the former Yugoslavia , was negotiated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base , near Fairborn, Ohio, from November 1 to 21. Richard Holbrooke wrote about these events in his memoirs: There was also a real Dayton out there, a charming Ohio city, famous as the birthplace of the Wright brothers . Its citizens energized us from
6000-529: The Great Blizzard of 1899 . On average, there are 14 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs and 4.5 nights of sub-0 °F (−18 °C) lows annually. Snow is moderate, with a normal seasonal accumulation of 23.3 in (59 cm), usually occurring from November to March, occasionally April, and rarely October. Precipitation averages 41.1 inches (1,040 mm) annually, with total rainfall peaking in May. Dayton
6150-608: The Lotus 119c and the Formula Gravity VXR Nimbus. In Australia, Billy carts tend to conform, even in the 21st century, to a more traditional or rudimentary specification which rose to prominence throughout the country in the late 1800's and early 1900's, often constructed by juveniles from scavenged or relatively inexpensive materials. These carts are built with minimal adult input and used in backyards, suburban streets or local parks. However even when construction of vehicles
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6300-475: The National Park Service , citing information from the U.S. Patent Office , Dayton had granted more patents per capita than any other U.S. city in 1890 and ranked fifth in the nation as early as 1870. The Wright brothers , inventors of the airplane, and Charles F. Kettering , world-renowned for his numerous inventions, hailed from Dayton. The city was also home to James Ritty 's Incorruptible Cashier,
6450-549: The San Diego Derby and suggested he build a car that he offered to design. Accepting his offer, Gil entered the 1946 race but in an unpainted car, having just completed it the night before. Winning in San Diego, Gil became eligible to race in Akron, where his car was quickly sent while still being unpainted. When he arrived he hastily painted it before it was lettered, but felt it did little to make it smoother, so Boswell handed him
6600-690: The Schuster Center , opened in 2003. A large health network in the region, Premier Health Partners , expanded its Miami Valley Hospital with a 12-story tower addition. In 2010, the Downtown Dayton Partnership, in cooperation with the City of Dayton and community leaders, introduced the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan. It focuses on job creation and retention, infrastructure improvements, housing, recreation, and collaboration. The plan
6750-511: The U.S. state of Ohio . As of the 2020 census , the city proper had a population of 137,644, making it the sixth-most populous city in Ohio. It anchors the state's fourth-largest metropolitan area, the Dayton metropolitan area , which had 814,049 residents. Dayton is located within Ohio's Miami Valley region, 50 miles (80 km) north of Cincinnati and 60 miles (97 km) west of Columbus . It
6900-484: The kinetic energy of the rotating wheels, a vehicle with lighter wheels will accelerate faster than one with heavier wheels. If a race is started on some form of ramp, having a tail-heavy car can also improve final acceleration, as the effective height of the centre of gravity of the vehicle is raised. Dayton, Ohio Dayton ( / ˈ d eɪ t ən / ) is a city in Montgomery and Greene counties in
7050-443: The $ 33.87 from her brothers, Joe's uncles, for a round-trip bus ticket to Akron, having never been north of Columbus before that time. When Joe arrived in Akron he admitted that he was most impressed by how big the track at Derby Downs was, being 200 feet longer than Columbus', but reasoned that other boys probably felt as scared as he, so he pressed on. In his first heat, his steering cable snapped and he lost control of his car beyond
7200-476: The 1800s. Innovation led to business growth in the region. In 1884, John Henry Patterson acquired James Ritty's National Manufacturing Company along with his cash register patents and formed the National Cash Register Company (NCR). The company manufactured the first mechanical cash registers and played a crucial role in the shaping of Dayton's reputation as an epicenter for manufacturing in
7350-597: The 1970s, other celebrities included Peter Fonda , George Takei and Tom Hanks . Added to the pre-race pageantry at the 1950 All-American was the Oil Can Trophy Race, an exhibition event that pitted three of the guest celebrities against one another in a downhill heat. Each got to pilot a unique and often outlandishly-designed racer made from an oil drum, for a novelty prize called the Oil Can Trophy. Jack Dempsey , Wilbur Shaw and Jimmy Stewart were contestants in
7500-411: The 34th All-American, Rebecca Carol Phillips (1959–2023) of Temple, Texas , was the very first girl to take a run down the track at Derby Downs, racing the first heat in lane 1, and winning it. The following year two girls cracked the top ten in a field of 236 entries: Priscilla Freeman of Chapel Hill, North Carolina , who took 5th, and Karen Johnson of Suburban Detroit, Michigan, who came 7th. In no time
7650-468: The All-American had its own purpose-built track constructed at what is now Derby Downs, with some communities across America following suit with tracks of their own. Its greatest years occurred during the fifties and sixties when viewer turnout at the All-American reached 100,000 spectators, and racer participation was at an all-time high. From the very beginning, technical and car-design innovation happened rapidly, so Derby officials drafted ways of governing
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#17330845330917800-411: The All-American routinely reached 70,000 each year. The fanfare surrounding the event was a "big deal" back in the day "when Chevrolet handled the race," said Derby historian and author Ron Reed, who went to his first All-American in 1949 as a boy. "The crowd was always on their feet when the hometown kid went down the hill," so one "had to stand or they couldn't see anything." The cheering was so loud that
7950-654: The Army purchased 40 acres adjacent to Huffman Prairie for the Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. As airplanes developed more capability, they needed more runway space than McCook could offer, and a new location was sought. The Patterson family formed the Dayton Air Service Committee, Inc which held a campaign that raised $ 425,000 in two days and purchased 4,520.47 acres (18.2937 km ) northeast of Dayton, including Wilbur Wright Field and
8100-408: The Dayton area: downy woodpecker , Carolina chickadee , tufted titmouse , brown creeper , cardinal , junco , tree sparrow , song sparrow and crow . Unlike many Midwestern cities its age, Dayton has very broad and straight downtown streets (generally two or three full lanes in each direction) that improved access to the downtown even after the automobile became popular. The main reason for
8250-834: The Dayton-Wright Airplane Company in Moraine and established a flying field. Deeds also opened a field to the north in the flood plain of the Great Miami River between the confluences of that river, the Stillwater River, and the Mad River, near downtown Dayton. Later named McCook Field for Alexander McDowell McCook, an American Civil War general, this became the Army Signal Corps' primary aviation research and training location. Wilbur Wright also purchased land near Huffman prairie to continue their research. During World War I,
8400-477: The Depression kids had little access to organized activities like team sports or television, so getting them get behind a national event like Derby was an easy sell. Chevrolet dealerships acted as agents for the Derby, where kids would go to sign up and purchase wheels and axles to get started on their cars, and since a child was usually accompanied by a parent, what better way to get mom or dad—who waited patiently while their child filled out an application—to check out
8550-464: The Derby instituted new guidelines by redrafting the Official race divisions into three: Stock, Super Stock and Masters. With them came the prefabricated fiber glass kit racers which kids could now purchase, this to appeal to a new generation of racers uncomfortable with constructing their own cars from scratch, as well as to help Derby effectively meet its financial obligations. Leading into the 21st century
8700-663: The Huffman Prairie Flying Field. Wright Field was "formally dedicated" on October 12, 1927. After World War II, Wright Field and the adjacent Patterson Field, Dayton Army Air Field, and Clinton Army Air Field were merged as the Headquarters, Air Force Technical Base. On January 13, 1948, the facility was renamed Wright-Patterson Air Force Base . A catastrophic flood in March 1913, known as the Great Dayton Flood , led to
8850-470: The ISBD, the only visibly common component of all three designs being the Official wheels sets which are available for purchase as well. While working with a mentor is permitted, kids are expected to assemble the cars themselves to develop the skills necessary for the car to pass inspection before they are qualified to race. Kids playing on home-made scooters and go karts in the 1930s was not an unfamiliar sight in
9000-475: The Ohio Valley's history. Two other groups traveling overland arrived several days later. The oldest surviving building is Newcom Tavern , which was used for various purposes, including housing Dayton's first church , which is still in existence. In 1797, Daniel C. Cooper laid out Mad River Road , the first overland connection between Cincinnati and Dayton, opening the "Mad River Country" to settlement. Ohio
9150-625: The Soap Box Derby has continued to expand with the inclusion of the Rally Program racers at the All-American in 1993, the creation of the Ultimate Speed Challenge in 2004 and the Legacy Division in 2019. The Soap Box Derby, promoted as "the greatest amateur racing event in the world," is a largely volunteer-driven, family-oriented sporting activity for youth conducted across the US and around
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#17330845330919300-416: The Soap Box Derby is open to anyone aged 7 through 20, with participants divided by age into three Official Divisions, with a specific car design assigned for each: Stock, the entry level division for ages 7–13, Super Stock, for mid-level kids ages 9–18, and Masters, the senior level for ages 10–20 and a design where the occupant rides in the fully reclined position. Cars come un-assembled in kits purchased from
9450-400: The Soap Box Derby returned as well, and Chevrolet wasted no time in marketing the Derby with the same amount of pomp and pageantry it lavished upon the boys half a decade earlier. By now the Derby was an obsession for boys who entered, with thoughts of nothing better than to construct a car in the hopes of making it to Akron. Considered to be Soap Box Derby's heyday or "golden age," attendance at
9600-561: The US to hold soap box car races and send a champion each to Dayton for a major race, later held in Akron . Scott later went on to work for Chevrolet . In the UK gravity racer derbies have recently become more popular, brought to the masses by large events such as the Red Bull Soapbox Race and that held between 2000 and 2004 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed . Now, many small hilly communities organize their own races, such as
9750-462: The US, Canada, Germany and Japan to compete. 2024 marked the 86th running of the All-American since its inception in 1934 in Dayton, Ohio, having missed four years (1942–1945) during World War II and one (2020) during the COVID pandemic . Cars competing in the program race downhill, propelled by gravity alone. The Soap Box Derby expanded quickly across the US from the very beginning, bolstered largely by
9900-582: The United States Air Force , and University of Dayton . Dayton was founded on April 1, 1796, by 12 settlers known as the Thompson Party. They traveled in March from Cincinnati up the Great Miami River by pirogue and landed at what is now St. Clair Street, where they found two small camps of Native Americans . Among the Thompson Party was Benjamin Van Cleve, whose memoirs provide insights into
10050-567: The Worlaby Downhill Challenge. These races tend to produce higher speeds than the community races. Gravity racers taking part in Cairngorm Soapbox Extreme in 2011 reached speeds of 70 mph. A gravity racer obtains its energy solely from the force of gravity (assuming no starting push is permitted), which is effectively equal for any combination of racer design and course. However, performance can be greatly affected by
10200-521: The Wrights returned to Dayton and continued testing at nearby Huffman Prairie . Additionally, Dayton is colloquially referred to as "Little Detroit". This nickname comes from Dayton's prominence as a Midwestern manufacturing center. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 56.50 square miles (146.33 km ), of which 55.65 square miles (144.13 km )
10350-450: The YMCA facility, called Camp Y-Noah, housed the kids 8–10 per cabin, each with a trained counselor, set in groups of five or six in the hills overlooking Lake Y-Noah. Activities included horseback riding and hiking on the nature trails, swimming on the beach and dock, and baseball, basketball, tennis and volleyball at the sports facility. The recreation center offered table tennis, a hobby shop and
10500-475: The air as it happened. The Soap Box Derby swept across America quickly during the Depression with dreams of winning the All-American becoming quite popular with boys. Within a year of its inauguration tens of thousands of them were constructing racers. The added inducement of winning a college scholarship was also a chance at a more promising future, particularly when life was a challenge for many. Print media made celebrities of Derby champs, their faces appearing on
10650-540: The all day affair, with Robert Turner of Muncie, Indiana , piloting a car riding on bare metal wheels with no bearings, becoming the first All-American Champion. Charles Baer of Akron won the All-Ohio Championship, and in a separate race category called Blue Flame for boys aged 16 to 18, Eugene Franke of Dayton, piloting a scaled-down version of a professional motorized racer, took the crown. In 1935 civic leaders from Akron, Ohio, convinced program organizers to move
10800-496: The announcer calling out the driver's names over the loudspeakers could not be heard. It was "exciting," said Reed. With each year, Derby regulations were amended and standardized to ensure the safety of drivers. After the war the use of windscreens on cars were still allowed, but by 1948 they were banned outright. Wheels were also standardized with the introduction of the Official Soap Box Derby Tire and axle set that
10950-545: The annual, hemisphere-wide Christmas Bird Count . The Chapter began participation in the National Count in 1924. The local Count was initially coordinated by Ben Blincoe, who was succeeded by Jim Hill in 1970. In the mid-1960s, the freezing of Lake Erie and associated marshlands led species of waterfowl to appear in the Dayton-area, where surface waters remained unfrozen. Nine varieties of birds have been observed every year in
11100-408: The archetypal soap box car, and designed it into the national logo along with the now official name, Soap Box Derby, which became a registered trademark. The very first All-American Soap Box Derby race was held on August 19, 1934, at the same location as the Dayton city-wide race in 1933, on a track that measured out at 1,980 feet. Watched by a crowd estimated at 45,000, boys from 34 cities competed in
11250-448: The backbone of the Soap Box Derby. As with any sport involving family participation, there were parents wanting to win at all cost, particularly since the stakes were so high, with a kid acting simply as jockey, piloting a car that was built by an adult or hired professional. This became a growing concern and constant complaint heard around various races, with officials eventually taking measures to guard against such occurrences. Working in
11400-488: The broad streets was that Dayton was a marketing and shipping center from its beginning; streets were broad to enable wagons drawn by teams of three to four pairs of oxen to turn around. Also, some of today's streets were once barge canals flanked by draw-paths. A courthouse building was built in downtown Dayton in 1888 to supplement Dayton's original Neoclassical courthouse, which still stands. This second, "new" courthouse has since been replaced with new facilities as well as
11550-460: The call, and accepting the assignment ventured out to investigate. Seeing the appeal of a kids story like this he asked the boys to return in two weeks with more of their friends so he could host a race of his own. When they did nineteen showed up, bringing with them racers made of packing crates and soap boxes, sheets of tin and whatever else they could find. The race was held on Big Hill Road in Oakwood,
11700-502: The car with the best brake. At the local level, boys that won and qualified to attend the All-American were awarded the M. E. Coyle (silver) Trophy, named after Chevrolet General Manager (1933–1946) M. E. Coyle (1888–1961), and a cash prize. Beginning in 1950, they received the T. H. Keating Award plaque, named after Chevrolet Sales Manager T. H. Keating. Technical honors for cars with best construction, best upholstery and best brake were awarded as well. The climax of each year's All-American
11850-426: The cast from TV's Bewitched , Lorne Greene and the cast from Bonanza , Rock Hudson , Richard Nixon , Ronald Reagan , Roy Rogers , Dinah Shore , Jimmy Stewart , and Adam West were promoted by Chevrolet leading up to the race. Jimmy Stewart made the most appearances in Akron, six in all—1947–1950, 1952 and 1957. On the occasion of his first visit he called it "The most magnificent spectacle I've ever seen." Into
12000-709: The city's rental vacancy rate and thus increase the occupancy rate. Dayton's ten historic neighborhoods— Oregon District , Wright Dunbar , Dayton View , Grafton Hill , McPherson Town , Webster Station , Huffman , Kenilworth , St. Anne's Hill , and South Park —feature mostly single-family houses and mansions in the Neoclassical, Jacobethan , Tudor Revival , English Gothic , Chateauesque , Craftsman , Queen Anne , Georgian Revival , Colonial Revival , Renaissance Revival Architecture, Shingle Style Architecture, Prairie , Mission Revival , Eastlake/Italianate , American Foursquare , and Federal styles. Downtown Dayton
12150-478: The clock or against another competitor. The vehicles are propelled by gravity . Originally, gravity racers were built from wooden soap (or apple) crates and rollerskate wheels, but have grown more sophisticated over time, with materials like aluminium, fiberglass and even CFRP being used. In the United Kingdom a gravity racer car has been called a buggy , trolley , cart . It is currently popularly called
12300-437: The combined effects of various forms of drag and also the moment of inertia of the wheels, and also of course by the skill of the driver in choosing optimal lines. Drag breaks down into aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance . The latter can be minimised by careful attention to the wheel bearings , tyre sizes and pressures, and brakes (to avoid parasitic brake drag). High tyre pressures and narrower tyres will typically lower
12450-549: The creation of the Miami Conservancy District , a series of dams as well as hydraulic pumps installed around Dayton, in 1914. Like other cities across the country, Dayton was heavily involved in the war effort during World War II. Several locations around the city hosted the Dayton Project , a branch of the larger Manhattan Project , to develop polonium triggers used in early atomic bombs. The war efforts led to
12600-413: The decade. In 1959 that number was raised to 170, and by 1969 a total of 257 cars came to Akron. Today the All-American comprises three Official Divisions across numerous race programs, and in 2023 reached 320 participants. Following WWII and a return home of its service personnel, America embraced a new optimism and chance for greater prosperity, thanks partly to the G.I. Bill introduced in 1944. In 1946
12750-516: The early 1900s. In 1906, Charles F. Kettering , a leading engineer at the company, helped develop the first electric cash register, which propelled NCR into the national spotlight. NCR also helped develop the US Navy Bombe , a code-breaking machine that helped crack the Enigma machine cipher during World War II . Dayton has been the home for many patents and inventions since the 1870s. According to
12900-453: The event to Akron due to its central location and hilly terrain. A long, eastbound grade on Tallmadge Avenue located at the east end of the city, and the site of 1934 Akron local race, was used for that year's national event, and a date was set for August 11, 1935. Scott decided to discontinue the Blue Flame race category as turnout last year was low. Fifty-two champs from across the nation made
13050-401: The exercise. Recently, more advanced gravity racers are beginning to emerge. These, intended for competition in the major soapbox races, are sometimes made of carbon fibre and feature a monocoque design, although most use a more traditional chassis or spaceframe design with bodywork made from materials such as plywood , corrugated plastic or similar. Examples of such soapboxes include
13200-483: The fact that former racers that were now dads wanted to participate in Derby once more by putting their child into a car, but only had daughters. Mason Bell, general manager of the Soap Box Derby from 1964 to 1972, knew that it was only a matter of time before girls be let in. Unlike most organized sports, the Soap Box Derby chose not to split competition along gender lines by creating a separate category for each, meaning all contestants would compete on an equal footing. At
13350-458: The federal government's National Urban Policy and New Community Development Act of 1970 , funding was provided for thirteen "new towns" or planned cities throughout the country. One location was set to become a suburb of Dayton and was known variously as Brookwood or Newfields. The goal was to have an entirely new suburb that would eventually house about 35,000 residents. The new town was to be located between Trotwood and Brookville, and modeled on
13500-502: The finish line, striking a guard rail and severely damaging its front end. Joe received a cut across the chest that left a scar and a bump to the head. At this point he was certain that he was out of the race. While being patched up at the first aid station he learned however that he had won, and that his car was being repaired so he could go again, something he was not too keen about. With race volunteers cobbling together whatever they could find—bailing wire, duct tape, even sheet metal from
13650-415: The first All-American at Derby Downs (officially the 3rd All-American) was run. A pre-race parade with 11 bands entertained a throng of nearly 100,000 who were welcomed officially by Governor Martin L. Davey and Mayor Lee D. Schroy. Competing in the race were 116 boys from across America and one from South Africa, making this the first World Championship. Witnessed by a cadre of 500 media personal from around
13800-473: The first flight was in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina , their Wright Flyer was built in and returned to Dayton for improvements and further flights at Huffman Field , a cow pasture eight miles (13 km) northeast of Dayton, near the current Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. When the government tried to move development to Langley field in southern Virginia, six Dayton businessmen including Edward A. Deeds, formed
13950-452: The first mechanical cash register, and Arthur E. Morgan 's hydraulic jump, a flood prevention mechanism that helped pioneer hydraulic engineering . Paul Laurence Dunbar , an African-American poet and novelist, penned his most famous works in the late 19th century and became an integral part of the city's history. Powered aviation began in Dayton. Orville and Wilbur Wright were the first to construct and demonstrate powered flight. Although
14100-563: The following excerpt: She shall ever claim our duty, For she shines—the brightest gem That has ever decked with beauty Dear Ohio's diadem. Dayton also plays a role in a nickname given to the state of Ohio, "Birthplace of Aviation." Dayton is the hometown of the Wright brothers , aviation pioneers who are credited with inventing and building the first practical airplane in history. After their first manned flights in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina , which they had chosen due to its ideal weather and climate conditions,
14250-477: The following year, and sought a national sponsor, selling the idea successfully to the Chevrolet Motor Company to co-sponsor with the Dayton Daily News. He was also able to induce many newspapers from coast to coast to sponsor local races on the merits that the story would increase circulation. From the photographs taken at the very first race of the six boys, he selected runner-up Robert Gravett's entry as
14400-511: The following year. In 1973 a scandal hit Derby Downs with the discovery that their World Champion had cheated, and was thus disqualified, further exacerbating an uncertain future. In 1975 Karren Stead won the World Championship, the first of many girls that would go on to claim the title. Finally there was Derby's decision to divide the competition with the introduction of the Junior Division kit cars in 1976. As fiscal challenges continued,
14550-516: The front axle placed rearward, a trend that continued well into the seventies. From among the numerous awards in the technical achievement categories he received the Best Designed trophy at the All-American on top of his competitive win. Continuing the family tradition, Ken's daughter Alethia won the local championship as a Senior Division entry in Chicago, Illinois , in 1987, becoming the first child of
14700-600: The front page of every newspaper that covered an event. Chevrolet's campaign in promoting the Derby promulgated these ideas. However Chevrolet's sponsoring of the All-American was ostensibly a money-making enterprise, and with the Depression well underway by 1934 and programs like the WPA being implemented to bolster the economy, the idea of a kids' recreational program like the Derby—boys in cars—seemed an excellent marketing opportunity to sell its main product—cars—to their parents. During
14850-561: The front page of newspapers from coast to coast, some reaching legendary status depending on just how interesting the climb was, or how much adversity they had to overcome to get there. One such boy is Gilbert Klecan, age 14, the first World Champion following the Second World War, racing a laminate-constructed racer fitted with a streamlined windscreen and equipped with vertical steering of a unique design. A family friend named Chuck Boswell, an aerospace engineer at Convair , told Gil about
15000-400: The girls equaled the boys, and in 1975 the first female World Champion honor fell to Karren Stead, 11, (her car pictured) of Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania, who not only won but did so in an arm cast she acquired a few days earlier after an injury at Derby Camp. Gravity racer A gravity racer or soapbox car is a motorless vehicle which is raced on a downhill road either against
15150-616: The globe was 3rd All-American Champion Herbert Muench Jr. 14, of St. Louis, Missouri taking home the top prize of a $ 2,000 four-year college scholarship. Now that Derby had a home it was able to cater to the increasing participation of still more communities organizing additional local races and sending champs of their own. At the Inaugural All-American the number of boys that entered was 34, but by 1936 that number had exploded to 116. In 1939 there were 176 cities that wanted to participate, but due to Derby Downs' limit to just 120 cars at
15300-484: The graphite, and fellow racer Craig Penney who followed Gil's example by blackening his face. New regulations in 1948 banned its use anywhere on the car or driver. Even having graphite on one's person was grounds for disqualification. Gil wrote an article that appeared in Mechanix Illustrated in May 1947 which featured construction blueprints of his racer, with details of his steering and suspension designs. His car
15450-618: The ground for less than a mile, one was an EF4 measuring a half-mile-wide (805 meters), which tore through the communities of Brookville, Trotwood, Dayton, Northridge, and Riverside. Several streets were closed, including portions of I-75 and North Dixie Drive in Northridge. 64,000 residents lost power and much of the region's water supply was cut off. The Dayton Audubon Society is the National Audubon Society 's local chapter. The Dayton chapter manages local activities contributing to
15600-416: The help of his father, Wallis Damon Sr., who would show him where to drill or cut. According to Derby rules he was also expected to drive his own car, although he could name a substitute driver to go in his place. Choosing to drive the car himself he worked out a modern solution by following instructions sent by radio to a receiver in his helmet. The words "radio dispatched" were painted on his class B racer. He
15750-418: The ideas of Ian McHarg . The project was abandoned in 1978 and most of the land became Sycamore State Park . Dayton's city proper population declined significantly from a peak of 262,332 residents in 1960 to 137,644 residents in 2020. This was in part due to the slowdown of the region's manufacturing sector. The metropolitan area as a whole has experienced both population growth and decreases since 1960, with
15900-404: The inaugural race, with Dempsey taking the prize. The race was popular with the crowd and kept in the program. When Stewart returned in 1957 for his sixth All-American appearance, he made his third try for the Oil Can Trophy, this time against George Montgomery and Roy Rogers, with Montgomery taking the prize. Having never won after his final attempt, Stewart joked "Always a bridesmaid." In 1962 it
16050-465: The kids to fill out. A date was set for August 19, 1933, to host a parade, the race to occur a day after, and the location chosen as Burkhardt Hill, a straight, westbound slope on Burdhardt Ave east of Downtown Dayton. On the appointed weekend a turnout of 460 kids along with 40,000 onlookers caught everyone by surprise, and Scott knew he was onto something big. From the original 460 cars, 362 were deemed safe enough to participate, including Robert Gravett,
16200-414: The latest models in the showroom. Awards at the All-American started with the first-place silver trophy and a four-year college or university scholarship of their choice. Second and third place were awarded a brand new Chevrolet and a smaller silver trophy similar in design to the first place award. Technical awards went to the best constructed (C.F. Kettering Trophy) and best upholstered entries, as well as
16350-517: The loss of manufacturing jobs and decentralization of metropolitan areas, as well as the national housing crisis that began in 2008. While much of the state has suffered for similar reasons, the impact on Dayton has been greater than most. Dayton had the third-greatest percentage loss of population in the state since the 1980s, behind Cleveland and Youngstown. Despite this, Dayton has begun diversifying its workforce from manufacturing into other growing sectors such as healthcare and education. In 1995,
16500-401: The needed wheels and axles, making changes to the cart to qualify, and signed up as a class B entry at the age of eleven. Arriving on race day, Joe's black racer had no sponsor and certainly looked no match against the more experienced racers that did. It was a surprise to many therefore when he took the championship. A month later he was going to Akron. To accompany him his mother Jewell borrowed
16650-591: The north of downtown Dayton, which lies within the valley of the Miami River ; thus temperatures there are typically cooler than in downtown. At the airport, monthly mean temperatures range from 27.5 °F (−2.5 °C) in January to 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) in July. The highest temperature ever recorded in Dayton was 108 °F (42 °C) on July 22, 1901, and the coldest was −28 °F (−33 °C) on February 13 during
16800-415: The only boy from the original Oakwood six that made an appearance. At day's end sixteen year old Randy Custer (pictured), who also hailed from Oakwood, took the championship in his "slashing yellow comet" on three wheels, with eleven year old Alice Johnson—who shocked many when they saw she was a girl after removing her helmet—taking runner-up. Scott immediately set about making the race an All-American event
16950-429: The outset. Unlike the population of, say, New York City, Geneva or Washington , which would scarcely notice another conference, Daytonians were proud to be part of history. Large signs at the commercial airport hailed Dayton as the "temporary center of international peace." The local newspapers and television stations covered the story from every angle, drawing the people deeper into the proceedings. When we ventured into
17100-408: The overall trend leaning towards growth for the metro area. The city's most populous ethnic group, white, declined from 78.1% in 1960 to 51.7% by 2010. As of the census of 2020, there were 137,644 people living in the city, for a population density of 2,466.47 people per square mile (952.31/km ). There were 68,899 housing units. The racial makeup of the city (including Hispanics in the racial counts)
17250-588: The population were employed, and 24.4% had a bachelor's degree or higher. As of the 2010 census, there were 141,759 people, 58,404 households, and 31,064 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,543.2 inhabitants per square mile (981.9/km ). There were 74,065 housing units at an average density of 1,330.9 per square mile (513.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 51.7% White , 42.9% African American , 0.3% Native American , 0.9% Asian , 1.3% from other races , and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 3.0% of
17400-441: The population. There were 58,404 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% were married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.8% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
17550-486: The race from the sidelines, seated in his wheelchair. The following day his parents returned from church to find their son's condition had worsened. After being rushed to the hospital in Valparaiso he passed away two hours later. "He just gave up," said his father, once he lost his shot at Akron. Doug's story appeared in newspapers across the US and in Canada telling of his courageous battle. Tom Brown, 13, who raced in Valparaiso
17700-407: The racers themselves, who were treated like royalty, seated on a large multi-tiered stage before an audience of family members and volunteers. Seated with them where the Derby officials and attending dignitaries who, from the podium on the highest part of the stage, handed out the awards. Because of the growing popularity of the event, a larger and more permanent home was needed, and a dedicated track
17850-506: The rights of others, that Dayton is the gem of all our interior towns. It possesses wealth, refinement, enterprise, and a beautiful country, beautifully developed. In the late 1840s, Major William D. Bickham of the Dayton Journal began a campaign to nickname Dayton the "Gem City." The name was adopted by the city's Board of Trade several years later. Paul Laurence Dunbar referred to the nickname in his poem, "Toast to Dayton", as noted in
18000-412: The site of several race riots, including one in 1955 following the murder of Emmett Till , the 1966 Dayton race riot , two in 1967 (following a speech by civil rights activist H. Rap Brown and another following the police killing of an African American man), and one in 1968 as part of the nationwide King assassination riots . Since the 1980s, however, Dayton's population has declined, mainly due to
18150-422: The sport so that it did not become too hazardous as speed records were being challenged. At Derby Downs the track length was shortened twice to slow the cars down. The seventies brought significant changes, beginning with the introduction of girls to the sport in 1971. The following year Chevrolet dropped its sponsorship, sending Derby Downs into a tailspin that threatened its very future. Racer enrollment plummeted
18300-543: The streets of America, and racing in organized events was an inevitable outcome of it. As early as 1904 Germany conducted its first soapbox race for kids, and in 1914 there was the Junior Vanderbilt Cup in Venice, California that held a kids race as well. The Soap Box Derby story began on June 10, 1933 when six boys were racing homemade push carts in Dayton, Ohio , among them William Condit whose father suggested they have
18450-540: The take the All-American crown a month later. Sister Rita went to Akron in 1972 having won in Amarillo, Texas . Ken's win in Akron happened during Derby's peak, in a car of unprecedented design. Called "the Grasshopper," a name he disliked at first since his name for it was "Experimental III," it was a low profile, needle-nosed racer with a short wheelbase, the minimum allowed. It was also the first World Championship car having
18600-637: The team that developed and designed the pre-fabricated, fiber glass shell Stock Division car introduced in 1992. It is still being used today. He is founder and director of the Annual Vintage Derby Car Show taking place each July in Akron, Ohio during Race Week. His extant car is on exhibit at the ISBD Hall of Fame Museum at Derby Downs. In the late sixties enrollment at the Soap Box Derby was at an all-time-high, with craftsmanship and car design exploring innovative new concepts that favored drivers in
18750-405: The time, some communities had to double up or hold regional races to send just one boy representing multiple communities instead of two or more. Even by 1935 there were an estimated 50,000 boys across America that were already building cars to participate. In 1940 the popularity of the sport meant that the All-American would accommodate 130 cars from around the world, increasing to 148 by the end of
18900-449: The track each time, quickly becoming the crowd favorite as they cheered on what was affectionately dubbed "The Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech." In his final heat he set the track record that day, taking the Derby crown, and becoming the first Southerner to do so. Joe never did go to Georgia Tech , joining the US Navy instead and staying on until 1979. His patched-together car, considered
19050-476: The trip to Akron, greeted by a throng of 50,000 on race day, with Maurice Bale of Anderson, Indiana , in a sleek, metal-clad racer taking the top prize. One mishap was an accident that captured the public's interest, even boosting the event's profile worldwide, when a car piloted by Paul Brown of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma, went off the track and struck NBC's Graham McNamee and Tom Manning while they were broadcasting, an incident that continued being described live on
19200-436: The tyre contact rolling resistance, usually at the expense of grip. Larger wheels have lower rolling resistance than small ones, and rolling resistance is also proportional to overall weight. If permitted, a 3-wheeler design will have 25% less rotational inertia than a 4-wheeler, all else being equal. Aerodynamic drag can be minimised by designing a fully enclosed body that reduces the drag coefficient , but given that this can be
19350-674: The world. Local or regional races are held yearly, with winners from each sent to compete at the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship, officially the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship , which occurs every July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. Oversight is by the International Soap Box Derby organization, or ISBD, run by a paid administrative staff headquartered at Derby Downs,
19500-436: The worst-looking winner at the All-American, is on exhibit at the ISBD Hall of Fame Museum in Akron. A story of courage that made international news was of a boy determined to win one more Soap Box Derby race while battling terminal cancer. Doug Hoback hailed from Valparaiso, Indiana , entering his car as a class B contestant in both the Valparaiso and Gary, Indiana , local races in 1955, winning in Valparaiso and being awarded
19650-615: The year prior, winning the class A title, and was a pallbearer at Doug's funeral, spoke well of his best friend. When Doug was awarded another bike in this year's race he gave it to Tom, who had his stolen the week prior. To honor Hoback the Gary Soap Box Derby created the Doug Hoback Memorial Award, inaugurated in 1957 with recipient Tommy Osburn and continuing into the seventies, awarded to competitors demonstrating courage and outstanding sportsmanship. His extant brown racer
19800-422: Was 38.4. For every 100 females, there were 101.5 males. According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey , for the period 2016-2020 the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $ 43,780, and the median income for a family was $ 60,408. About 25.4% of the population were living below the poverty line , including 39.5% of those under age 18 and 21.5% of those age 65 or over. About 53.6% of
19950-415: Was 47.6% White , 40.7% Black or African American , 0.4% Native American , 1.4% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 3.3% from some other race , and 6.6% from two or more races. Separately, 5.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 63,308 households, out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.5% were married couples living together, 30.9% had
20100-428: Was Lorne Greene that beat fellow cast mates Michael Landon and Dan Blocker in a Bonanza-themed showdown, and in 1980 Christopher George won out over wife Linda Day George and actor Bill Daily . Ostensibly lighthearted in tone, the celebs usually played to the crowd for laughs. The spectacle continued into the 2000s. A boy's climb from relative obscurity to national fame after winning the All-American usually made
20250-417: Was able to show that it was not necessary to build 336 Bombes , so the initial order was scaled down to 96 machines to decipher German Enigma-machine-encrypted secret messages during World War II. Between the 1940s and the 1970s, the city saw significant growth in suburban areas from population migration. Veterans were returning from military service in large numbers seeking industrial and manufacturing jobs,
20400-673: Was admitted into the Union in 1803, and the village of Dayton was incorporated in 1805 and chartered as a city in 1841. The city was named after Jonathan Dayton , a captain in the American Revolutionary War who signed the U.S. Constitution and owned a significant amount of land in the area. In 1827, construction on the Dayton–Cincinnati canal began, which provided a better way to transport goods from Dayton to Cincinnati and contributed significantly to Dayton's economic growth during
20550-683: Was bested in the next heat by Gary Osman, who became overall champ that day. Stephen was enrolled at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind . An added inducement for kids competing in the All-American was attending Derby Camp during the week leading up to the race on the Sunday. Here kids got a chance to meet one another and make new friends, blow off some steam and relax while being engaged in games and camp activities. Located 13 miles (21 km) south of Akron,
20700-552: Was built in the hopes of replacing open-air markets throughout the city. Throughout the decades, the Arcade has gone through many transformations but has retained its charm. Some of its main features include a Flemish facade at the Third Street entrance, a glass dome above the Arcade rotunda, and a chateau roof line above the Third Street facade. The Dayton Arcade is currently under renovations with no official completion date set. In 2009,
20850-508: Was constructed in 1936. Chief among those that spearheaded the project were Bain "Shorty" Fulton, manager of Akron's Fulton Airport , and Jim Schlemmer, sports editor of the Akron Beacon Journal . A site was chosen by the airport, a tract of land occupied at the time by a ski slope, which the City of Akron agreed to lease to the Soap Box Derby organization for $ 1 per year. Following its announcement on July 29, 1936, construction began on
21000-582: Was exhibited at the 3rd Annual Vintage Derby Car Show in July 2024 in Akron, Ohio, courtesy a private collector. Derby was an attractive activity for all kinds of kids, including Stephen Damon of Norfolk, Virginia , who raced in the Tidewater, Virginia Soap Box Derby local race in 1964 and 1965. His brother Wally, 14, raced also. Unlike most that participated, Stephen was almost completely blind, with 2 percent vision in one eye. Yet as expected with all participants he had to construct his own racer, understandably with
21150-616: Was exhibited in 2017 at the San Diego Automotive Museum in Balboa Park . A heartwarming story is Joe Lunn, who took the World Championship in 1952. Joe was a small and shy farm boy from a poor family that hailed from Thomasville, Georgia . Visiting uncles from Columbus, Georgia , located 150 miles (240 km) northwest of Thomasville, suggested that he enter a goat cart he had built at their local Soap Box Derby race, something Joe knew nothing about. With their help Joe acquired
21300-415: Was home to the Dayton Project , a branch of the larger Manhattan Project , to develop polonium triggers used in early atomic bombs. With the decline of heavy manufacturing in the late 20th century, Dayton's businesses have diversified into a service economy . Ohio's borders are within 500 miles (800 km) of roughly 60 percent of the country's population and manufacturing infrastructure, making Dayton
21450-560: Was inspired by major motor sports events like the Gordon Bennett Cup and the Kaiserpreis race. In 1933 Dayton Daily News newspaper photographer Myron Scott of Dayton, Ohio , United States had covered a race of boy-built cars in his home community and was so taken with the idea that he acquired rights to the event; the national-scale Soap Box Derby grew out of this idea. In 1934, Scott had managed to persuade fifty cities across
21600-545: Was on display. Downtown expansion that began in the 2000s has helped revitalize the city and encourage growth. Day Air Ballpark , home of the Dayton Dragons , was built in 2000. The highly successful minor league baseball team has been an integral part of Dayton's culture. In 2001, the city's public park system, Five Rivers MetroParks , built RiverScape MetroPark, an outdoor entertainment venue that attracts more than 400,000 visitors each year. A new performance arts theater,
21750-433: Was one of two girls to race at the very first city-wide soap box race in Dayton, having constructed her car with the help of her father, Dayton aviator Edward "Al" Johnson. Taking second, she was awarded a bouquet of flowers from winner Randall Custer, and a boy's bike. The following year she raced again in the Dayton local race, taking third. No Derby Rule Book ever stated that girls were unable to compete officially, but it
21900-478: Was originally Winters Tower, the headquarters of Winters Bank. The building was renamed after Virginia Kettering when Winters was merged into Bank One . KeyBank Tower was known as the MeadWestvaco Tower before KeyBank gained naming rights to the building in 2008. Ted Rall said in 2015 that over the last five decades Dayton has been demolishing some of its architecturally significant buildings to reduce
22050-552: Was regional manager for Northern Natural Gas and relocated often. While the family was living in Midland, Texas , brothers Richard and Michael won that local's races in 1964 and 1965, respectively, with both going to Akron. Ken raced in Midland in 1966 and was favored to win, but a rain-soaked track hampered his car. The following year he won in Lincoln, Nebraska , when they lived there and went on
22200-586: Was sponsored by the Naval Aviation Safety Center, who loaned the radio equipment. Not quite getting the hang of its use he crashed into a fence at the bottom during his first try. The following year when Stephen was 13-years-old, Navy Commander Richard E. McMahon (1924–2013), an administrator at the Norfolk Naval Air Station , stood watch as Stephen's eyes, talking him calmly down the hill, with Stephen successfully winning his first heat. He
22350-518: Was suggested in the language of promotional material and newspaper advertisements, with Chevrolet dealerships even refusing to accept girl applicants or sell them wheels and axles. There was also resistance from many, including its founder Myron Scott, who stated that he devised the sport to be exclusively 'boys only' from the start. Counter to this, popular opinion was positing a more liberal stance, with Chevrolet receiving legal pressure from local Derby organizations wishing to enter girls. This coupled with
22500-531: Was the Champions' victory banquet hosted by Chevrolet, a grand spectacle that culminated in an awards ceremony for the winning boys. Created as a media event, the dinner was inaugurated in 1935 at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown Akron when the city first became host to the All-American. It was eventually held at the larger Goodyear Hall gymnasium , and was attended by up to three-thousand guests. Attendees included
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