The Derby

The Clover Valley SoapBox Derby is hosted by the Clover Valley District of Scouts Canada.

The Clover Valley SoapBox Derby is a fun filled family event designed to encourage participation through a parent-child program. For the big and not so big, it's an occasion to spend many happy hours designing and constructing machines for the challenge of speed, originality or just the "I did it!" feeling. The adult will help in the building of the car for the child, but share closely the ideas that the child has to offer.

This Derby is meant to be an enjoyable learning experience for both parent/guardian and child, and provide them with the opportunity to develop mutual respect and trust, and demonstrate the importance of individual prides and sportsmanship.

The Clover Valley SoapBox Derby is for "home-built" cars only and in the following pages, you will find the construction and safety specifications, and some suggested design details. Given these specifics, there is still plenty of room to use your imagination and design ideas with the materials and skills that you and your child have to create a unique racer. There should be many jobs that your child can work on, either assisting or on their own. This learning project will likely be remembered for your lifetimes, so make it positive and enjoyable.

It is important that you get started early on your racer. Plan to spend at least fifty hours on the project, including design, searching for parts and materials, building, and testing. Materials needed to start building your car. We would like to mention that this is a non-profit Association and that Volunteers and helpers are needed and always welcome for the committee and other associated tasks, before and during race day!

REGISTRATION

Registration is on a first come basis and space is limited so don't delay. Boys and Girls age eight and up on race day are eligible. Upon registration you will receive an official builders manual and there is an option to purchase a starter kit to get you going. Each car owner is asked to provide at least one car sponsor. The sponsorship money is used to operate the race and does not go to individual cars.

Proceed to Builders Manual