How a Race Works

We host two type of racing events

Local Race

The traditional soap box derby event that is popular as seen in the media. A local race organization (a city, state or local area) hosts the event as a franchise of the All-American Soap Box Derby headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Racers are eligible to participate in a local race based on the proximity to the track location from the student’s school. A Local Championship is the primary path to qualifying for the All-American Soap Box Derby as a Local Champ in Akron, OH each July. The New Hampshire Soap Box Derby welcomes racers from NH, VT, ME, MA and beyond for its Local Championship and Rally races. The closest Local races to New Hampshire are in Arlington, MA and Houlton,ME.

How it works…

In the weeks leading up to the event racers build their own derby race car. The All-American Soap Box Derby style of car is assembled from a standard kit.
- The club may also offer loaner cars for newcomers that don’t want to invest in their own.
Racers gather for car inspection before the event, where race officials check to see that the cars meets specifications
- All derby cars will be inspected per the AASBD inspection sheets by division of the car:
On race day, racers compete side by side in a double elimination event through a series of heats.
Racers start in ramps at the top of a hill, when the gates drop the car and racer is carried down the hill with the assistance of gravity for 700 feet to the finish line.
Prior to the start, racers are paired up, then face off in a heat consisting of two phases; where for fairness each gets to use each of the two lanes and trade sets of wheels
The overall differential time between from each racer crossing the finish line in each phase determines the heat winner, advancing in the bracket.
The winner of the winners and the winner of the second-chance racers go head to head in the final heat.
After a day of competition, the winner in each division is qualified to participate in the First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby during July in Akron, Ohio.

Rally Race

A secondary soap box derby event that provides additional opportunities for racers to compete. A year round racing season allows racers to accumulate qualificatin points. High seeded racers from their region qualify for the All-American Soap Box Derby as a Rally Division Champ in Akron, OH each July. The New Hampshire Soap Box Derby welcomes racers from NH, MA, VT, ME, NY, CT, RI and beyond for its Rally races. Racers from any area of the country may particiapte in a rally event, earning points for their particular region.

Race Format

A race event is run as a series of heats, consisting of two Phases (A & B) against the same competitor in a side-by-side (staright down hill) configuration. Each racers runs in each lane. The overall differential of the two phases determines the winner.