AKRON, OH., July 27, 2009: DuBois's two area champions made history Saturday in winning their first round heats in the Soap Box Derby at Akron Derby Downs.
Jeremy Fischer in his red, white and blue Stoltz Stock Car, sped to quick victory in 29.97 seconds Saturday. His two opponents were Cass Turner of Athens, Tenn., and Melanie Catone of Glens Falls, N.Y. By the end of the first round of racing, the original field of 146 was cut to 48. Fischer became the first local DuBois Area Champion to ever win a race at the International Championships.
Later in the morning, Adam Powell sped to victory in his red and blue Stoltz Super Stock. He turned in a time of 29.79 seconds, eliminating Raleigh Jones of Hopkinsville, Ky., and Sarah Burrows of Moss Point, Miss.
At the end of the first round of racing, there were Powell and 49 other local champs from around the world still in the running. The original field of 147 racers had been cut by two-thirds. Powell became the second local DuBois Area Champion to ever win at Derby Downs.
No one had ever achieved success at Akron during the half-dozen or so years the DuBois Derby was held on Maple Avenue each Fourth of July holiday more than a half-century ago.
The second round of racing was more competitive. Both DuBois champions met stiff competition that ended their participation in the day's competition.
Fischer lost a very close race to Jacob Friend of North Platte, Neb. It is estimated that there was less than five-hundredths of a second between the two cars as they crossed the finish line. They both appeared to nudge the third racer, Luis Moreno of Cleveland, Ohio, to take first and second in the heat. That finished Fischer's racing for the day as the field was narrowed to 16. The ultimate winner in the Stock Division was Sarah Whitaker of Akron, Ohio.
Powell lost in the second round to Kristiana Powell (no relation) of Lima, Ohio, who turned a near record time of 29.66 seconds for her win. The third racer in the hea was Sam Fehrman of Anderson, Ind. Kristiana Powell runner-up to the first place finisher and Champion Maija Liimatainen of Madison, Wis. The third place finisher in the Super Stock Division was Ryan Gallo of Danbury, Conn.
Attending the races from DuBois were Derby Director Si Platt, committee's Secretary/Treasurer Roland Bechtel and subcommittee Chairman Dave Beane.
Platt echoed the praise heard from the national race officials about the DuBois youngsters' week in Akron. "Both Jeremy and Adam made history at Derby Downs," Platt said, adding that "they are the first two local champions from DuBois to ever win a heat on the big hill and it was quite a rush (for all of us) to cheer them on to victory."
On the Friday before the races, Platt and Bechtel received an award from the directors of the International All-American Soap Box Derby honoring the DuBois Area All-American Soap Box Derby as the 'Outstanding New City organization for 2009.' Platt and Bechtel accepted the award on behalf of the sponsors, participants, parents and hard-working members and volunteers for the DuBois Area Soap Box Derby.
Our community can be very pleased that our champions and their families were such outstanding ambassadors (from the DuBois Area). We thank them very much for such a stellar performance," Platt said.
Beane added, "It was great to see all the kids having a great time with their families. It was old-fashioned Americana. I look forward to next year."
Super Stock Division Winners
(left to right)
Alex Gudalis 3rd (Farmers National Bank)
Adam Powell 1st (W.R. Day Memorial)
Emily Chambers 2nd (QPS Print Group)
Stock Division Winners
(left to right)
Jeremy Fischer 1st (Tri-County Church)
Nathan Miller 3rd (S&T Bank)
Kevin Sullivan 2nd (Dunlap L&G Equip)
On Saturday, June 20, 2009, the All-American Soap Box Derby returned to the DuBois area after a suspension of over a half century. It was Jeremy Fischer and Adam Powell who finished first in each of the two race divisions, Stock and Super-Stock.
Jeremy and Adam each emerged victorious over 15 other young contestants, with all 32 competing head-to-head throughout the morning and afternoon on the West Long Avenue downhill track. Both local champions moved on to DerbyDowns in Akron, Ohio, on July 25 to represent the local DuBois area in the International Championships. They were sponsored by each of their own individual sponsors and the Stoltz Family Auto Dealerships.
We have a 15 minute DVD which shows each of our 32 competitors racing down the hill. No one has been left out of the video. Everyone stars. The DVD is available for $15. Give us your order by e-mail … rebechtel@verizon.net … Mail us your $15 check and we will have your DVD available for local pick-up in a few days. If you send along an extra $1.50 for shipping and handling, and give us your mailing address, we will send it to you. Our mailing address is DuBois Area Soap Box Derby, 1573 TreasureLake, DuBois, PA15801
