Hello DuBois Area Drivers,

Now that your car is built and you have participated successfully in our local DuBois Area race, you may want to consider racing in some additional competition. 

This section of our website will introduce you to Rally Racing. 

You must keep in mind that the most important thing to remember about most things in life is that at some point we've all been beginners.  Don't let the initial mystery of Rally Racing discourage you from getting involved in the sport of soap box derby racing.  Please don't hesitate to ask questions.  Derby people love to talk derby and will try to answer your questions to the best of their abilities and will refer you to others if they can't or if you want a second opinion.

The All-American Soap Box Derby (AASBD or AA for short) and the National Derby Rallies (NDR) are two organizations, along with the Keystone Rally Association, who manage and sanction Soap Box Derby Rally Races.  All three organizations share the same rules, with some subtle differences between them.

The AA, NDR and Keystone web sites all publish calendars of upcoming races

·         http://www.aasbd.com

          AA Race Schedule

·         http://www.ndr.org

          NDR Race Schedule

·         http://www.keystonerallies.org/dispabout_sb.php

          Keystone Race Schedule

In the early years of soap box derby racing, when only the AASBD existed, drivers built their cars and raced them at their local events; such as the race which is run in DuBois for the local tri-county area.  If they were fortunate enough to win their local, they earned the right to represent their local city at the big race at Akron; such as Adam Powell and Jeremy Fischer did last year.  For most, their car would only be raced at their local.  The rally circuit was born from a desire to race more often throughout the year.

At these early rallies, drivers raced for prizes, trophies and even money.  During this time, the rules were not consistent from location to location … leaving room for debate.

As a result, several race cities and towns got together and established common rules for rallying and decided to link all of the locations to a master points system; whereby, drivers could earn prizes for winning a race but they also earned points toward prizes awarded for their total accumulated points.  Hence the Keystone Rally Association was formed.  Before there was an All-American Rally division and before there was an NDR, drivers earned Keystone Points.

Differing from the Keystone system, both the All-American and NDR Rally points, are used to earn the opportunity to race in an end-of-season championship race.  The Keystone season ends with an annual picnic where awards are given, retiring drivers are recognized and fund raising events are held.

Types of Soap Box Derby Races:

All American

·         AA Rules Apply.  Click here for rules.

·         Race cities are divided into Regions.  DuBois is in Region VIII: PA, NJ, VA, DE, MD and DC.  

·         The championship races (one for local champs and one for rally champs, in all three divisions) is held in Akron, OH.

·         There are no fees to be an AA member, except that there are local race registration fees.  

NDR

·         NDR Rules Apply.  Cclick here for rules.

·         Each year, the championship race is held at a different location.

·         There is a nominal fee to be an NDR member.

Local

·         Mostly associated with AA races.

·         According to their residence, drivers are "assigned" to race city or town.

·         The winner in each division (Stock, Super-Stock and Masters), earns the right to go to Akron as a local champ representing that race city in the AA Championship race held every July in Akron, OH.  

·         The top two finishers in each division, are pre-qualified to race in the NDR Championship race.

·         Please note, the local winner may race in the AA and NDR championship races.

Rally

·         Races will either follow AA rules or NDR rules as decided by the race city (through its race director).

·         Drivers earn AA rally points or NDR rally points.

·         At the end of the season, these points can earn a driver the chance to race at the AA championship race as a Rally Champ and/or the chance to race at the NDR championship race.

Keystone Rally

·         For rallies designated as Keystone events, drivers earn Keystone points (in addition to AA and NDR points).

·         Races will be designated as AA or NDR races and those rules apply for that particular race.

·         Keystone does not have a championship race.  At the end of the season, the top 12 drivers (as determined by their total Keystone Points) are recognized, with the top point earner in each division being named Keystone Champion.

·         There are no fees to be a Keystone member.