SANFORD — This event always seems to bring out the best in the Soap Box Derby families.
The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department and Central Florida Soap Box Derby held one of its most popular events _ the ANNUAL TOYS-FOR-TOTS Rally _ on Saturday, November 1, at Mike Kirby Park.
And once again, the fans, racers and family came through with an amazingly large and impressive array of donations for the United States Marine Corps Reserves Toys-For-Tots program.
The day began under beautiful conditions, albeit a little chilly, but by the end of the day it was almost hot as a large group of spectators had a great time that was enjoyed by all.
The competition was very tight and the Stock Division featured a rarity _ the finishing order in the AM Double Elimination Race and the PM Single Elimination Race was exactly the same, with Charlie Holliday topping runner-up Bentley Gill and third place finisher Addison Mello to complete the podium in both races.
The Super Stock Division was not the same, other than Ayva David won both races, topping Alexa Mello and Maggie Soucey in AM Double Elimination Race and Claire Holliday and Soucey in the PM Single Elimination Race.
The Masters Division saw a split for the wins, as Corey Walker claimed the AM Double Elimination Race over Rylee Scala and Isaac Pickels and everyone moving up step on the podium in the PM Single Elimination Race with Scala edging Pickels and Bryce Sykes moving up from fourth in the morning to Third Place in the afternoon.
After a few years of difficulties for one reason or another, this year saw the return of a celebrity race as Sergeant Paul Jackson, the 2025 Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinator for Orange, Osceola and Seminole county’s, was on hand to challenge Sanford’s own Retired U.S. Army veteran George Sykes, the father of CFSBD Board Member John Sykes and the Grandfather of racers Bryce and Brantley, in a pair of races down the track in epically built adult cars.
Sykes took the opening run, but it was Jackson making a little better run in the second heat to claim the overall victory.
Next up is another of the most popular events on the CFSBD calendar, especially with out of state competitors, is coming up in December as Mike Kirby Park will close out 2025 when The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department and CFSBD hosts the 2-Day Holiday Rally on Saturday, December 27, and Sunday, December 28.
The entry fee, if registration and fee is received before Tuesday, December 2, is $90 for one entry and $165 for two-or-more siblings for both days.
After December 2, is $115 for one entry or $200 total for a family of two or more drivers.
The final day to enter and pay in full is Tuesday, December 16. No onsite registration.
Kirby Park will be open on Friday, December 26, from 10 a.m.-to-2 p.m. for trailer drop-off.
RV’s are welcome, but you MUST make prior arrangements with the Rally Director.
Each Day, check in will be at 7 a.m., with racing beginning at 8:30 a.m., and will consist of a Double Elimination race for each class in the morning, followed by a lunch break and a Single Elimination race for each class in the afternoon.
Soap Box Derby racing is open to children ages 7 to 20 _ Stock, 7-to-13; Super Stock, 9-to-18; Masters, 10-to-20 _ with a limited number of loaner cars available for new participants.
Everyone, especially interested non-racers, is invited to attend any of the family friendly events, free of charge, at beautiful Mike Kirby Park located on the west side of Sanford on Oregon Avenue, north off of CR-46A (25th Street/H. E. Thomas Parkway) or east off of Rinehart Road, just south of the GreeneWay entry. The track is East of Bentley Elementary School.
For more information on Central Florida Soap Box Derby or to download a registration form, please check out the websites at www.AASBD.com or [email protected]; Eric Griffin, [email protected], 407-353-6228, or call the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120. More information is also available at _ https://www.facebook.com/CentralFloridaSoapboxDerby/ _ especially photos and flyers.
Here are the results for the Toys-For-Tots Rally:
Saturday, November 1, 2025
AM Double
Stock
Standings
1. Charlie Holliday; 2. Bentley Gill; 3. Addison Mello; 4. Adarsh Koneru; 5. Brantley Sykes; 6. Kaylin Keller; 7. Robert Hanna.
Winner’s Bracket
Race 1 _ Addison Mello defeated Kaylin Keller.
Race 2 _ Bentley Gill defeated Brantley Sykes.
Race 3 _ Adarsh Koneru defeated Robert Hanna.
Race 4 _ Charlie Holiday defeated Addison Mello.
Race 5 _ Bentley Gill defeated Adarsh Koneru.
Race 6 _ Charlie Holiday defeated Bentley Gill.
Challenger’s Bracket
Race 7 _ Brantley Sykes defeated Robert Hanna (Hanna finishes seventh).
Race 8 _ Addison Mello defeated Brantley Sykes.
Race 9 _ Adarsh Koneru defeated Kaylin Keller.
Race 10 _ Addison Mello defeated Adarsh Koneru (Koneru finishes fourth).
Race 11 _ Bentley Gill defeated Addison Mello (Mello finishes third).
Race 502 (fifth and sixth place) _ Brantley Sykes defeated Kaylin Keller.
Championship Bracket
Race 14 _ Championship: Charlie Holiday defeated Madison Taylor (Holliday finishes first, Gill finishes second).
Super Stock
Standings
1. Ayva David; 2. Alexa Mello; 3. Maggie Soucey; 4. Jackson Rochelle; 5. Aliviya Mello; 6. Chloe Keller; 7. Claire Holliday; 8. Madison Taylor. Other Participants _ Nelson Zak, Joel Rizzo.
Winner’s Bracket
Race 1 _ Alexa Mello defeated Joel Rizzo.
Race 2 _ Chloe Keller defeated Nelson Zak.
Race 3 _ Ayva David defeated Jackson Rochelle.
Race 4 _ Alexa Mello defeated Claire Holliday.
Race 5 _ Maggie Soucey defeated Aliviya Mello.
Race 6 _ Chloe Keller defeated Madison Taylor.
Race 7 _ Ayva David defeated Maggie Soucey.
Challenger’s Bracket
Race 8 _ Aliviya Mello defeated Joel Rizzo.
Race 9 _ Jackson Rochelle defeated Nelson Zak.
Race 10 _ Aliviya Mello defeated Madison Taylor.
Race 11 _ Jackson Rochelle defeated Claire Holliday.
Race 12 _ Alexa Mello defeated Aliviya Mello.
Race 13 _ Jackson Rochelle defeated Chloe Keller.
Race 14 _ Alexa Mello defeated Jackson Rochelle (Rochelle finishes fourth).
Race 15 _ Alexa Mello defeated Maggie Soucey (Soucey finishes third).
Rae 501 (seventh and eighth place) _ Claire Holliday defeated Madison Taylor.
Race 502 (fifth and sixth place) _ Aliviya Mello defeated Chloe Keller.
Championship Bracket
Race 12 _ Championship: Ayva David defeated Alexa Mello (David finishes first, Mello finishes second).
Masters
Standings
1. Corey Walker; 2. Rylee Scala; 2. Isaac Pickels; 4. Bryce Sykes; 5. Christian Myers.
Winner’s Bracket
Race 1 _ Bryce Sykes defeated Christian Myers.
Race 2 _ Corey Walker defeated Isaac Pickels.
Race 3 _ Rylee Scala defeated Bryce Sykes.
Race 4 _ Rylee Scala defeated Corey Walker.
Challenger’s Bracket
Race 5 _ Bryce Sykes defeated Christian Myers (Myers finishes fifth).
Race 6 _ Isaac Pickels defeated Bryce Sykes (Sykes finishes fourth).
Race 7 _ Corey Walker defeated Isaac Pickels (Pickels finishes third).
Championship Bracket
Race 8 _ Championship: Corey Walker defeated Rylee Scala.
Race 10 (if necessary): Corey Walkers defeated Rylee Scala (Walker finishes first, Scala finishes second).
PM Single
Stock
Standings
1. Charlie Holliday; 2. Bentley Gill; 3. Addison Mello; 4. Adarsh Koneru; 5. Brantley Sykes; 6. Kaylin Keller; 7. Robert Hanna.
Winner’s Bracket
Race 1 _ Adarsh Koneru defeated Kaylin Keller.
Race 2 _ Charlie Holiday defeated Brantley Sykes.
Race 3 _ Addison Mello defeated Robert Hanna.
Race 4 _ Bentley Gill defeated Adarsh Koneru.
Race 5 _ Charlie Holliday defeated Addison Mello.
Challenger’s Bracket
Race 6 _ Brantley Sykes defeated Robert Hanna (Hanna finishes seventh).
Race 7 _ Brantley Sykes defeated Kaylin Keller (Sykes finishes fifth, Keller finishes sixth).
Race 8 _ Addison Mello defeated Adarsh Koneru (Mello finishes third, Koneru finishes fourth).
Championship
Race 9 _ Charlie Holliday defeated Bentley Gill (Holliday finishes first, Gill finishes second).
Super Stock
Standings
1. Ayva David; 2. Claire Holliday; 3. Maggie Soucey; 4. Aliviya Mello; 5. Alexa Mello; 6. Nelson Zak; 7. Madison Taylor; 8. Chloe Keller. Other Participants _ Joel Rizzo, Jackson Rochelle.
Winner’s Bracket
Race 1 _ Maggie Soucey defeated Joel Rizzo.
Race 2 _ Aliviya Mello defeated Jackson Rochelle.
Race 3 _ Claire Holliday defeated Nelson Zak.
Race 4 _ Maggie Soucey defeated Chloe Keller.
Race 5 _ Ayva David defeated Madison Taylor.
Race 6 _ Aliviya Mello defeated Alexa Mello.
Race 7 _ Claire Holliday defeated Maggie Soucey.
Race 8 _ Ayva David defeated Aliviya Mello.
Challenger’s Bracket
Race 9 _ Nelson Zak defeated Chloe Keller.
Race 10 _ Alexa Mello defeated Madison Taylor.
Race 11 _ Madison Taylor defeated Chloe Keller (Taylor finishes seventh, Keller finishes eighth).
Race 12 _ Alexa Mello defeated Nelson Zak (Mello finishes fifth, Zak finishes sixth).
Race 13 _ Maggie Soucey defeated Aliviya Mello (Soucey finishes third, Mello finishes fourth).
Championship
Race 14 _ Ayva David defeated Claire Holliday (David finishes first, Holliday finishes second).
Masters
Standings
1. Rylee Scala; 2. Isaac Pickels; 3. Bryce Sykes; 4. Christian Myers; 5. Corey Walker.
Winner’s Bracket
Race 1 _ Rylee Scala defeated Corey Walker.
Race 2 _ Isaac Pickels defeated Christian Myers.
Race 3 _ Rylee Scala defeated Bryce Sykes.
Challenger’s Bracket
Race 4 _ Bryce Sykes defeated Christian Myers (Sykes finishes third, Myers finishes fourth).
Championship
Race 5 _ Rylee Scala defeated Isaac Pickels (Scala finishes first, Pickels finishes second).
