SANFORD — The 36th year of Soap Box Derby racing in Sanford began on Saturday, September 14, at the Central Florida Soap Box Derby Complex in Mike Kirby Park with a good turnout of 26 drivers.
The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department and Central Florida Soap Box Derby opened the eight race 2024-2025 Rally Season under overcast skies with high humidity before a large crowd of family, spectators and fans.
Luckily for everyone involved, only a few drops of rain fell right at the end of the racing action and the CFSBD crew was able to get the park torn down and equipment stored away before a heavy rainstorm moved over the park.
The Stock Division featured several new entries, but it was ‘veteran’ Haley Hoagey winning both the AM Double Elimination and PM Single Elimination races over relative newcomers Addision Mello and Charlie Holliday in the morning and Weston Claxton and Holliday in the afternoon.
The Super Stock Division saw several familiar faces on the podium, led by an AM Double Elimination showdown with former World Champion Samantha Hoagey edging fierce rival Ayva David, while another familiar family name, Aliviya Mello, completed the Top 3.
David stepped up to the top step in the PM Single Elimination race over another Mello, veteran Alexa Mello, and newcomer Isabella Holliday. Samantha Hoagey was fourth.
Veteran racer Breanna Scallatino had her best day in quite awhile in the Masters Division as the young lady from Ocala won both the AM Double Elimination and PM Single Elimination races.
Last year’s season-opening winner, Corey Walker, finished second in the AM Double over first-time Masters racer Kira Hart, while Noah Gordy came out of nowhere to finish second in the PM Single over Hart and Walker.
The City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department and Central Florida Soap Box Derby will be hosting its first 2-Day Rally of the 2024-2025 season on Saturday, October 12, and Sunday, October 13, at Mike Kirby Park.
The entry fee for both days is $100 for one entry and $175 for two-or-more siblings (one day only _ $55 for one entry and $100 for two-or-more siblings). The last day to register is Tuesday, October 8.
Check in will be at 7 a.m. each day, with racing beginning at 8 a.m. and the each day consisting 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.
Racing begins at 8 a.m. and the day 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.soapboxderby.org or www.centralflorida.soapboxderby.org; [email protected], 407-353-6228, or call the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120. Information is also available at _ https://www.facebook.com/CentralFloridaSoapboxDerby/ _ especially photos and flyers.
Here are the results for the September Rally:
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Stock
AM Double
1. Haley Hoagey; 2. Addison Mello; 3. Charlie Holliday; 4. Weston Claxton; 5. Adarsh Koneru; 6. Kaylin Keller; 7. Madison Taylor; 8. Violet Jennings. Other participants _ Brantley Sykes; Caroliah Taylor.
PM Single
1. Haley Hoagey; 2. Weston Claxton; 3. Charlie Holliday; 4. Kaylin Keller; 5. Brantley Sykes; 6. Adarsh Koneru; 7. Addison Mello; 8. Caroliah Taylor. Other participants _ Madison Taylor.
Super Stock
AM Double
1. Samantha Hoagey; 2. Ayva David; 3. Aliviya Mello; 4. Charles Connor; 5. Alexa Mello; 6. Christian Mello; 7. Isabella Holliday; 8. Maggie Soucey. Other participants _ London Jennings; Isaac Pickles.
PM Single
1. Ayva David; 2. Alexa Mello; 3. Isabella Holliday; 4. Samantha Hoagey; 5. Isaac Pickles; 6. Christian Myers; 7. Aliviya Mello; 8. Charles Connor. Other participants _ Maggie Soucey.
Masters
AM Double
1. Brianna Scallatino; 2. Corey Walker; 3. Kira Hart; 4. Bryce Sykes; 5. Chloe Keller; 6. Noah Gordy.
PM Single
1. Brianna Scallatino; 2. Noah Gordy; 3. Kira Hart; 4. Corey Walker; 5. Bryce Sykes; 6. Chloe Keller.
