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Soap Box Derby cancels July championship races in Akron due to COVID-19

The last time the Soap Box Derby competition was canceled was during World War II, when there was a four-year hiatus from 1942 through 1945.

AKRON, Ohio — One of Akron's most beloved and long running summer events will not be taking place this year. 

On Tuesday, the International Soap Box Derby (ISBD) announced that it is canceling the 83rd FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby scheduled for Saturday, July 25, at Derby Downs in Akron. 

Mark Gerberich, ISBD’s president and chief executive officer, said cancelation of the championship race is in an abundance of caution for the health of racers, their families, volunteers, staff and spectators during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the high number of local Soap Box Derby races and rallies around the country that could not be held because of local health restrictions. 

“Over the past two months, we have been closely monitoring COVID restrictions in Ohio and local communities around the United States, as well as looking at various ways to safely stage the July championship event in Akron,” Gerberich said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we concluded the best action is to postpone the 83rd running of the world championship races until 2021.”

Typically, more than 400 boys and girls compete in their gravity-powered race cars in the annual world championship races in Akron.

The only other time the Soap Box Derby competition was canceled was during World War II, when there was a four-year hiatus from 1942 through 1945. 

In mid-March, ISBD officials suspended all Soap Box Derby activities through April.  In May, local race organizations could re-start racing events in compliance with state and local COVID restrictions in their communities.

“There is such a wide variety of safety restrictions among states and when these restrictions might be lifted, it is difficult to plan with certainty on how many additional local races could run between now and the end of June,” Gerberich added. 

In addition, the Soap Box Derby STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) summer camps at Derby Downs scheduled in June also are canceled.

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