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This picture is from New York City in the early 1900's. Is shows a boy pushing a little girl in a soap box derby car. It is interesting that the car does not appear to have enough leg room for anything more than a very small child. I think Soap Box Derby's are almost forgotten today, but they used to be a really big thing.Friday, April 3, 2009
Soap Box Derby
This picture is from New York City in the early 1900's. Is shows a boy pushing a little girl in a soap box derby car. It is interesting that the car does not appear to have enough leg room for anything more than a very small child. I think Soap Box Derby's are almost forgotten today, but they used to be a really big thing.
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Just saw a show on TLC; Clean Sweep; and this guy had a valve cover racer. Said it was the soap box derby but for adults. It was actually made out of a cars valve cover and had a little driver sitting it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ridgenet.net/~biesiade/Valvecover.htm
This photo reminds me of the old black and white "Spanky and Our Gang" films.
ReplyDeleteI used to love to watch them when I was a kid. Once a month they used to show them after school in the cafeteria in my elementary school.
I always thought it was a big deal!
I forgot - did you notice - NO helmets!!! They were probably unheard of in those days.
ReplyDeleteAnd . . . I especially like the cap and the knickers on the boy.
It looks as if it was really fun.
Soapbox derby cars were a lot of fun until you reached the bottom of a big hill and suddenly remembered...
ReplyDeleteNO BRAKES...
Dan
There is actually a big soapbox derby following out here in my town in Oregon, there is even a race hill at the college in town.
ReplyDeleteRed Bull sponsor a lot of soap box derbys http://www.redbullsoapboxusa.com/Gallery.aspx
ReplyDeleteI love the steering mechanism... a rope tied to the axle by each wheel.
ReplyDeletei am writing a report on this picture i think the reason soap box derbys were so big back then is or was (excuse my grammar) because now adays kids have advantages over kids back then with advancements in tech but it would still be fun i would make my car with a skate board and disc brakes lol ps x box 360 yay ^.^
ReplyDeleteActually, I think the advantage was to the kids back then, who could build something cool out of scrap material. They made something good, and grew up to build great things. I am not sure what advantage an X-box offers . . . what will those children grow up to build
ReplyDeletegood point but u have to admit the kids that actually try in todays society can build some crazy things out of our generations advanced scrap lol oh and do u happen 2 know wat camera was used 2 take this pic and maybe they should hold soap box derbys today ?
ReplyDeletefred,
ReplyDeleteI will admit that children who do decide to be inventive have great opportunity today. I am concerned when young people do not write propper sentences (u for you, 2 for two). I sometimes wonder if we have a generation of illiterate children.
There is still a huge amount of kids into soap box derby. The All-American championship race is held in Akron, OH every July. Kids from around the world come to race for scholarships and plain old braggin' rights. There is probably a local organization not too far from you. Check out www.asbd.com or www.louisvillesoapboxderby.com. It has evolved from the picture a lot, but the idea and spirit is the same.
ReplyDelete