It's time to go racing again in Kansas City! The September 24th and 25th rally will be an NDR sanctioned race. Drivers must be at least 7 years old on the day of the race and no older than 20.

We are still waiting to hear from our master BBQ chef, Terry Henry, whether we will be having our traditional Chicken BBQ after Saturday night's race. Just in case, come ready to eat, because it will be DELICIOUS!

Families will be electing officers to the KC Soap Box Derby Board for 2012 at our Fall Rally. Ballots will be available at the scorer's table.

TRACK PREPARATION DAY SEPTEMBER 17TH

Come to the track early (e.g. 8:30 - 9:00am) on Sept. 17 to help prepare the track for the race. There is always mowing and weed-eating to be done. Many hands make light work.

NEW ALL-AMERICAN SOAP BOX DERBY RULES EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!

Last week the Board of Directors of the All-American Soap Box Derby voted to change the age of Stock car drivers to 7 years old by the day of the race for both Rally and Local races. Also, the maximum weight for car plus driver in the Super Stock Division has been changed from 230 pounds to 240 pounds. These changes are effective immediately. Even though this does not affect our rally race in September because it is an NDR Rally, this would be important for those of you who are considering traveling to an out of town AA rally.

ANOTHER ROOKIE DAY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, 1-3PM

Interested in maybe trying out a Soap Box Derby car before you commit to the sport? Here is the opportunity to test drive a Soap Box Derby car on our hill. We will have soap box derby cars available for any boy or girl age 7 to 20 to try out. Of course, new drivers never start out from the top of the hill. We always make sure that each driver fits in the car properly and can reach the brake pedal. Then we take them part way down the hill and let them coast to the bottom. If we feel they can handle it, we gradually let them start out higher and higher on the hill until they are ready to start from the top. A fully weighted car, released from the top of the hill, will reach close to 30 mph at the finish line. Drivers who can drive successfully from the top of the hill will be issued an Official KC Soap Box Derby Driver's License.

Hey, if you like it, maybe you can ask for a Soap Box Derby car for Christmas!

2011 ALL-AMERICAN LOCAL RACE WINNERS

Congratulations to our 2011 All-American Local Race Winners: Stock Division-Preston Gover (right); Super Stock Division-China Edwards (left); and Masters Division-Chayse Eby (center).

Stock Division	Super Stock Division	Masters Division
1. Preston Gover	1. China Edwards	1. Chayse Eby
2. Luke Fortner	2. Dawson Dowdall	2. Bryanna Plog
3. Julian Darling	3. Grace Stephens	3. Brayzia Bailey
4. Hunter Hawkins	4. Tony Robinson	4. Michael Miller
5. Oakley Barham	5. Jessica Ball	5. Aaron Kennedy
6. Samantha McGhee	6. Christian Fortner	6. Jerry Edwards
7. Joe Tillery	7. Kenny Distefano	7. Jerome Schmidt
8. Rebekah Emhoff	8. Joey Meara

Thank you to the following businesses and individuals who donated items to our AA Local Racers:

ALL-AMERICAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to China Edwards, Kansas City’s Super Stock Division winner in our AA Local Race, who took 3^rd place in the All-American World Championship Race on July 23^rd! By winning the Super Stock Division in our Local Race, China was following in the footsteps of her cousin, Jerry Edwards, who won in 2010. China traveled to Akron with her aunt and uncle, Debbie and Jon Edwards and Jerry, who was a Region IV rally champ this year. Dave Bricker, who has sponsored China’s car for several years, also went along to cheer on his champion driver. And there was a lot to cheer about. China went down the hill five times in her bright pink Super Stock car. She raced in Lane 1 once, Lane 2 once, and Lane 3 three times, winning every time except the last, which gave her third place in the Super Stock Division.

Praise also goes to Oakley Barham who took 4^th place in the World Rally Championship Race also held July 23^rd in Akron. Oakley was one of our Region IV Rally Stock Champs. This was Oakley's first trip to Akron, but his mom, Heather, raced in Akron in 1995 and 1996. Heather's dad came along on the trip with the rest of the family and was able to be Oakley's car handler at the starting ramps, bringing back some special memories. Oakley competed against 53 other cars to take his 4^th place trophy. He won his first two heats. That placed him in the Top 9. In his next heat, he took second place, which meant he would be racing for 4^th, 5^th or 6^th place in the next round. He won that next heat giving him 4^th place overall. An interesting piece of trivia is that many of the Stock Car heats were clocking faster times than the Super Stock heats in Akron this year. Go figure.

Also representing Kansas City in Akron this year was Preston Gover, our Local Stock Division winner. Preston said his favorite part of the race week in Akron was the Sign-In Ceremony where he got to throw out souvenirs from our area. Preston tossed out Frisbees, pens, coffee cups and a cooler. Ouch! He said he was “kinda nervous” about competing on race day, but he would be happy to go again next year even though he didn’t win any heats.

Chayse Eby of Bellevue, NE represented KC and Region IV in the Masters Division. He won his first heat of the day against two other cars. He lost his second heat to Vanessa Williamson, who wound up taking second place overall.

Jerry Edwards and Aaron Kennedy were also Region IV Champs in the Super Stock and Masters Divisions respectively. Both drivers had been to Akron before. Unfortunately neither one won any heats.

NDR NATIONALS MOVING TO KENTUCKY

The NDR has announced that the NDR Nationals will be held in Bowling Green, KY in 2012 and 2013. For the past two years the NDR Nationals have been held in Akron the week after the All-American World Championships. But while the All-American World Championships are always held in Akron, OH, the NDR Nationals moves around the country. This enables kids from different parts of the country to participate in a national event. The NDR is very excited about what the town of Bowling Green has to offer visitors.

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGNS

This fall many companies will be launching United Way campaigns. Those who give may designate specific not-for-profit organizations that are not included in United Way's list of supported agencies. Some employers even have matching-gift programs. Please consider designating a gift to the KC Soap Box Derby, which is registered as a 501(c)3 corporation with the Missouri Secretary of State as Mid-America Soap Box Derby, c/o Roy Fortner, 2504 NW Overbrook, Lee's Summit, MO 64081.

BOARD MEETINGS

All participants in the Soap Box Derby are welcome to attend our Board Meetings. The Board Meetings times are listed on the Calendar page of our website. Upcoming Board Meetings this fall will be held:

Monday, September 12, 7pm at Jon & Debbie Edwards', 14268 W 124th, Olathe, KS See map
Monday, October 10, 7pm at Steve & Ann Yonker's, 976 NW High Point Dr, Lee's Summit, MO. See map
Monday, November 14, 7pm at Steve & Ann Yonker's, 976 NW High Point Dr, Lee's Summit, MO. See map

Hope you can come share your ideas and offer your skills.

FALL RALLY SEPTEMBER 24 & 25