Soap box derby a tradition

Lions, Tigers, Bears, Wolves and Webelows compete in soap box derby

By Scott Baker

Published Jul 10, 2012 at 4:54 pm (Updated Jul 10, 2012)

Photos

Kenny Coffaro, 7, of Hardyston acknowledges the fans on his way to victory at the Soap Box Derby on Main Street in Franklin. Photo by John Church
Noah DeRenzo, 5, speeds to the finish line at Cub Scout Pack 90's annual Soap Box Derby. Noah finished in first place for the 5- to 7-year-old competition. Photo by Scott Baker
Older racers get to start from a ramp to build more speed. Photo by Scott Baker
Cub Scout Pack 90 member Jacob Banfield speeds toward the finish line. Photo by Scott Baker
Racers Tristan Santiago and Ben Drumm get helped back on track after a gentle crash during Cub Scout Pack 90's annual Soap Box Derby. Photo by Scott Baker
A spectator with quick reflexes catches a driver after a crash. Photo by John Church
Pack leader leaps out of the way. Photo by John Church

FRANKLIN � The sun was shining on Franklin Borough�s Main Street this past Sunday for Cub Scout Pack 90�s annual soap box derby.

The day started out with the Lions and Tigers racing down the blocked off street, the natural slope of the roadway their only means of power. In all, some 30 Scouts from six different packs raced in five age groups including Lions (5-6), Tigers (6-7), Wolves (7-8), Bears (8-9) and Webelos (9-10).

After the younger Scouts finished competing, the start line was moved farther up the street and ramps were added so the final three groups of Scouts could gain more speed on their way down the hill. In both divisions, the rules were the same: each Scout had two shots to reach the finish line and the faster of their runs counted as their official time.

Winners named
In the Lions and Tigers group, Noah DeRenzo of Pack 90 took first place with a time of 26.38. Five-year-old Noah said his favorite part of the day was �winning.� He said that last year he raced down the hill and didn�t win anything, but he was happy he beat his brother Luke.

Second place went to Kenny Coffaro of Pack 298 with a time of 28 0 and third place went to Mitchell Banfield of Pack 90 with a time of 28.25.

For the Wolves, Bears, and Webelos competition, first place went to Jacob Moro of Pack 96 with a time of 29.91.

Second place went to Dylan Nosti of Pack 85 with a time of 30.44 and third place went to Nate Van Auken of Pack 96 with a time of 30.69.

Long held tradition
Each of the six place winners received a trophy and overall winner Jacob Moro got an award from a very special race viewer � a starter set of state quarters given by Bob Allen, who has a rich history with the Main Street Soap Box Derby.

Allen, an 84-year-old Franklin resident, raced in the Main Street Soap Box Derby when he was 14 years old � in 1941. This year, when he wasn�t helping the pack leaders by driving the Scouts� cars back to the top of the hill, he was proudly showing off printed pages from the 1941 Zinc Magazine that told the story of his special day. �I got more enjoyment that day than I think I�ve ever done,� he recalled.

He pointed out the number of Franklin residents crowding Main Street in the 70-year-old photo and compared it to the number watching on Sunday, wondering why the event isn�t drawing the same crowd that it used to. Allen made it clear that he, at least, will always support the Cub Scout race.

�I�m gonna go to these till the race ever stops or I stop,� he said.

Pack 90 Cubmaster Carlos Soares said that Allen gives the winner the state quarter starter set every year.