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Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
By Kim Hone-McMahan, Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 09:49 p.m. EDT, Jul 26, 2008
Derek Mattson gently held his sweetheart's hands. Nestled beneath a lush canopy of leaves, he looked into her eyes and leaned closer to speak.
''It's lane number one, two and three!'' a voice boomed over a nearby speaker.
Ever so slowly, as if his lover weren't aware, Mattson reached his hand into the pocket of his over-sized shorts and pulled out a box. With a grin and a tear, he opened it, revealing the shiny diamond tucked inside.
Almost on cue, the sweet aroma of funnel cakes filled the air.
Elizabeth Scheurman told him that the ring was beautiful. (He was surely thinking the same about her when he placed it on her hand).
For a while now, Mattson had been trying to decide on the perfect spot to propose. The couple first met while racing their cars in a derby when they were just kids. He was about 9 when he spotted the 10-year-old beauty, who went up against him on the race track. Even today, 15 years later, they teasingly argue about who beat whom.
Considering their backgrounds, it seemed only natural that Mattson would ask Scheurman to be his wife during the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron on Saturday. It was about a decade ago that she placed ninth in the master's division.
Each year, Scheurman and her family come to Akron's Derby Downs to support the boys and girls from the Cleveland area. Her father, Keith, has been involved in the derby in Cleveland since before his daughter was born.
''We come back here for the memories,'' the future bride said.
The couple — he a Mayfield Heights resident who works as a Web site developer for Rosetta and she, a fifth-grade teacher from Euclid — said they won't be getting married for a couple of years.
As glorious as the day was for Mattson and Scheurman, a couple hundred feet away, a little girl was falling apart.
Perched on her father's knee, the child was sobbing. Seemingly too embarrassed to look at her family after losing her heat, she hung her head.
Gently, her daddy lifted her chin to look into his eyes.
''Honey, I'm just so proud of you,'' he said, kissing her blonde locks.
The stories were many at this derby, an event that's drawn thousands to Akron in its 71 years. And for some, it was worth making sacrifices for the simple honor of attending.
Hoping to get some sleep, Kelly Albertoni rested her head on a roll of paper towels inside the pavilion near the starting line and closed her eyes.
It had taken the actress, whose family lives in Hartville, three full days to arrive in Akron from California, where she is on the popular television show, House.
''I had the best childhood anyone could ask for,'' she said, noting that her family has been involved in the racing community for decades. It was something that afforded her to bond with derby enthusiasts from across the nation.
A former local Soap Box Derby racer herself, Albertoni had to put up with bad weather and delays during her trip from the West Coast to Akron. Although exhausted, she was thrilled to be at the derby, interacting with old pals.
''The derby is a part of my life and always will be,'' she said.
It was a sentiment shared Saturday by actresses and lovers.
Derek Mattson gently held his sweetheart's hands. Nestled beneath a lush canopy of leaves, he looked into her eyes and leaned closer to speak.
''It's lane number one, two and three!'' a voice boomed over a nearby speaker.
Ever so slowly, as if his lover weren't aware, Mattson reached his hand into the pocket of his over-sized shorts and pulled out a box. With a grin and a tear, he opened it, revealing the shiny diamond tucked inside.
Almost on cue, the sweet aroma of funnel cakes filled the air.
Elizabeth Scheurman told him that the ring was beautiful. (He was surely thinking the same about her when he placed it on her hand).
For a while now, Mattson had been trying to decide on the perfect spot to propose. The couple first met while racing their cars in a derby when they were just kids. He was about 9 when he spotted the 10-year-old beauty, who went up against him on the race track. Even today, 15 years later, they teasingly argue about who beat whom.
Considering their backgrounds, it seemed only natural that Mattson would ask Scheurman to be his wife during the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron on Saturday. It was about a decade ago that she placed ninth in the master's division.
Each year, Scheurman and her family come to Akron's Derby Downs to support the boys and girls from the Cleveland area. Her father, Keith, has been involved in the derby in Cleveland since before his daughter was born.
''We come back here for the memories,'' the future bride said.
The couple — he a Mayfield Heights resident who works as a Web site developer for Rosetta and she, a fifth-grade teacher from Euclid — said they won't be getting married for a couple of years.
As glorious as the day was for Mattson and Scheurman, a couple hundred feet away, a little girl was falling apart.
Perched on her father's knee, the child was sobbing. Seemingly too embarrassed to look at her family after losing her heat, she hung her head.
Gently, her daddy lifted her chin to look into his eyes.
''Honey, I'm just so proud of you,'' he said, kissing her blonde locks.
The stories were many at this derby, an event that's drawn thousands to Akron in its 71 years. And for some, it was worth making sacrifices for the simple honor of attending.
Hoping to get some sleep, Kelly Albertoni rested her head on a roll of paper towels inside the pavilion near the starting line and closed her eyes.
It had taken the actress, whose family lives in Hartville, three full days to arrive in Akron from California, where she is on the popular television show, House.
''I had the best childhood anyone could ask for,'' she said, noting that her family has been involved in the racing community for decades. It was something that afforded her to bond with derby enthusiasts from across the nation.
A former local Soap Box Derby racer herself, Albertoni had to put up with bad weather and delays during her trip from the West Coast to Akron. Although exhausted, she was thrilled to be at the derby, interacting with old pals.
''The derby is a part of my life and always will be,'' she said.
It was a sentiment shared Saturday by actresses and lovers.
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