Events Calendar
In This Section
Humane Society poised to move into new, bigger space
Local duo develop kits to dispose of prescriptions
Theft, fraud allegations leave family in turmoil
Delhomme chose Browns for chance to start
Intoxicated, suicidal educator apprehended after chilling drive in park
Most Read Stories
Iraq veteran dies after shooting near UA stadium
Theft, fraud allegations leave family in turmoil
Intoxicated, suicidal educator apprehended after chilling drive in park
Man breaks into house, flees when owner wakes up
Teen accused of drinking, dancing topless in club
Cavs to negotiate for Ilgauskas' return
Barberton man hit by vehicle after fight dies
Area Marine shot in Afghanistan dies
Blogs:
Akron Docs in Haiti:
Almost home
First Bell - On Education:
Strange, sad story from Canton
Pets:
Found: White Eskimo male dog near Bath and State Rd.
The Heldenfiles:
Amanpour To Anchor "This Week"
Akron Zips:
Looking back on the season
Tribe Matters:
Cabrera says it’s time to play
Cleveland Browns:
Yates latest to re-sign
Balanced Ledger:
How times have changed?
Kent State Sports:
Kent State beats Tulsa in NIT; Will face Illinois on ESPNU
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Highlights from Wednesday’s Cavs-Pacers Game
Buckeye Blogging:
Bucks High Seed – Turner High Praise
Varsity Letters:
Smithville falls 56-34 to Liberty-Benton
All Da King's Men:
ObamaCare To Reduce Premiums By 3000% ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Why Republicans Are Acting So Crazy
Akron Law Café:
Does Capitalism Inspire "Moral Flexibility"?
Car Chase:
2010 CONCOURS SEASON IS UPON US
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Deals in Miami?!.
Sound Check:
Willie Nelson & Family coming to the Akron Civic Theatre May 11
See Jane Style:
Who Wore What – The Oscars
HRLite House:
Horses of Courses
Akron Gamer:
PlayStation's Move ups the interaction, fidelity
Sarah Whitaker, 10, of Norton, turns parent's advice into crown in derby stock division in only her second year of competing
By Jim Mackinnon
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Sunday, Jul 26, 2009
Sarah Whitaker is more than happy her mom urged her to try Soap Box Derby racing two years ago.
That little push turned the 10-year-old from Norton into a world champion Saturday at the 72nd All-American Soap Box Derby.
Sarah, a student at Miller South school in Akron, won the championship heat in the stock division race with a time of 29.66 down the hill.
''Amazing. I just loved it,'' she said. ''I felt incredible. Words cannot describe it.''
Sarah is just the 15th Akron-area resident to win an All-American spot in derby history, said Jeff Iula, the event's general manager.
Sarah's uncle, Jon Underwood, who raced as a youth himself, rushed over and swept her up in his arms after the final races concluded at Derby Downs.
''You did it! You did it!'' he said. Thirteen members of the family have participated in derby racing, going back to his father in 1946, and Sarah is their first champion, he said.
''My mom made me try it first,'' Sarah said. ''Then I just fell in love with it.''
Her father, Jim Whitaker, said he wasn't really expecting a championship this weekend.
''It's only the second year she's been racing here,'' he said.
Gray skies, occasional wind gusts and an off-and-on light rain did little to spoil the all-day racing event and conclusion to the derby.
Police and race officials estimated about 16,000 attended the event, Iula said.
''That's a little bit better than last year,'' he said. ''We were very happy.''
Wisconsin had its first champion, while the Cleveland area had its second champion, Iula said.
Other winners were equally excited.
''It's kind of hard to describe,'' said Alex Seither, 12, from Mason, Ohio. He won the super stock division in his third year of derby racing. ''A lot of things go through your head.''
His mother, Kara, wasn't at much of a loss for words.
''I'm ecstatic,'' she said. ''We never dreamed this morning this is how the day would end.''
Racer 'aging out'
Masters rally winner Megan Hydutsky, 17, of Pottstown, Pa., said she was feeling ''awesome.''
She has been racing for seven years, won her local a year ago and amassed enough points this season to qualify to race in Akron.
''My goal was to just place. This works better,'' Megan said. ''I'm really happy. It's my last year racing. I age out.''
The racers weren't the only ones having fun.
Derby mascot Ducky Downs, aka Kristin Sarver, 22, of Ellet, was getting lots of attention from the preschool set.
The University of Akron graduate, who has been the derby mascot for six years, said her most bizarre moment as Ducky was when she scared a female lion at the Akron Zoological Park during a derby event.
''She would hide behind the male lion every time she saw me,'' Sarver said.
Larry Yacovazzi, owner of Custom Apparel of Akron, has sold custom T-shirts at the derby for 15 years. Each February, employees begin to design six new T-shirts.
''It's like a rock concert with wholesome people. Obviously, we do this for profit, but we love the people,'' Yacovazzi said.
At the finish line Saturday, Juergen Sucksdorff of Berlin, Germany, was again selling the toy cars he's brought to the derby for the past 21 years. The bodies of the $14 souvenirs, made in Madagascar out of soda cans, resemble derby cars. He said the profits will go to UNICEF.
Trophy winners
Lynne Collier, rally coordinator for the derby, spent part of Saturday afternoon e-mailing the names of the final top nine winners to the trophy company. Before the conclusion of the program, the names were etched on metal plates and attached to the trophies.
''It's a team effort,'' she said.
Noriko Yamamoto of Hadano City, near Tokyo, has been Japan's race director since she started the competition there 10 years ago.
''Nobody knows about it [the derby] in Japan,'' she said.
Yamamoto said her husband, who works in research and development for Toyota Motor Co., taught her about the race after learning about it on TV.
''He knew about it from watching the Little Rascals in the 1960s. It was his favorite TV program,'' she said.
The Yamamato's son, Taka, 12, was a super stock champ last summer, she said.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Staff Writer Kathy Antoniotti contributed to this report.
Sarah Whitaker is more than happy her mom urged her to try Soap Box Derby racing two years ago.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
mayberry, oh
Posted 07:28 AM, 07/26/2009
good clean fun! we should try to get the inter-city youths of Akron to partake in the derby
Posted 08:48 AM, 07/26/2009
Congrats racers and hope the Derby is here for many more years. Congrats Sarah; I think I saw your Uncle Jon race. I hope I get to go next year; it is even exciting when you don't know any of the kids racing. I used to go every year when I was a kid in the 60's and I have gone as an adult too.
Please businesses support the Derby and keep them rolling down the big hill in Akron, Ohio USA.
Canton, OH
Posted 02:02 PM, 07/26/2009
ConGrats to the Norton Pantherette. . .
Posted 10:13 PM, 07/26/2009
I've had the opportunity several times, to be at the run out area after the finish line, as they get out of their cars.
To say the least, it will bring a tear to your eyes. What great kids and families !
