Soap box racers take to 4th annual event

From the Sunday, June, 15, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Soap box racers take to 4th annual event
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

If Emily Woo ever races professionally, she’ll have no problem building a fan base.

About 20 of her relatives came to see her race Saturday in the sixth annual All-American Soap Box Derby, hosted by the McHenry Kiwanis Club.

“Her great-uncle lives on the street, so she decided to try it,” said Woo’s uncle, Bob Hurckes, who wore a red polo shirt with “Emily Woo Racing #11” embroidered on the back. “I think she’ll race again.”

Woo, of McHenry, was one of 32 area children who raced Kiwanis stock cars down Waukegan Road from Third Street just past Green Street.

“The competition is great; kids really enjoy it,” event organizer Jim Marinangel said.

Marinangel, a Kiwanian for 34 years, said he liked “everything” about the derby.

“It’s boys versus girls, 8-year-olds versus 13-year-olds,” he said.

“Everybody drives identical cars,” Marinangel said. “It comes down to who can prepare the car the best and who can drive the best.”

Each driver raced twice down the track, and the driver who was recorded as driving fastest during the two combined trials advanced to the next round. By the end of the day, the racers had driven down the street 128 times, Jim Marinangel said.

“It’s a real Americana,” Marinangel said.

Brandon Johnson, the first place winner, will receive $1000 cash prize to travel to the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship next month in Akron, Ohio.

Dave and Mel Tomei of Spring Grove came to the derby to spend the day with their 10-year-old daughter, Molly, and one of her friends.

“It’s fun to watch,” Mel Tomei said.

The Tomeis said they watch the derby almost every year, and are hoping Molly will race next year.

“It’s really a sport made for girls,” Dave Tomei said.

For 8-year-old racer Dalton Hoefke of Rock Falls, the best part of racing was going down the hill.

“I feel excited,” Hoefke said. “I thought it’d be fun and it is.”