A History of the Marietta Soap Box Derby

 

Soap Box Derby racing has been present in Georgia off and on since the 1960’s from the information we’ve been able to gather.

 

In 2003 Marietta Kiwanis President, Devan Seabaugh picked up some literature on the All American Soap Box Derby at the 2003 Kiwanis International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. He returned to Marietta and agreed to serve as Derby Director and organize an event for 2004 if the Kiwanis Club of Marietta would agree to donate seed money in the amount of $10,000. The Board of Directors, under the leadership of President Jan Blodgett unanimously agreed and Marietta, Georgia signed on with the All American Soap Box Derby International organization to host a local qualifying event.

 

Under the advice and guidance of Norman Perry, the All American Soap Box Derby Region VII Regional Director and the visual affects obtained from watching the Disney movie, “Miracle in Lane 2”, Marietta hosted its first officially sanctioned race. A pre-race festival was held Friday, May 14, 2004 at Six Flags White Water Park where racers where all introduced and adults got to experience the thrill of the hill, taking their turns in specially built adult soap box racers patterned after the Oil Can Racers of 1935. The Inaugural Derby Race was held on Saturday, May 15, 2004, in the parking lot of Six Flag White Water Park. The sun was shining and the spirit of competition was in the air. Thirty-two racers, 18 Stock Division Racers and 14 Super Stock Division racers competed for the local Championship. The final races in both division were decided by a race off with Jack VanNuis edging out Amanda Walker in the Stock Division and Heather Graham edging out Kinsey Trazcinski in the Super Stock Division. In the Stock Division, Amanda Walker took second, Heidi Seabaugh third and Vincent “Vinny” Liccardo fourth. In the Super Stock Division, Kinsey Trazcinski placed second, Zach DeBoy third and Sam Gantt fourth. In 2005 the race was moved to its current location at Marietta High School where the track measures approximately 500’ with a 50’ runout area.

 

In 2004 the Marietta Soap Box Derby was recognized by the All American Soap Box Derby International as an outstanding new race city. In 2006, the Marietta Derby was recognized as a finalist for having one of the best local race programs in the world. In 2008, the All American Soap Box Derby, International recognized Marietta Race Director Devan Seabaugh as an outstanding Local Race Director.

 

Since that first race in 2004, multiple Champions have represented the city of Marietta, Cobb County and the State of Georgia at the All American Soap Box Derby World Championship Race in Akron, Ohio each year. It wasn’t until 2008 at the AASBD World Championships that Marietta’s presence was finally realized when Marietta’s Local Champion Heidi Seabaugh placed 2nd in the world in the Master Division and Leah Garren placed third in the world in the Rally Masters Division. Marietta Local Stock Champion, Aaron Hill placed 9th in the World in the Stock Division. The Marietta Soap Box Derby continues the annual tradition each year with the help and support of the Marietta Kiwanis Club, local businesses in our community and the support of local government officials.

 

Marietta Soap Box Derby –AASBD Local Champions

 

	Stock Division	Super Stock Division	Masters Division
2004	Jack VanNuis	Heather Graham	No Race
2005	Heidi Seabaugh	Abigail Seabaugh	No Race
2006	Ambree Garren	Leah Garren	No Race
2007	Erin Fernandez	William Herman	Leah Garren
2008	Aaron Hill	Ambree Garren	Heidi Seabaugh
2009	Katy Williams	Nolan Zeigler	No Race
2010	Ivy Macdonald	Cody Williams	Ambree Garren
2011	Nevin Zeigler	Sam Manzo	None

 

Local Rally Champions

 

	Stock Division	Super Stock Division	Masters Division
2007	Ambree Garren	None	None
2008	Katie Williams Cody Williams	None	Leah Garren
2009	None	Ambree Garre Katy Williams	None
2010	Nevin Zeigler Ivy Macdonald	Drew Exley Katy Williams Cody Willams Nolan Zeigler	Ambree Garren
2011	Ivy Macdonald	Katy Williams	Ambree Garren