TYNE VALLEY, P.E.I. - Kids of all ages raced their homemade non-motorized contraptions in a ‘gravity’ race along a closed-off section on Route 12 in Tyne Valley, Saturday morning.
Andrew Williams built a small boat for his son, Logan, to roll off the ramp and zoom down 500 feet of hill in the Soap Box Derby.
“I fish for lobsters, so I made a replica of my vessel with the same name called Go Deep. My friend and I made it over a couple of weeks,” he commented. “This is the second year we have raced, and all our family are here to show their support.”
Among the crowd of spectators lining the street and cheering on competitors was Tanya Staples.
“My son and daughter (Julian and Marlaena) are both racing today and it’s a huge highlight for the kids because it paves the way to the Oyster Festival, which is next weekend,” she chimed.
Staples noted the event brings out the community spirit.
“It’s such a great event for the people of Tyne Valley, and our kids love all the driving along with decorating of their cars. And one of the greatest things is that the children get so many opportunities to race, it’s not just one and done. In many cases they race three to seven times.”
The community created the derby as an event geared towards children during the annual Tyne Valley Oyster Festival.
“This is our fourth year our kids have participated,” continued Staples. “We come from Ontario and spend our summers here because my husband’s family are from this area, but the race is a highlight for our kids.”
Each driver has four timed races (two in each lane) and the best combined time is the winner of the ‘All-American Superstock Division.’
Younger kids participate in the GoDerby race, which is comprised of cars made from kits that the family builds and then designs or decorates to their liking. The All-American Superstock Division is for ages 10 and up and corporately sponsored, according to organizer Rob MacNeill.
“The All-American cars are all the same, including the weight with the driver inside,” he said.
Carter DesRoches, from Micouche, is the winner of the All-American cars’ division and will travel to Akron, Ohio, to participate in the All-American Soap Box Derby next summer. The 12-year-old was sponsored by the P.E.I. Bag Company.
And the winners are:
GoDerby Cars A Division
- Winner and grand champion, Zachary McNeill
- Second place is Zachary MacLeod
- Third place is Syra Rogerson.
B Division
- Winner, Jackson Grigg
- Second place, Dawson Badali
- Third place, Wesley McKone.
All-American Division Superstock Heats:
- Winner, Carter DesRoches, who was sponsored by the P.E.I. Bag Company
- In second place is Ben MacMillan, who was sponsored by Standard Aero
- And in third place is Miley Moore, who is sponsored by West Isle Enterprises Ltd.
Race heats started at 9 a.m. and wrapped up around 1 p.m.
