By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
HOULTON — On Saturday at 8 a.m. Soap Box Derby racers will begin experiencing the “Thrill of the Hill.”
Third-year Director Chris Holmes is anticipating another great race because of those involved on race day.
“It’s a group effort,” he said. “It is truly is.”
From the racers and their families, scorers, timers, announcer, starter at the top and the Zoo Crew at the bottom of the hill, they all make the race run smoothly.
Holmes, who won the Director’s Award a year ago in Akron, said he wouldn’t take the time to head up the derby without the support of the whole committee and people behind him.
Holmes was introduced to the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby when his oldest son, Jeffrey, began racing two or three years after the inception of the derby on Drake’s Hill. All of Holmes’ children, Joe and Rebekah, raced with Rebekah being named the Super Stock champion last year.
Derby Hill in Community Park was created in 2000, along with a building at the top of Derby Hill provided by Rotary Club, lights were added a few years ago to the track and Camden has lent Houlton on an indefinite loan their trailer at the finish line.
“The two weakest points I see are getting new committee members involved and keeping cars going,” said Holmes. “Part of why I am still here is there is a need to be here. I welcome new ideas. Sometimes I don’t think outside of the box, but we have had enough years of fine tuning and honing the race that we have a pretty well-oiled machine.”
In Saturday’s race there are about 38 racers, down from 43 last year.
“If we continue to lose three to five racers a year, it is not going to help the program,” said Holmes. “In the last couple of years, we continue to see it shrink. I don’t know how long it will hold on the way it is. What we have for a hill, equipment and the history we have here it would be a shame to see it go.”
Soap Box Derby racers are eight to 17 years old. The main corps of racers falls within the 8-12 brackett.
“Finding them cars that are upgraded is a challenge,” said Holmes. “We are not the only ones having this issue, derbies across the nation are having growing pains that way with a weak economy. Other areas that had flourished when we weren’t are now dealing with things similar to what we are.”
This year, two cars were sponsored and put together within the Wellington and Houlton Southside schools.
“This was filling one of the needs for racers,” said Holmes. “We have people who look for cars each year, but having cars that are upgraded so they can continue in the race is the weak side of the equation. A lot of the young kids that are searching for a car they may have a parent who is mildly interested, but they are not going to chase it like I have done and a few other parents have done.”
Holmes believes it is easier to get kids involved in the derby, but they need a parent or mentor to support them in the commitment.
“I’ve enjoyed the program and seeing the new kids come,” said Holmes. “That first trip down the hill, they’ve made it and they look back up that hill, they are half trembling and the look on their face … our logo is ‘Thrill of Hill’ and I think that is very fitting. Those kids come down there and they haven’t been down that hill before, and they are almost scared to go back, their heart is right in their throat, and they are thinking that was fun. I don’t know if I want to do it again yet, but I think I want to do it again.”
Anyone who would like to see what the committee does on race day, head up to Community Park Saturday and check it out. For anyone interested in becoming involved more in the derby, call Holmes at 532-9889 or any committee member.
