Races that go to the swift

Michael Barnard of Jackson may only be 9 years old, but already he talks like an expert in Soap Box Derby racing.

"You have to keep your head low and stay in the middle," Michael said. "And you have to find the smoothest and best track."

In one particular heat, his philosophy of staying in the middle didn't work so well, as his derby car bumped the curb and slowed him down, letting his opponent, 8-year-old Kayla Thurman of Fruitland, take the race. But the loss didn't ruin his day.

"I like it because it's a lot of fun," Michael said. "You get to meet new people."

Michael and Kayla were two of 29 area children from ages 8 to 15 who took part in Saturday's annual Rotary Club and Southeast Missouri Hospital Soap Box Derby.

Sprigg Street was blocked off from Lexington Avenue to Bertling Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as the racers zoomed down the 900-foot incline in their motorless cars, reaching speeds of 25 mph.

The winners are determined by the difference between the finish times of the two cars. Although the east lane is faster than the west lane, each racer gets two trips down the hill in each heat to compensate.

For safety purposes, hay bales were placed at the bottom of the track, and they came in handy, as some racers like Kayla needed them to stop their cars.

Running into the bales didn't scare Kayla, though.

"I think it's cool," she said.

The derby features two types of cars -- the smaller stocks in red and blue and the older racers' larger, sleeker super-stocks, which can be painted a variety of colors.

Garrett Brown, an 11-year-old racer from Jackson, had his super-stock tricked out with red flames on a black background and the words "Silent but Deadly" painted on the sides.

Nathan Davis, 14, of Jackson, had his super-stock done in an American flag pattern that his father, Randy, helped him paint. Nathan was one of the more experienced racers at the derby, this being his fifth year racing.

However, he's about to get too tall for the super-stock, meaning this could be his last year. Racing is something Nathan will miss.

"I do it for the fun and excitement," Nathan said. "It's a rush when you're going down the hill."

Nathan's mother Carolyn, who also sponsored his car, sat in the pit area. Carolyn has encouraged Nathan throughout his career.

"We enjoy coming and supporting him," she said. "It's a good activity for kids his age."

But children weren't the only ones racing. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and state Sen. Jason Crowell showed up for a special celebrity race at 11 a.m., using larger adult cars to accommodate their size.

Crowell did stretches before the race while Kinder tried to psyche him out.

"I loaded my car with bricks. Have you?" Kinder asked Crowell.

Crowell said the event appealed to the kid in him. "These are the fun things I get to do as part of my job."

Crowell ended up beating Kinder despite Kinder's imaginary brick load. The senator said the real winner, though, is the Rotary Club and the charities the club benefits.

Tracey Glenn, one of the event's organizers, said the club raised $18,575 to give to charity. Of that, 25 percent will go to Rotary International; the rest will go to local groups that request funding, such as the SEMO Network Against Sexual Violence, the United Way and Habitat for Humanity, among others.

And as long as the races keep going, the racers will be there. The derby has become a family tradition for many.

The Davis family already has another racer in training. Even if Nathan can't carry on the name next year, his 7-year-old brother, Ben, is ready to go.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182