May 24th, 2008 - Inspection day is FAST approaching on Saturday, May 31st.  All racers should have received a confirmation letter of registration by now.  If you did not, you can see the general letter here.  In that letter was each racer's appointment time for inspection day.  You can also see those scheduled times here.

As a reminder to racers:  For inspection day, you need to bring your smile, your car, any weights the car had from previous years and your official AASBD helmet that came with the car (if you don't have the official helmet and the car has raced before - contact last year's driver - you need the official helmet.)

Inspection day is a lot of fun and a great opportunity to see all the cars and meet your fellow participants!  The Optimist Members can't wait to meet all of you!! 

May 15th, 2008 - Registration is closed - let the racing begin!  As we assembled all the registrations and start creating the race around the most important people of all - our racers - please realize that not all confirmation letters have been sent out.  All registrations that have been received to this date have been posted  on the 2008 Racers to Date page of this website.  All racers should have their confirmation letters by the end of this week.  The next two important dates to know include the Inpsection Day (Saturday, May 31st at the Bump Shop) and Race Day (Saturday, June 7th).  Also - if you have not sent in your racer's picture or biography please do so immediately to membership@quincyboc.org.  We have a total of 64 racers in this year's 2008 Soap Box Derby Race!

April 26th, 2008 - Just received notice that we will be spot #29 in the Dogwood Parade.  Line-up time is 8:00am as requested by the parade coordinator.  The parade starts at 24th & Maine street and runs until 6th & Maine street.  The parade line up will start moving at 8:45am with the first entry beginning the parade at approximately 9:30am.    Again, if you want to bring your soap box derby car, please make sure you have someone with you to help you pull the car while you sit in it.  Please make your own arrangements to get yourself and the car back to the starting point.  If you do not want to bring your derby car, you are welcome to walk with us!

April, 2008 - Last car building clinic is fast approaching - this Sunday, April 6th, at the Bump Shop from 1-4pm...

We will showcasing drivers and their cars in this year's Dogwood Parade again..all are welcome to participate with us..more details coming soon.  

Registration deadline is fast approaching...get your registrations in to lock in your early spot for inspection day!

February, 2008 - Congratulations to Tanner Kennedy and Brennan Caspermeyer for representing Quincy, Illinois in Arkon, Ohio in 2007.  An exciting development for the 2008 race includes a change in the direction of the track.  Racers will now go from the North end of 18th street and race South to Quintron Way.   

Additionally, we are happy to have First Bankers Trust Company as a major sponsor for this year's race again!

Old News....

June 9th, 2007 - Tanner Kennedy and Brennan Caspermeyer are heading to Akron, OH to represent Quincy, Illinois in the 70th All American Soap Box Derby Race!

May 28th, 2007 - The clinics are finished, we have 64 cars for this year's race ready to role.  Come on out and watch our inspection day on June 2nd beginning at 9:00am at the Bump Shop!

A huge congratulations to the Reichert Family (Dave, Michelle, Brandon, Kayla and Trevor) for being selected as the Illinois All American Soap Box Derby Family of the Year!  The Reicherts will now be put into a pool of 24 families nation-wide for selection of 12 regional winners.  One family from the 12 regional winners will then be selected for the National All American Soap Box Derby / Levi Strauss Family of the Year!

May 17th, 2007 - Our last car building clinic is this Sunday, May 20th from 2-4pm at the Bump Shop.  We still have one red stock car in inventory if you would like to purchase a car.  Registration deadline is fast approaching in just a couple of days on May 21st.  Send in your registrations now!

April 12th, 2007 - Car supplies are almost gone.  If you need a car yet, contact me immediately.  Our second of three car building clinics is coming up this Sunday (April 15th) from 2-4pm at the Bump Shop.  Come out and see the cars, drivers and get the latest updates on this year's race!

March 2nd, 2007 - We now have a limited supply of cars in stock.  Call Chris Huseman at 217-316-0172 to get your car today.  We are less than four weeks away from our first car building clinic this year.  Be sure to call the Bump Shop if you will be needing assistance at the car building clinic.

December 27th, 2006 - DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2007 QUINCY BREAKFAST OPTIMIST SOAP BOX DERBY

Quincy, Illinois- The Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club is excited to announce details of the 2007 Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club Soap Box Derby race. The race will be held at the Tom Awerkamp Bridge (18th & Seminary Road) on Saturday, June 9th, 2007. All youth ages 8 to 17 can participate in the event. The Stock division is for youth ages 8 to 14 while the Super Stock division will host racers ages 10 to 17. One winner from each division will qualify for an opportunity to participate in the week-long events of the 70th All American Soap Box Derby race held in Akron, Ohio on July 21st, 2007. “The Soap Box Derby event can be one of the most positive, memorable, family oriented experiences a youth will participate in,” states Chris Huseman, Soap Box Derby Race Director.

Race Format, Car Building Clinic Dates, Registration The race format will consist of Stock and Super Stock divisions. Each participant will race a minimum of 3 times down the track. The single best time in each heat will be used in 2007.  A double elimination will again be utilized in 2007.

Car building clinics will be held at the Bump Shop at 2116 Quintron Way in Quincy, Illinois. Nathan and Jason Mohr and The Bump Shop has been a huge asset to the success and enjoyment of the Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club's Soap Box Derby Race.  Their generosity over the past three years has made a huge impact on our event.  Car Building clinics for the 2007 race will be held on Sunday, March 25th; Sunday April 15th; and Sunday, May 20th.  All racers are required to register to participate and receive assistance at the car building clinics.

Registration for the Soap Box Derby will begin near the end of January, 2007.  Interested youth can visit www.quincyboc.org or call Chris Huseman at 316-0172. The registration deadline is May 21st.

Purchasing Cars A limited quantity of Soap Box Derby Cars is available for pick-up from the Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club. The cost of the cars is the same as last year, $615.00 for a Super Stock and $585.00 for a Stock car. The majority of race participants in the last two years of racing sought sponsorships from local businesses to help pay for the cost of the cars. Any interested youth or company wanting to purchase a car can contact Chris Huseman at 316-0172.

The Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club celebrated its 40-year anniversary in 2004 and it’s first Soap Box Derby Race in 2005. The inaugural 2005 event hosted 34 racers and was awarded the Best New City award by the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.  In 2006, it's second year of hosting the race, registrations soared to 54 racers.  The Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club was awarded two recognitions at the 69th All American Soap Box Derby Race in Akron, OH for Outstanding Multimedia/ Emerging Technology and Runner-Up Novelty Item.  In addition, Kayla Reichert advanced to the third round of racing at the national event while Jake Beilstein cruised into the second round of qualifying races.

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