2008 Woodie Awards
Soap Box Derby cancelled, but opportunity exists
Bill Kobus
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Life
The ISU Alumni Relations Office will not hold the annual Soap Box Derby this year. As many know, the event has been staged in late April the last two years. Should another campus organization or group wish to take on the responsibility for the event this year and on an ongoing basis, we would be pleased to assist with the transition. We simply do not have the resources to properly manage and stage the event.
While the derby has not been overwhelmed with entries, many of the entries have become more complex and extremely fast. This ingenuity is applauded, however, it has raised issues of safety and made judging more difficult. For example, last year we had an extremely heavy entry built primarily of metal …. a great entry. Other entries follow the "soap box " model building much lighter cars out of wood.
As indicated, the increased speed of some entries has generated genuine safety concerns. An accident last year during a practice run the day prior to the derby resulted in injuries to the driver. The University General Council has recently provided a revised waiver form for participants to sign relieving the University of responsibility in the event of injury. However, there is a need to revise and update the race rules and derby car criteria.
Should another organization or group have interest in taking over this event to include refining the criteria and rules in a timely manner, the race could possibly still be held this year. If not this year, a new organization could hold the derby again in 2009.
We will be willing to offer assistance in the transition. For more information contact, Alumni Relations at 282-3755.
While the derby has not been overwhelmed with entries, many of the entries have become more complex and extremely fast. This ingenuity is applauded, however, it has raised issues of safety and made judging more difficult. For example, last year we had an extremely heavy entry built primarily of metal …. a great entry. Other entries follow the "soap box " model building much lighter cars out of wood.
As indicated, the increased speed of some entries has generated genuine safety concerns. An accident last year during a practice run the day prior to the derby resulted in injuries to the driver. The University General Council has recently provided a revised waiver form for participants to sign relieving the University of responsibility in the event of injury. However, there is a need to revise and update the race rules and derby car criteria.
Should another organization or group have interest in taking over this event to include refining the criteria and rules in a timely manner, the race could possibly still be held this year. If not this year, a new organization could hold the derby again in 2009.
We will be willing to offer assistance in the transition. For more information contact, Alumni Relations at 282-3755.
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