[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       71ST ANNUAL SOAP BOX DERBY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 2008

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
winners and all the participants in the 71st annual All-American Soap 
Box Derby World Championship at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio, on July 26, 
2008.
  A record 609 contestants from forty three states and three foreign 
countries competed at the legendary Derby Downs for the title of 
Champion. This race is held annually at Derby Downs, which was created 
in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) after Akron city 
leaders realized that a permanent track for the race was necessary. The 
racers, all between the ages of eight and seventeen, compete in six 
different divisions. All of the cars are powered only by gravity and 
built by the racers. The racers can reach speeds of thirty miles an 
hour and the races usually last less than thirty seconds and are 
decided by mere hundredths of seconds.
  I am pleased to note that Elizabeth Underwood, 17, of Barberton, 
placed 3rd in the Masters division, Joe Puntal, 14, of Youngstown 
placed 3rd in the Super Stock division, and Johanna Barnowski, 11, of 
Cuyahoga Falls placed 1st in the Stock division.
  Other Akron area racers who participated were Katie Atchison, Brett 
Chrisman, Dustin Chrisman, Emily Harmon, Tyler Shoff, Sarah Smith, 
Dennis VanFossen Jr., Cheyenne Wilt and Mary-Kate Wilt. Racers from the 
Youngstown area included Zachary Krohn of Austintown, Johanna Kuebler 
of Berlin Center, Julia Castner of Hubbard, Jenn Rodway of Boardman, 
and Jamie Berndt of Canfield.
  I congratulate all the winners on their extraordinary success and 
commend all those who had a part of this great event.

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