Rain won’t wash out Stanwood’s soapbox derby

Published 10:58 pm Thursday, June 12, 2008

STANWOOD — Rain or shine, the cars will be rolling in Stanwood.

That’s the word from organizers of the Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby, which is planned for 10 a.m. June 21 outside the Stanwood Community and Senior Center at 7430 276th St. NW.

With a little more than a week to go before the derby, a total of 40 cars have been registered for the all-day event, derby announcer Ed Bednarczyk said.

“Our goal was to have 20-some-odd cars, and we’ve well exceeded our goals, which we’re just thrilled about,” said Bednarczyk, of Camano Island. “It’s going to do a lot for the community, and the community needs more events like this.”

The winners of each of the two race divisions at the Stanwood event will be sent to compete at the All-American Race — the national championship of soapbox derbies. The national race is in July in Akron, Ohio.

The derby is being planned by Bednarczyk and Randy Heagle, who also lives on Camano Island. Bednarczyk once was the announcer for a large soapbox derby on the East Coast.

In addition to the carts racing down 276th Street NW, organizers also have planned a fly-over from an EA-6B Prowler from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

The fly-over could be cancelled if the weather is bad, Bednarczyk said. So far, the weather forecast for a week from now appears favorable, he said.

“We’re hopeful for good weather, and as we get closer to the day, we’ll know more,” Bednarczyk said.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.