STANWOOD — Some people see a sloping country road behind the Stanwood Community &Senior Center.
Randy Heagle envisions a raceway.
Heagle of Camano Island is one of the lead planners for the upcoming Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby, planned for June 21 in Stanwood.
Organizers expect more than 30 derby cars to be in the race.
“It’s all about the competition, and it’s all about working with your parents or your mentor to see something through from start to finish,” Heagle said.
The winners of each of the two racing 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.
Heagle has been planning the derby with help from friend Ed Bednarcyzk, who was the announcer once for a large derby on the East Coast.
They dream about the local derby putting Stanwood and Camano Island on the map and talk about possibly building a permanent derby track at Heritage Park in Stanwood, using dirt dug up from nearby construction projects.
“What we’re trying to do is keep events in our community,” Bednarcyzk said.
Stanwood and Camano Island have become bedroom communities. When people want to do something fun, they often go other places, Heagle said.
This derby could help change that, he said.
“There are not many things for the kids, the parents and the community to just draw everyone together,” Heagle said. “We want to focus on building more of a community.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
Stanwood-Camano Soap Box Derby
When: 10 a.m. June 21
Where: The Stanwood Community &Senior Center, 7430 276th St. NW
Who can compete: Children ages 8 to 17 who are part of the Stanwood-Camano School District
For general info: Jen Hudson, 360-652-1200
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