Racing through the rain: St. Johns hosts third annual Soap Box Derby
ST. JOHNS — Dozens of kids raced under cloudy skies and light rain Sunday at the Soap Box Derby on Clinton Avenue in downtown St. Johns.
The first rain in weeks threatened to sideline the races in Stock and Supersport classes but the wet weather held off enough to let the event wrap up early Sunday afternoon.
The St. Johns derby ran from 1963 to 1976 and sent the fastest racers to the nationals in Akron, Ohio. It came racing back to the Clinton County community in 2019 after a 43-year hiatus with 35 contestants.
This year's was the third annual event because of interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Race Director Lee Smith said 48 racers competed this year, and he was pleased to get the events in Sunday despite the weather. He and other volunteers handed out awards to racers as parents, family members and bystanders gathered in the third block of Clinton Avenue.
In the Stock class for ages 7-14, Braedon Pratl, sponsored by Wieber Green PC, took first place, followed by Payton Gingrich and Conrad Hettler in second and third places.
In the Super Stock class, for ages 9-18, Kaya Current, sponsored by BT Construction, LLC took first, place. Annelise Current finished second, followed in third by Easton Hufnagel.
− Lansing State Journal
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Soap Box Derby racers compete in St. Johns in third annual event
