Mid-Coast champions crowned Bullock, Catell, Baker qualify for national race

CAMDEN – While uncooperative weather may have dampened the racers and their cars, it certainly had no effect on their spirits at Saturday’s 10th Mid-Coast Maine Soap Box Derby.

Many racers crossed the rain-soaked finish line, in front of the Camden Public Safety building on Washington Street, with a smile, regardless of the race’s outcome.

The event featured Stock and Super Stock divisions for children ages 8-17 and a Masters division for children 10-17. The kits and weight limits are different for each division, with Masters being the faster.

Sarah Bullock, 15, of Newburgh defeated her brother to win the Stock division; Rachele Catell, 16, of Rockport took home first in the Super Stock division; and Krystal Baker, 17, of Dedham won the Masters division.

Each winning racer advanced to the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, July 26-31.

Due to poor weather there were numerous delays, causing the race to finish at 7:30 p.m., 21/2 hours later than the projected finish time.

“It’s been interesting, it’s been hit or miss with the rain, so we started an hour late, but so far we’ve been able to keep the race moving fairly well,” said Jim Curtis, president of The Mid-Coast Maine Soap Box Derby.

It drizzled all morning before stopping in the early afternoon, giving way to cloudy skies and the occasional shower that sent racers and parents scrambling to cover their cars. The last races of the day were run in rain as a downpour began with the event close to an end.

“It’s been a little dreary and I was cold at first, but it’s been a lot of fun,” said 13-year-old Luke Martin.

Many of the competitors have been racing for years, and are accustomed to poor weather.

“[Racing in the rain] is definitely tricky, but I can’t really say it’s affected me much. I’ve done this a lot, so I’ve definitely raced in the rain before,” said 16-year old Elisa Radmore.

In a sport where the difference between winning and losing is milliseconds, doing everything possible to gain an advantage is critical.

The race was organized in bracket fashion with every racer competing until they suffered two defeats. In every phase, the racers would race against their competitor twice, switching wheels and sides of the track for the second run. The overall time differential decided the victor.

The closest race of the day was when Tyler Maney defeated Nathan Catell by a differential of .0005 seconds after both phases of the race.

Tricks that parents and racers used included spinning the wheels of the car while not racing to keep the axle warm, drying the car and starting gate rails, and smoothing out clothing to make them more aerodynamic.

The most commonly used trick of the day, however, was steering toward the side of the track.

“The road is actually like an arch, and if you get closer down on the arch you go faster,” explained 9-year old Ryan Splaine.

The support from family and friends was tremendous with many parents being equally enthused as the children.

“[Racing] teaches them sportsmanship and it teaches them responsibility because they have to build their own cars. I think it’s a very good thing,” said parent Sue Griffin.