Soap Box Derby Topeka T-Shirts

Everyone loves a soap box derby. And a Topeka Optimist.

rabbit and hedgehog are racing in their soap boxes.

A minimalist view of a soap box derby

Racers at the starting line of a Soap Box Derby. Salisbury, Maryland. 1940.

As early motorsport races became popular, kids began holding their own downhill races to emulate the action. With hobbled together homemade karts built from orange crates, sheet tin, wagon and baby-buggy wheels, and pretty much anything else they could get heir hands on, it was clear that these kids wanted to race. As these neighborhood races grew in popularity, the need to formalize them into became clear, as did setting up a proper track that was safer than racing down the same hilly streets cars were driving on. This was back in 1933, and they've been running ever since.

Painting by kyle kristy

Soap Box Derby

Featuring big bold text and two thumbs up reading this Kid needs a two-stroke go-kart for open-wheel soap box derby racing kids and toddlers