Sheriff’s Department Sponsors Soap Box Derby Trial Races

More than 75 young contestants are expected to race down 3rd Street in East Los Angeles today in preliminary trial runs of the nationwide “All American Soap Box Derby Rally.”

Sponsored by the Century Youth Activities League of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the event serves as a tuneup for regional races in June, when winners will earn a chance to advance to the national finals in Akron, Ohio.

“You should see these kids light up about this,” said Lt. Roy Levario of the East Los Angeles sheriff’s station, which is sponsoring six entries. “In the past most of this activity has been for the upper middle class. These cars cost has much as $400. It is really exciting for the kids from our area.”

Registration begins at 8 a.m. at 3rd Street and Eastern Avenue.