Steering in the Right Direction

A week from Saturday, Juan Fierro and Troy Daniel Jr. will tuck down in their seats, grasp their steering bars and await the starting gun for the 65th annual International Soap Box Derby.

Then they’ll race 1,200 feet straight down a paved hill in Akron, Ohio, at speeds of up to 35 mph, trying to beat the wheels off the rest of the kids who are trying to break world records. But Fierro and Daniels--both 11 and both from L.A.--aren’t exactly like the rest of the kids.

The Soap Box Derby, which dates to 1934, has been known as a mostly middle-class sport, for kids 9 to 16 whose parents can afford to buy $300 worth of car parts and to spend time helping their children build the little racers. Parents then are expected to transport the cars and kids to local competitions and (if they win locally) to the Big Race itself. They also must chip in for the mandatory week of go-cart camp in Ohio that precedes the international derby.

But Fierro, from El Segundo, and Daniel, from South-Central, aren’t in that financial league. They have been identified by the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation of Los Angeles as at-risk kids, boys who could benefit from wholesome activities and strong mentoring to help speed them toward their potential.

So the foundation (which runs 10 Youth Activity Leagues around L.A. County) offered to pay all expenses for the lads and their dads, as well as their Sheriff’s Department mentors, so the boys could learn to build the cars, practice racing, and then go for the gold in local races and now in Akron.

Daniel’s dad, Troy Sr., a dockworker, doesn’t live with his son. But he’s gotten into this car-building thing, he says, and is “real proud” to be traveling to Ohio. Fierro lives with his dad, John, who works for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Papa Fierro says his boy (once affectionately dubbed “Little Monster”) has changed into someone “relaxed and confident” since he started with the sheriff’s program at age 8.

The foundation was started in 1985 to provide programs for boys and girls who need alternatives to the nefarious kinds of “fun” sometimes offered on the streets of L.A. The group’s activities include academic tutoring, baseball, basketball, soccer, overnight camping, scuba diving, boxing, karate, computer labs, dancing and other good stuff, although not every activity is available at every location. Four special Youth Activity Centers house some programs; the rest are held in city parks.

If you know a child who might benefit, call for more information.

Century Station, Lynwood: (323) 567-8121.

East Los Angeles: (323) 264-4151.

Industry: (626) 330-3322.

Lennox station, Inglewood: (310) 671-7531.

Norwalk: (562) 863-8711.

Palmdale: (805) 267-4300.

Santa Clarita: (805)-255-1121.

Temple City: (626) 285-7171.

Walnut: (909) 595-2264.

West Hollywood: (310) 855-8850.