Owensboro Lions Club soap box derby canceled

May 26, 2020 | 12:07 am

Updated May 25, 2020 | 10:30 pm

Owensboro will not have a local champion to represent the City at The All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, since the annual race at Ben Hawes Park scheduled for June 6 has been cancelled because of COVID-19.

Race director Josh Meyer said it was better to be safe than sorry in calling off the event.

“It’s probably much safer anyways if you think about all these people coming from all over the United States and then going back to their home and potentially spreading this thing around,” Meyer said. “It’s probably not worth the risk to endanger everybody.”

The winner of the local race would have gotten an automatic bid to race in the 83rd FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby from July 19 through 25.

“This would have been the 20th running of the soap box derby since it was brought back in 2001,” Meyer said. “The local race is such a big deal. It’s one time a year. It’s a big deal to win it and to represent the City of Owensboro in Akron. It’s a fundraiser for the Lyons Club, but more than that it’s a fun event for kids.”

Open track practice, which is held the first Saturday of every month from March 7 through Nov. 7 is still available. Contact Meyer at 270-903-0753.

May 26, 2020 | 12:07 am

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