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Council hopes to bring soap box derby back to Orangeville

December 20, 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Baker

The Town of Orangeville is looking for a partner to help bring a soap box derby back to the community. 

Back in October, Council requested that Town staff investigate the feasibility of running a soap box derby in Orangeville in 2020. It was noted that successful events have been held, recently, in Grand Valley, Parry Sound, Midhurst Springwater and Guelph, with the bulk of the work carried out by service clubs in the communities. 

Ray Osmond, the Town’s General Manager of Community Services, indicated a similar approach should be undertaken here in Orangeville. 

“In reviewing the process of organizing a soap box derby, and the best approach for community engagement, staff recommends that the Town partner with a local service club(s)/organization to host this event, and seek involvement from local businesses to create added attractions within the downtown business district, such as culinary, children and family activities etc,” Mr. Osmond noted in his report to Council. 

He indicated the municipality would be able to provide financial support through a community events grant, and could provide in-kind support to assist with road closures, meeting space for pre-event planning, advertising and promotion, post-event cleanup and in providing a location for pre-inspection of cars. Any service club interested in taking on the endeavour would have to provide the man hours required to plan and host the event.

When considering potential locations for the race, Mayor Sandy Brown suggested Fead Street may serve as a good home for the event. 

“It has the appropriate incline, there’s space there (around Tony Rose Arena) to have a staging area. I think it would be a good spot,” Mayor Brown said. 

The one concern he did bring up are the costs associated with constructing a reliable soap box car. Ms. Osmond noted prices for car kits range from $400 to $800, and that those kits do not come with wheels, which would need to be purchased separately. 

“A few years ago, kids could pick up some plywood and some wheels and away they went, but there’s a standard now. Safety has to be paramount,” Mayor Brown added. “I can maybe see some sponsored soapbox cars, with local businesses supporting entrants.”

Any such event would likely be held in the summer.

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