Evan McCollum races down the track in his soap box. Dale Cory photo

Evan McCollum races down the track in his soap box.
Dale Cory photos

Riding down a hill in a slick soap box racer?
According to nine-year-old Evan McCollum of Oliver, it’s the best feeling in the world

They come in many shapes and sizes.

Some go fast – and can’t even stop in time to avoid the barricade of hay bales located well past the finish line.

Some don’t even make it across the white line.

In the world of soap box racing, pretty much anything goes, especially when a road gets blocked off on a Saturday morning in Oliver – and the racers are built in a garage.

This past Saturday, the upper portion of Skagit Ave. was blocked off for the annual Oliver Soap Box Race.

The event attracted racers from Oliver and Penticton, along with some members of the local scouts and beavers organization.

“It’s an event for the kids to come out and race some kit cars that we build last year. We used to have this event and raced about 10 years ago. That lasted for a few years,” explained Steve McCollum, who could be found at the starting ramp, walkie-talkie in hand, coordinating the heats with the race crew at the finish line. “Now, we’re back at it, this is our second event, and it’s a great chance for kids to race a car down a hill, have some fun, and have a hot dog.”

Two-by-two, racers came down the track. They rode on karts built by organizers – with a little help from the young racers who sported ear-to-ear grins while zooming down the track.

“We built six cars last year. It took about a week to build them. The wheels and mechanical parts, such as steering, come in a kit. We supplied the plywood,” explained McCollum. “There’s some templates available for a few different body designs. But, you can build whatever your heart desires. You can customize them. We kept ours all the same so that so we have good, fair races for everybody.”

McCollum’s son Evan was one of those young racers thrilled to get the opportunity to fulfil their need for speed.

“This is my second year racing these karts. I helped cut the wood, and paint them,” explained young Evan, nine. “You go fast, and it’s just fun to actually be driving a car.”

The younger McCollum takes this race game seriously, and analyzes every start.

“I want to get a jump start on them. I’m not scared at all,” said McCollum, who feels a sense of relief, and exhilaration, when he reaches the finish line. “I’m happy.”

In many ways, these young kids get the opportunity to feel what they will experience at an older age, in much larger vehicles, and with people speeding all around them.

“We all had our first drive in a car,” summarized Steve McCollum. “This is theirs. They really enjoy it, and can’t get enough of it.”

For further information on soap boxing racing in Oliver, and how you can get involved, please call Brenda Field with 1st Oliver Scouts at 250-689-1507.

[email protected]

Dale Cory

Oliver Chronicle