How to Follow Soap Box Derby Rules

Soap box derbies are a terrific way to show off the car you've built and test it against other people's designs. Millions of people around the world build and race their soap box derby cars. One of the most important aspects of the soap box derby is the rules, which are in place to ensure a level playing field as well as help improve the safety of the designs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Follow Popular Soap Box Derby Rules

1. Download the rules from the All American Soap Box Derby website (see Resources below). As one of the largest soap box derby organizations in the world, its regulations are fairly representative of the rules throughout the sport.

2. Read the rules carefully, from beginning to end. There are different rules for the different circuits (Stock and Super Stock), but many rules are identical from one circuit to the next. Knowing the rules is a good idea prior to even constructing your soap box derby car, as some of the regulations may restrict certain components of your car.

3. Follow the instructions regarding the allowed designs of stock and super stock cars. These guidelines are built to the exact specifications laid out in the rules of the race.

4. Double-check yearly to determine if any of the rules have changed. Each year, revisions are posted whenever changes have been made to the rules for the derby. These changes could affect your car's eligibility, making it critical to know ahead of time to avoid disqualification.

5. Observe the age limits for each of the different kinds of races. Age 17 is the cutoff age for all stock derby races. This cutoff applies to their age even after the race (no one turning 18 in the same year as the race is permitted to race).

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a copy of the rules with you whenever you're at a race. Having the rules on hand will make it easier to resolve any conflicts that may arise.
• Be aware that if you don't follow the rules and guidelines set by the derby commission then you and your car will likely be disqualified. Standard rules are typical across each circuit. As such, something that isn't permitted in one competitive soap box derby car race generally won't be permitted in another.

Resources

• All American Soap Box Derby Association