Racers gear up for Saturday's derby

CLOVIS - On your mark. Get set. The 16th annual Clovis Soap Box Derby is a go for 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Rotary Club members and community volunteers are gearing up for the race, and winners reminiscing about races from years past.

"I was kind of excited because I've never participated before and I won (my) first time," 10-year-old Matthew Lusk said.

Lusk won the derby in 2016 and moved on to the national competition in Akron, Ohio.

The national competition includes hundreds of racers from around the world, according to Clovis Soap Box Derby Director Larry Erwin.

Lusk said the trip to Akron was a great family experience, which they extended to two weeks to travel through 14 states. They visited Niagara Falls, Amish country and Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, totaling 4,500 miles.

Lusk said he first decided to race in last year's event because he was given a soap box car by a family friend who's son was too old to ride it any longer.

Many of the participants make their own cars from a kit and show off their hard work at the derby.

"My favorite part (of racing) is probably when you first get to drop off cause you don't know who's going to win," Lusk said.

Lusk will not race again this year because winning cars and racers must "retire" after they win a race in the Super Stock division. Winners do have an opportunity to race again in the Master Stock division. However, according to Erwin, there are no nearby Master Stock races and many racers stop after nationals.

"It takes a lot of people to put it on and it's a lot of work the month before," Erwin said, "but the kids are just great. I love doing it."

Erwin said he hears stories like Matthew Lusk's and that makes it worth the work.

The Clovis Rotary Club hosts the race each year and gets help from nearly 40 volunteers.

Volunteers have to help place racers and return cars up the track after each heat.

"We even have to build a hill (for the track)," Erwin said.

Organizers fight against the flat terrain by loading a tow truck to make a hill down Sycamore Street near Yucca Middle School. The track ends on 14th Street.

The participants, age 9-17, are placed into double elimination brackets.

Erwin said racers have to switch lanes and switch their tires with their opponents after each race to keep things fair.

It is because of these switches that each racer has a chance of winning based on skill and luck, Erwin said.

This year, the Clovis derby will have 23 racers, which is the largest race Erwin said organizers have seen.