By ALEXIS ZOTOS
6 News Reporter
ATHENS (WATE) – Soap box derby racing is an American tradition, and a new movie released this week focuses on the link between the sport and small towns.
The soap box racing team in Athens is prepping to send three racers to the 75th All American Soap Box Derby next week.
More than 600 kids compete each year at the derby in Akron, Ohio and the local team is hard at work.
Nathan Turner, 12, is competing for the first time. "I think I'll do pretty good," he said.
For Jacob Whiting, who's also 12, it's his second time heading to Ohio. "It's fun, you get to meet a ton of racers from around the world," he said.
Whiting won his first heat in last year's race, but lost in the second.
Whiting and Turner put the last touches on their cars before they shipped out Thursday for inspection. And they say they don't mind missing out on the Fourth of July holiday fun.
"I just love racing. I can swim or hang out any time," Whiting said.
Their race director, Austin Fesmire, says, "It's All-American. The soap box derby has every single value that you want your children to participate in, perfect sports, everyone has a chance to win at the start of the day."
That idea is the theme behind the new movie "25 Hill" released this week on DVD. Actor/director Corbin Bernsen premiered the film around the country in small towns, including Athens.
"I just feel like family and community is the cornerstone to our country and it's always been that way and soap box derby is a representation of that," Bernsen said in a phone interview with 6 News.
Bernsen, who also wrote and produced the film, says he wanted to focus on the connection between small towns and the derby.
"The reality is, we are a country of small towns and main streets and right around Main Street is where the derby races. The derby is this galvanizing sport. It's a simple little sport, all about gravity and nothing more, and the coming together of people and communities to make it happen," he explained.
The connection between family and the derby is evident as Whiting and Turner worked with their dads Wednesday to finish their soap box cars.
They've spent months building the cars and practicing, all for about 30 seconds of race time, but they say it's worth it. "I love the wind going across my face," Turner said, with a smile.
The Athens team is in the top 18 around the world at the derby. While the kids want to win big, it's the tradition and thrill of the ride they love most. "I just love to race. (My dream is) I want to win first place in worlds," Whiting said.
The Athens team is sending three kids to the All-American Soap Box Derby this year. The big race is July 21.
The team in Athens is prepping to send three racers to the 75th All American Soap Box Derby next week.
The boys worked with their dads Wednesday to finish their soap box cars.
Actor/director Corbin Bernsen premiered the film around the country in small towns, including Athens.
