Racing into Nationals
Published 2:38 am Wednesday, May 25, 2005
By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Soap Box Derby racers Shelby Coleman and Alex Frost, both from Niles, will be traveling to Akron, Ohio on July 25 for their shot at the World Championship Soap Box Derby races.
Both Coleman and Frost took first place in Buchanan's local qualifying race that was held on May 14 and now advance to the 68th running of "The Greatest Amateur Racing Event in the World."
This will be no easy challenge for the two racers as both Coleman and Frost will be competing against the best Soap Box Derby racers in the world. 500 kids ages 8-17 years old will be representing 43 states and six countries.
Japan, Germany and Europe are a few of the countries being represented in Akron.
While the contestants have to arrive a week early for registrations, inspection clinics and meetings, Saturday, July 30 is the actual race day with the first heat beginning at 9 a.m.
The races are kind of like the ever so famous NASCAR races.
The faster the derby cars are, the more points they receive. That is one way a racer can enter nationals.
The other way is to take first place at a local event, just as Coleman and Frost did.
One would think Coleman has been doing this for a few years now, especially already making it where she has. Truth is she just got her start last year.
A flyer was sent home from school telling students about the race in Buchanan, which ran its first races last year thanks to Reed Mann of the Southwest Michigan Soap Box Association.
Coleman and her father, Bill Coleman, thought they would attend the meeting for these races to see what it was about. They liked the idea and entered Coleman in the contest.
In last year's race, Coleman just missed going to nationals when she finished third. Her father, who is a volunteer for the races, had to disqualify her when her tire went over the white line. Talk about a tough decision!
But this year Coleman went all out. She had to race neck-in-neck with her classmate and friend, Carrie Easton, who finished second.
Both Coleman and Easton are in Mrs. Altergott's class at Howard Elementary. Frost attends Ballard Elementary.
Shelby has the "I am going to win attitude" which could work to her advantage during the races.
This summer the family is taking a trip to Disneyland in California about a month before the races in Akron.
When Coleman's mother asked if she was more excited about Disneyland or Akron, Coleman replied, "Akron because I want to see my trophy."
Mann had to interview Coleman after she won the race and when he asked her what she wanted too do with her career, Coleman said, "Well for the first five years I want to be an orthodontist, then I want to be a rock star until I am 55."
Well maybe that was a little off the wall, but Coleman's mother admits racing may be in her future because she loves to race.
Coleman would like to thank her sponsors, since none of this could have been possible without them. Wings Etc., Tiny Tot Reruns, Coleman Cakes, To Your Door Produce, Schraders Steel Fabrication, Uncle Pete, Aunt Pat and Uncle Bob and her sister, Cassie, who is her co-manager and will start her racing career next year when she turns eight.
Buchanan holds four races every year. The race that was held on May 14 was a local qualifying race.
The three other races are point races which will be held June 4, Aug. 27 and Oct. 1 in Buchanan.
If anyone is interested in signing up or learning more about the rally races, please contact Reed Mann at 697-0305 during the day and 695-4382 in the evenings.