Our 5th Annual Squirrel Soap Box Derby is just one of many venues. This gravity race is the only legal opportunity in Brevard where you can try to break the speed limit down Jailhouse Hill! All vehicles are hand built and decorated to please the crowd, as well as designed for speed. Contestants compete for trophies for the fastest critter, and the nuttiest design. In addition, businesses fight to win the overall Golden Nut Trophy, which combined speed and design.

Come decked out in your Derby team’s apparel! Some teams are already selling T-shirts.

Race Schedule
The Derby takes place during the White Squirrel Festival.

Saturday – May 28:                  AGES 8-11 YEARS and AGES 12-17 YEARS

9:00am-10:00am    Registration/Inspection – Participant Set-up (8-11 years, 12-17 years)
9:00am-9:45am      Memorial Day Parade
10:00am-11:00am   Finish Line Safety set-up
10:00am-10:30am   Line-up display/judging
10:00am-11:00am   Memorial Presentation of the Wreath
11:00am-12:30pm  Trial Runs
12:30pm-1:30pm    Lunch Break
1:30pm-6:30pm      Races
6:45pm                   Awards Ceremony (West Main Street Stage)
6:30pm-7:00pm      Breakdown

Sunday – May 29: AGES 18+ YEARS and BUSINESSES

10:00am-11:00am  Registration/Inspection – Participant Set-up (18+ years and Businesses)
11:00am-11:30am  Line-up display/Judging
11:30am-12:30pm Trial Runs
12:30pm-1:30pm   Lunch Break
1:30pm-5:30pm     Races
5:45pm                  Awards Ceremony (West Main Street Stage)
6:00pm-7:00pm     Total Breakdown

PARKING AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION

For Saturday race:

1)       Registration will take place in the SAFE’s Attic parking lot on Appletree/North Broad Street.

2)       Parking for all registrants/families is available in the CATV/Cable parking lot on Appletree Street.  Please do not park in the Henry’s/Sears/NAPA/ABC parking lot—that is reserved for their business customers.

For Sunday race:

1)       Registration will take place on the corner of Appletree/North Broad Street in the Henry’s/NAPA/ABC parking lot.

2) Parking for all registrants/families is available in this parking lot, EXCEPT for the spaces in front of the Sears store—those spaces are reserved for Sears’s business customers.

For more information call Heart of Brevard 828.884.3278

In order to continue to keep safety our #1 priority, here are some guidelines, as you begin designing your entry for May 2011:

* Braking System: must affect 2 of the 4 wheels that are on the ground. We recommend that you do not have two independent brake “pedals” for the primary system. The dominant hand/foot may cause the vehicle to start spinning. (You may have a back-up breaking system.).

* Steering System: must affect 2 of the 4 wheels that are on the ground. Try to design to prevent over-steering that can lead to flipping over.

* To Protect the Head and/or Prevent Falling Out: a DOT-approved helmet is MANDATORY. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND a roll bar/cage or designing the back of the kart so that it is higher than the driver’s head (in case the kart flips). We REQUIRE a safety belt/restraint.

* Towing Capacity: we are REQUIRING that you include towing hooks (eye screws) both at the back and front ends for towing up Jailhouse Hill.

Other Entry Requirements:

* Overall footprint dimensions cannot exceed 32 square feet.

* Wheel base needs to be wider than the height of the vehicle body.

* Total maximum weight (driver & vehicle): 250 lbs. (ages 8-11), 350 lbs. (ages 12 and above).

* Hand-built and must incorporate some form of bodywork.

Besides the mandatory DOT-approved helmet, we REQUIRE that drivers wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts/jackets, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. We encourage children and youth to wear elbow pads, as well. Major road burn can be avoided with proper clothing.

(Standard derby kit cars will need modification to meet our safety standards. We encourage you to create your own design).

Don’t forget those creative designs for the nuttiest or squirreliest categories!

NO ALTERATIONS/ADDITIONS/DELETIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE ONCE IT PASSES INSPECTION (EXCEPTIONS FOR SAFETY WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED WITH THE EMERGENCY SAFETY DIRECTOR AND HEART OF BREVARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).