‘A perfect mix:’ new track for Nanaimo Soap Box Derby ready to roll

“Fitzwilliam St….was too gentle. We found Franklin St. was a little bit too steep, especially with the corner at the bottom and Wall St. was just right for safety and for speed. It gives us a perfect mix, it’s the right slope…and we’re hoping that this becomes our forever home.”

The starting blocks for races will be near Bowen Rd., offering a long track for racers of all ages. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Basing away from the downtown core is a little bit of a tradeoff, as the event loses some walk-through traffic, but offers significantly more room.

Racers will start near the Bowen Rd. intersection and head down towards Caledonia Park.

Parking lots at both Bowen Park and the Nanaimo Curling Club will also offer more space for the event this year, and expansion in the years to come, according to Scott.

“The curling rink has generously allowed us to use their parking lot…so we’ll have first aid there, we’ll have the concession there, we’ll have the dunk tank and a bunch of really fun activities for all the families. Then on the other side is where we’re going to have all the parking and staging for everybody else.”

Scott added some surprise activities are planned, but said they weren’t prepared to divulge all their secrets.

Dark clouds and some rain could do little last year to dampen spirits for the event. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A nearly-full field of racers is set to compete in two divisions.

Thirty-seven youth are signed up in the stock division, where carts must be made from a provided kit and meet certain dimensions.

A further 20 racers are in the open category where rules are a little less stringent.

All carts can only be gravity powered, meaning no engines or other means of propulsion.

Participants often put their creative touches on their carts with custom paint jobs and decorations.

The event has raised around $60,000 over the past three years, and as of Friday, Aug. 15 was already at nearly $30,000 for 2025.

More information is available on their website.

Racers go two-by-two in a series of trips down the hill, all powered by nothing but gravity. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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by Alex Rawnsley

‘A perfect mix:’ new track for Nanaimo Soap Box Derby ready to roll

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