Kids & ‘kids at heart’ ready for annual Nanaimo soapbox derby

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Derby cars come in all shapes and sizes, in both open and stock divisions. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Spectators are encouraged to line Wall St. to watch the races, which go every couple of minutes.

Every entrant during 2025’s derby raced the track five or six times, with the fastest finishers then competing in a finals series to determine a champion.

Family activities will be set up in the parking lot of the Nanaimo Curling Club, with Clayton saying around double the number of vendors are booked for this year’s event compared to last year.

As a result of the race, Wall St. will be blocked to traffic between Bowen Rd. and Bradley St. from around 7 a.m. on Saturday through to the mid-afternoon.

In its fifth year, proceeds from the event are again going to support programs run by the Nanaimo Child Development Centre.

“We know a lot of families whose children are supported by the CDC. Last year, we raised just over $27,000 for CDC, and we’re certainly on the mark right now to raise even more this year.”

While the event has an upbeat, fun vibe, it’s all business for the kids when the starter lets them loose. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Clayton said they’re hopeful Wall St., in its second year as the venue for the event, will continue to be their forever home after previous races were held in the downtown core.

Growth and stability of the Nanaimo-based event are encouraging signs for organizers, who are hoping to join or create other similar events across the Island.

Port Alberni, Ladysmith, and Courtenay are all communities either with existing races or looking to add to their summer events calendar in the coming years.

“One of our grandiose plans in all of this is to see a circuit over the course of the summer, where you could enter in the four races, and there would be a grand champion at the end of the year. We’re starting to see more and more communities that are rejuvenating their soapbox events, and the more, the merrier.”

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