NASCAR meets Funniest Home Videos: Fire company seeking entries in July soapbox derby

SHARON —  The Sharon Fire Department is sponsoring a “No Guts, No Gloryâ€� adult soapbox derby on Saturday, July 25. Though the event is more than four months away, the organizers advise participants to start building their derby cars now.

In a press release, fire department member Eugene Aakjar calls the event a cross between the excitement of NASCAR and the hilarity of television’s Funniest Home Videos.

“Entries are strictly do-it-yourself and held to a workman-like standard, to make sure you don’t end in a storm of splinters and car parts,� Aakjar wrote in the release. “It’s a test of engineering ability, racing prowess and sheer determination.�

The entries for the race will be divided into two categories: The art category for “pretty ones� and the speed category for the cars that compete for bragging rights.

“That’s not saying an ‘art’ car can’t be fast or a ‘speed’ car can’t be pretty,� Aakjar wrote. “It’s entirely up to you and the limits of your imagination.�

According to the rules, however, there are some limitations. It can’t cost more than $300 to build a car (so don’t expect to see cars pimped out with bling or even neon lights in the race).

The car may not be wider than 5 feet or longer than 12 feet. It can’t weigh  more than 250 pounds (not including driver). Three wheels must be in contact with the pavement at all times.

Soapbox derby kit cars are not allowed, nor are skateboards or other similar vehicles.

All cars must have functional steering and brakes.

“No Fred Flintstone brakes are allowed,� Aakjar said.

Also, “All cars must be powered by gravity, which means no kinetics, no wind and no propulsion.�

And, the rules warn, “No dirty racing (smoke screens, oil slicks, spikes etc.) — you’re not James Bond!!!�

In other words, this will be an old-school soapbox derby, where craftsmanship is favored over technology, “Yankee ingenuity� is favored over Google technology — and even the first crash of the day gets an award.

“Bring your kids and your neighbors to the event of the summer and leave with the stories of a lifetime,� Aakjar said. “If you cracked a smile or let out a chuckle while imagining it then come and get a great big belly laugh as we bring imagination into reality and watch racers test their homemade machines against not only each other, but against the hill itself. It’s 1,800 feet of the most fun gravity can offer in an afternoon.�

The race will be held on roads near Veterans Field. For more information, call Aakjar at 860-364-5254.

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