Courtesy of the East and Bays Courier
By KAREN KOTZE

Teams from schools, clubs and local businesses are invited to register and start preparing for the March 28 event which will be held on Stonefields Ave, Mt Wellington.

Participation gives children aged eight to 13 the opportunity to build their soap box car from scratch then race it. Teams include two drivers and a pit crew of four or five.

Sommerville Special School principal Diane Hankins says the inaugural event this year was a roaring success for her students who competed against other schools and shone.

"One of our drivers went on to compete in the New Zealand finals. For all the children involved it was a great experience and boost of self esteem. It was especially good as an event that our fathers could get behind," she says.

Race director Trevor Allsebrook, from the Rotary Club of Auckland East, says 10 schools took part in this year’s derby and it is hoped the number will double next year.

"There are so many benefits to taking part. Our kids get to learn basic skills like using a screwdriver and spanner in putting together their vehicle from plans, learning to work as a team, then there’s the actual competition on race day which is just great."

He says the event also pulls together the community and the local businesses who support it. Some schools really embraced the learning opportunities by inviting their children to design uniforms for the teams and logos for their cars, he says.

Mr Allsebrook is hoping to keep the enthusiasm fired by arranging monthly programmes where the winner of the derby has the chance to take on one challenger a month for the position.

"The feedback from our last event was fantastic and we look forward to having at least 20 teams sign up to be part of the next experience."

All schools and clubs interested can call Mr Allsebrook on 579-2236 or 021-420-575.