Teams celebrate homecoming, soap box derby

Nov 2 2009 - 11:38pm | Patrick Berger

Bobcat Trail was bustling with activity Friday afternoon. Teams from residency halls, student organizations and greek societies gathered to participate in a long running tradition at Texas State: the annual Soap Box Derby race.

Now in its 42nd year, the race was initially sponsored by the Interfraternity Council, but is now planned by Order of Omega.

“Order of Omega is a greek honor society with academic and leadership requirements in order to get in,” said Pete Isaac, coordinator of greek affairs. “These are some of our very deserving members from Order of Omega who hosted this event.”

A six-foot-high wooden ramp was assembled at the top of Bobcat Trail while caution tape lined two lanes down the hill to the finish line.

Behind the ramp was a busy area with teams making last minute adjustments to their cars while others awaited their shot at victory.

Cars were positioned at the top of the ramp before a race and piloted by one driver wearing a required helmet. Students underneath the ramp removed the wooden wheel-stops for the cars to start.

Drivers then attempted to steer their cars all the way down Bobcat Trail to the finish line. Few cars were equipped with brakes, and runaways crashed their vehicles into emergency hay bales positioned at the bottom of the track.

Atsuki Takahashi, president of Order of Omega, stood atop the ramp with a megaphone and alerted teams when it was their turn to race.

“Order of Omega is in charge of the Soap Box Derby every year,” Takahashi said. “It takes some considerable planning, usually a month in advance.”

Takahashi said 36 cars were registered for the race this year, but only 27 participants attended.

Teams experienced difficulty at the start, with their cars coming out crooked and barely making it 20 feet from the ramp. One car rolled backward and made it all the way down the hill.

“The groups that put a lot of time into their car, the ones that stay in one piece, are the ones that make it all the way down the hill,” Isaac said. “It’s entertaining no matter how you look at it.”

Isaac said team car requirements are wheel size limits and restrictions on car length and width. Some organizations had rules regarding who was allowed to help build their cars.

“Only active (fraternity members) are allowed to help build the car,” said George Albritton, recreational administration freshman and Sigma Chi member.

Takahashi hopes the derby continues to be a celebrated tradition at Texas State.

“More organizations and residence halls participate in the derby than any other Homecoming event,” Takahashi said. “It’s one of those things where no matter what you do, you will have a fun time.”

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