The Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program run nationally since 1934. World Championship finals are held each August at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio.  The idea of the Soap Box Derby grew out of a photographic assignment of Dayton, Ohio, newsman Myron Scott . He covered a race of boy-built cars in his home community and was so impressed with this event that he acquired a copyright for the idea and began development of a similar program on a national scale.

The goals of the Soap Box Derby program have not changed since it began in 1934. They are to teach youngsters some of the basic skills of workmanship, the spirit of competition and the perseverance to continue a project once it has begun.

A local derby for children ages 9 - 17 years has been run in Fredericksburg for more than 33 years.  The race continues to be run on William Street in historic downtown Fredericksburg each year in June.