Soap Box Hill Poem by Joe Rosochacki

I remember riding my bike to Soap Box Hill,
A whole 6 miles (9.6 km.) from Hamtramck to Outer Drive and Mound Road.
The Soap Box Derby has fallen on bad times recently.
There are no corporate sponsors to flip the bill,
No TV rights to be sold.
Not a mention from a celebrity.
For 75 years, the Soap Box Derby was the epitome of American ingenuity.
For young boys, and later girls,
-to design and drive their unpowered cars down that slope.
For first prize, they would hope.
For gravity was their only motor,
That empowered 250 +/- lbs (124 kg.) cars to roll down at 50 MPH (80 KmPH) .
The Derby had its beginning in the 1930’s in the Great Depression,
Now the Great Recession today is signaling the sign of its demise.
I hope that the Soap Box Derby could outlast this turmoil that seems but forever in sight.
I hope that the Derby will not see the witness the fate of the soap drama—
- The Guiding Light.

7-25-09