A man and his dream. Ranch. Agriculture. Makerspace. Soapbox Derby. Axe Throwing. Community Foundation. What’s Next?
My wife, Marla, and I have been hosting the Stanwood Camano Soap Box Derby partnered with the Stanwood Camano Community Resources Foundation since 2008.
In 2007, a small fleet of Red Bull Soap Box Derby cars displayed in front of a Seattle business caught my eye. I knew immediately that this type of event would be perfect for our community. I envisioned the derby bringing businesses, families and the community together.
So, I went to work researching how to start a derby, and discovered the All-American Soap Box Derby, an Akron, Ohio organization that has been running the Soap Box Derby since the 1930s. Along with Marla, several volunteers, and with the Stanwood Camano Community Resources Foundation, we launched the first race during Father’s Day weekend of 2008 on 276th Street in Stanwood. There were 24 cars in the race.
In 2015, we purchased a 20-acre ranch on the north end of Camano Island. Our dream to build a private Soap Box Derby track for the community is coming true. We’re proud of what we have accomplished and are excited to open up the track every year, so the children of the Pacific Northwest can come and create memories with their families.
On April 26th of this year, we broke ground on the 1,000-foot-long track. It was completed, and the first practice car sped down the track on May 18, 2018.
A huge heartfelt thank-you and smile to all our drivers, sponsors, SBD committee and organizers, volunteers…and to YOU for making Stanwood and Camano Island a “Derby Town!”
With Gratitude,
Randy Heagle, Derby Organizer
