Footprint of Quincy Optimist Club Derby growing larger, officials working with local schools with DigiCar program

QUINCY — Quincy Optimist Club Derby officials are taking the event to a new — and important — level.

Once known as the Soap Box Derby, organizers Ray Wilson and Aiden McDonnell are in the process of helping coordinate an exercise with local grade schoolers that not only introduces them to racing but accents science, technology engineering, mathematics and teamwork. It’s called the DigiCar program and is currently being used by fourth- and fifth-graders at St. Dominic, Blessed Sacrament and St. Peter parochial schools.

The idea is to “promote, educate and inspire youth” through the research and development of constructing 1/13-scale derby cars. The eventual finished products will run via solar power and computer software. The Quincy Optimist Club Derby purchased the first six kits for the schools that are now in the early stages of development.

“This is our way of giving back to the community, plus helping develop the next generation of derby racers,” said McDonnell, in his third year as assistant director of the derby. “This is really helping bring a lot of extra education and experience to these kids they might not otherwise have gotten.”

More schools — both parochial and private — are expected to be part of the program as it develops.

“We’ve been getting great feedback,” McDonnell said.

Wilson, beginning his 11th year as director of the derby, looks at the partnership with the local schools as an important part of what the future holds for both parties.

“The derby’s footprint is growing larger,” Wilson said. “After all these years, we remain focused on not only growing the derby, but making a difference in the community. It’s all driven by the kids.”

The 18th annual derby is June 17-18 on the 18th Street Hill near Bob Mays Park. The event will again showcase the Super Stock, Stock, Super Kids and Elite Masters. The Super Kids division features youngsters with physical and/or emotional issues.

The Quincy Derby is the largest independent event of its kind and the largest double-elimination derby in the nation. In terms of raw numbers, only the single-elimination All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio — which annually has about 400 entrants — is larger. The All-American Soap Box Derby annually attracts racers from 40 U.S. states, Canada and Japan.

The Quincy Optimist Club Derby had 210 entrants in 2021. The derby record was 226 in 2019, the most recent year not affected in some fashion by the pandemic.

“This event is all about the community,” McDonnell said. “They believe in this race, what it stands for and what it means.”

The derby began with 34 participants in 2005. Chris Huseman seerved as director for the first seven years of the event.

For more information about the DigiCar program or anything connected with the derby, contact Wilson at 217-491-3204 or McDonnell at 217-653-3027.