‘This is a great family event’: Registration under way for 19th annual Quincy Derby on June 16-17

QUINCY — Aiden McDonnell says it’s no secret why the Quincy Derby is such an ongoing success.

“The support of so many groups and businesses is the reason by it has not only lasted so long, but why it is so popular and why it continues to grow,” said McDonnell, assistant director of the event originally known as the Quincy Soap Box Derby.

The derby has attracted 2,022 entrants since its 2005 inception. What started as a 34-racer lineup the first year now averages more than 200 competitors.

This year’s competition will be June 16-17 on the 18th Street hill bordering Bob Mays Park, the site that has hosted all 18 of the past downhill derbies. Entries are “already beginning to pour in,” according to Ken Ng of the derby steering committee.

Longtime event director Ray Wilson said plans are underway to make the 20th year of the derby “something special.” Next year also will also the 60th anniversary of the Optimist Club of Quincy, which has sponsored the derby since its inception.

“We have quite a few members who have been the backbone of the derby operation still with us and helping out,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the support the derby receives is easy to understand.

“Everyone sees what we do and they like it, and they want to help,” he said. “The Optimist Club is one of only a few service clubs that offers a kids’ event like this, and it’s all due to the support of the community.”

“This is a great family event, and every year it’s a success,” McDonnell said.

Entry fee for the derby is $65 per car. Scholarships are available.

“No kid has ever been turned away,” said Wilson, who has been with the derby since its inception and served as director since 2012.

The derby will feature four classes: super stock, stock, masters elite and super kids. The super stock and stock classes have been a part of the event since the beginning. The super kids started in 2015, and the masters elite started in 2020.

Riley Delgado of Fowler was the 2022 super stock winner, Tanner Wiseley of Coatsburg the stock champion and Corin Robson of Carthage the masters elite champ. Super kids winners were Zach Hastings-Hull of Quincy, Luke Land of Springfield and Tobias Myers of Quincy.

The derby has produced champions from 15 towns across the region. Boys have won 20 championships, with the girls close behind at 19. 

The record number for entrants was 226 in 2019. Class records include 64 for super stocks (2021), 55 for stock (2017), 109 super kids (2019) and 8 for masters elite (2022). Masters elite is by invitation only.

Jadyn Vogel, who saw her streak of six consecutive stock championships end in 2022, will be back to add to her 66-20 career record over three classes. No other participant has won more than 47 races or has more than two titles to their credit during the first 18 years.

More information about this year’s derby, including registration details, is at thequincyderby.com.