Soap Box Derby racers finished assembling their racing vehicles in anticipation of race day a month out.

The construction workshop, hosted at the Penn Woods Bancorp. building in South Williamsport on Saturday, allowed children racing in the event, accompanied by their adult “handler,” to construct the soap box “stock” car.

Each of the 64 participating children who attended the workshop left with a stock car that has been teched for safety and is able to be practiced at home.

The fate of the race, which will take place on the Market Street hill on June 12, was previously left up in the air after the coronavirus pandemic impounded racers last summer.

However, as vaccination numbers rise and cases drop to manageable rates, the local derby, directed by Jim Campbell, has gained the confidence that the show could safely go on.

Soap box racing allows children ages 7 to 18 to race in a “soap box,” or a racing cart propelled by gravity. The race was revived in Williamsport in 2010, and ran for 10 consecutive years before the pandemic impounded the carts in 2020.

Campbell has said all racers, handlers and volunteers will adhere to guidelines and regulations for managing the spread of the coronavirus. The race requires racers to wear face masks.

The race is split into two age division-based races, with a third category on its way this year. “Celebrity” racers will take to larger-sized stock cars to race out the brackets.

According to Campbell, some of those celebrities may include notable donors to the program — however, the list is not yet finalized.

Young racers will be able to practice with their stock cars until June 5, which is impound day. Racers will return their stock cars to derby officials to be re-teched and inspected to ensure they are completely safe and to make sure modifications have not resulted in unfair competition.

The race is sponsored by several businesses and organizations, such as the city of Williamsport, the local Kiwanis chapter, Backyard Broadcasting, Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

These sponsors help ensure the race is free to participants, whose stock cars cost around $600 each. Families are only required to put a down payment of $20 to be able to participate, which is then returned after the race.

“We don’t want someone unable to race due to finances,” Campbell said.

Additionally, UPMC is supporting the effort with specialized masks donated for drivers and handlers.

The two age divisions will race separately to allow for social distancing; younger racers will drive in the morning in their stock cars, while the older teenaged drivers will participate in the afternoon in their super stock cars.

Campbell said thus far, all racers and their handlers have been very cooperative with the safety guidelines set forth by the organization.

“They get enjoyment out of building and making a car… Then race day is the payoff,” Jessica Bower, the secretary and coordinator for the derby, said.

Everet Wimer, 8, accompanied by grandfather Don Slout, said his favorite part is the race itself.

“Mom told me about it, and my grandfather fixes cars,” Wimer said.

“My job is putting hot rods together, and I like when he takes an interest in cars,” Slout said. “He’s my shadow. He’s getting into the mechanical part — he’s telling people how it works.”

Grace Stoltz, also 8, attended the construction workshop with her father, John Mark Stoltz. She said she learned how to assemble the vehicle through an instructional video the derby produced — and kept busy naming off the washers and bolts as her and her father assembled the stock car.

“It’s wonderful spending time with my daughter. It’s her first year doing it — I’m thankful for all the guys here investing in it.”

Norm Szamocki, one of the derby volunteers, walked around with an inspection checklist, which helps maintain safety and equal performance for the racers.

“She’s a sharp little girl,” he said of Stoltz.

Wes McCracken, another volunteer, said his favorite part of the race is working with the kids. He said the derby provides an opportunity for kids who are not athletically inclined to compete.

“You don’t have to be an ace football or baseball player to drive,” McCracken said. “They learn the mechanical skills and how cars work. They also get to spend some time with their mother or father. It’s a bonding thing.”

Steve Fedder, whose second grandson, Jove Godin, 9, is now amping up for race day, said he loves working on the cars with the kids.

“I get to teach him how to work the wrenches and drill,” Fedder said. “Then I teach him how to drive it. Race day is always fun.”

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer, briefly attended the construction workshop, and interacted with several of the racers as they completed their stock cars.