About Us

Pennyrile Soapbox Derby Association was formed in 2008 and began racing on Main Street in Madisonville, Kentucky. Races are currently held on Baldwin Drive in Madisonville, KY. PSDA host our annual local race in June and rally races in the spring and fall of the year. The annual Super Kids race is also held in June on Baldwin Drive.

Pennyrile Soapbox Derby Association was formed in 2008 to provide a unique racing program for the youth of Madisonville, Kentucky, and surrounding counties. PSDA’s Mission Statement is continuing to promote the values of sportsmanship, friendship, and community involvement that originated with Soapbox Dery in 1934. Youth and their families have a unique opportunity to work together as a unit spending quality time trying to achieve a common goal. Children are introduced to aspects of science and technological concepts that are applied to building and racing soapbox derby cars. Soapbox racing incorporates the idea of gravity powered cars without engines racing on city streets or soapbox derby hills. Girls and boys compete in 3 different divisions, Stock- ages 7-13, Super Stock ages 9-18, and Masters ages 10-20. PSDA host our local race every June on Baldwin Drive in Madisonville, KY. PSDA also host a Super Kids race annually and a Spring and Fall Rally Race.

In 2009, PSDA started with 12 stock cars and raced the first annual Madisonville Local Soapbox Derby Race on Main Street. The following year we added 12 super stock cars. PSDA moved the race to the Baldwin Drive location in 2012. Each July, the local race winners advance to the World Championship First Energy All American Soapbox Derby Race in Akron, Ohio. PSDA is always looking for children and families that would like to get involved with our organization.

All of the soapbox derby cars are stored at Parkway Plaza Mall. Racers and families are assigned a car in the spring as they prepare for the local race. Some families will choose to purchase their own car kit from All American Soapbox Derby.

Drivers may continue to race after the local race by getting involved in the rally division. Rally races are held all over the United States. Madisonville, Bowling Green, and Owensboro all have rally races in western Kentucky. Drivers who acquire 600 points are considered a rally champion and are given an invitation to race at the First Energy All American Soapbox Derby World Championship in Akron, Ohio. In 2023, Kentucky Educational Television (KET) highlighted soapbox derby racing in Western Kentucky for one if its Kentucky Life segments. Please check out the video at this link.

https://youtu.be/Zfeu04rDtnM?si=cXEJr8pJwrPLanFt

PSDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

- - - - PRESIDENT – BRIEN TERRY
        VICE PRESIDENT – JON SALLEY
        TREASURER – BILL FARRELL
        SECRETARY – ALICIA TERRY
        BOARD DIRECTOR – TODD MOORES
        BOARD DIRECTOR – DAVID LOPEZ
        BOARD DIRECTOR – GUY ARDIZZONE
        BOARD DIRECTOR – TIFFANY CHAPPELL
        BOARD DIRECTOR – JOSEPH GARROTT
        BOARD DIRECTOR – ANGIE TERRY
        OFFICER AT LARGE – ALICIA CUMMINGS

Frequently Asked
Questions

How can I get started racing?

Visit our Getting Started page for more information on how to get started as a Soap Box Derby racer.

Do I have to buy and build a car?

For first-time drivers, we have club cars that you can re-build to fit your driver and use it to start racing. If you enjoy it, we can help you find sponsors to get your own car.

How can I donate my time or money to help this local program?

Please contact us – we can always use both to grow our program!

I have questions. How do I reach out?

Send us an email – and an enthusiastic volunteer will email you or call you back and go over all your questions. You can email us at PennyrileSoapbox@gmail.com.