Two of Guilderland’s own had the chance to compete in an international competition in Akron, Ohio, and one of them even garnered some success while out-of-state.
Ally Burdgick, 9, and Michael Morawski, 14, won the Albany District regional championship in soap box racing and went on to Akron to compete with participants from around the globe.
The competition was held from Monday, July 21, through Friday, July 25, with many family-oriented events planned around the actual races.
Burdgick won her first heat in Ohio.
Ginger Miller, director of the Capital Region Soap Box Derby, said the Guilderland kids’ accomplishment was something to be proud of. There were 602 competitors from around the globe in Akron, she said.
You’re competing with the best in the world, Miller said. `That hill [in Akron] is very, very steep.`
Miller said last season they had two divisions, stock and super stock. Next year they will incorporate a masters division, for older competitors.
Miller started the Capital District Soap Box Derby in 2005, after a layoff since 1960. She said no one was willing to take the position of director.
The Capital District races take place in front of the New York State Museum on Madison Avenue, and there were 31 competitors last season. Three racers go at once, Miller said.
Miller has special praise for Burdgick.
Although Burgdick did not win the entire competition, she did win one heat while in Ohio.
`It was only her first time and she won here, and then she won in Akron.`
`Its just so exciting it’s unbelievable. The kids are so ecstatic over it. We’re well rewarded by just seeing the kids win,` Miller added. `It’s worth all the time, effort and money.`
Burgdick came very close to winning her second heat in Akron, she said.
Her win in the first race placed her in the top 20 for the event.
`It is cool and exciting and sometimes scary,` she said.
She was hooked on the idea of racing ever since she first saw the car she said.
`My dad showed me the shell and I was like, ‘Oh, cool!’` she said.
Burgdick said she enjoyed racing in the local races, and sometimes it is more of a challenge than Akron.
`The road by the museum is really, really, bumpy,` Burgdick said.
Michael Morawski, who made it to Akron in the stock division in 2006, said he experienced a roller coaster of emotions before racing in the championship.
`I really wasn’t nervous, but once you get on the block you get pretty nervous,` he said.
Michael said teamwork is one of the most important aspects of racing.
`It really matters if you have people that work well together,` he said.
Christine Morawski, an inspector in the Capital District derby, and Steve Burdgick, an engineer, are the parents of the respective winners. They explained the strategy for a successful run:
`You have to follow either the curve of the track or get away from the bumps. They have to be very good at what they do,` Steve said.
`[Ally’s] a very good driver,` he added.
Christine Morawski explained how the bumps, cracks and weather conditions will affect each lane and each driver’s strategy.
`Each lane has an ideal run,` she said. `It’s knowing where to drive on that lane and doing it.`
The cars adjustments, such as routine alignments, depend on communication between the driver and the pit crew to determine what needs fixing.
`Even one-sixteenth of an inch is going to make a difference,` she said.
Steve comes from a long tradition of boxcar derby racers. He said his dad is responsible for getting him started and his sister, brother as well as him have all competed in the championship in Akron. His brother even won once.
He said his brother’s winning car has been in and out of museums for 25 years. He said his family has accumulated close to 125 trophies from soap box racing.
Steve said you once had to build cars from scratch, but now the cars are mostly assembled already. The driver purchases a floorboard and shell, and a lot of the work is already done.
Ally’s car is a limited addition model and the proceeds go to support breast cancer.
While in Akron, both families made sure to see the sites and enjoy their time away.
Steve and Ally attended an outdoor concert, a train tour, and a minor league baseball game.
They also went roller-skating, raced go-carts and went on bumper boats.
Christine and Michael also said they enjoyed the week while in Ohio.
The excitement of making it to the international championship is overwhelming she said.
`It’s hard to describe what it’s like. `You meet great families from Alaska, Japan, Guam, Europe and Canada,` she said. `It’s pretty overwhelming if you’ve never been there before. The cars are going so fast, and there are a lot of crashes.`
Ally is considering racing in a rally circuit that runs through the fall and the spring that could also lead to a birth in the Akron tournament.
Michael said he plans on competing in the rally season and will try to make it to Akron for a third time. He will also race in the Capital District in the Masters division.
He also hopes to eventually race in the Ultimate Speed division, where there are no specifications for the construction of the box car.
There will be a Capital District Soap Box meeting on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. in the Masonic temple at 67 Lodge St. behind city hall for anyone interested in the next season.
Miller said the games allow kids to get out and learn the values of teamwork. Even those who do not have experience get hooked one they watch a race, she said.
`Once the see it they get so excited.`
She said it gives kids a reason to be outdoors, away from all the computer games and distractions available to them.“
