Get those race crates ready.
This weekend, Aug. 18 and 19, the Orange Crate Derby will celebrate its 38th year as kids participate in the annual gravity-powered car racing event. Saturday is the practice run with Sunday at about 8:30 a.m. being the actual race down a hill in Chula Vista’s Rancho del Rey community.
David Rossi, who helped build two cars for his grandsons – one of them competing in the event for the last time as he will be aged out — said his grandsons always look forward to the competition.
“It’s a lot of work (to put together) but it’s a very fun event,” he said. “When you come out and see the faces on the kids when they come running down the hill with their car it’s worth it.”
More than 50 kids will compete in three different age groups starting from the youngest crop of kids at 7 years old to the oldest at 12. Contestants have either created their own wooden gravity-powered car or purchased a recycled one, making their own upgrades.
Back in June and on Aug. 4 the local YMCA hosted a Build-a-Car for competitors interested in receiving expert help in building their gravity-powered car.
All race cars must clear inspection before competing. Rossi said the hill racers go down was specifically designed for the competition by famed land developer Corky McMillin.
The competition is now in its 38th year despite seeing its share of organizations host the event throughout past years. Most recently, the race was in the hands of the Bonita Business and Professional Association as it was an event combined with Bonitafest and has continued the last few years after being on the brink of extinction.
But that organization dissolved four years ago leaving the two events that it annually hosted Bonitafest and Orange Crate Derby- looking for new homes. Bonitafest is now organized under a committee lead by Southwestern College Journalism professor Max Branscomb.
The Orange Create Derby, meanwhile is has been put on for the last four years by the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary club.
“Several organizations have had it through the history of its existence,” said Rossi said. “It’s an event that Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary carry on for the tradition of it. We just wanted to keep it going.”
