Tom Patrician is working to put youths back on the streets of Ambridge.
When 32 of them steered little racing cars down Eighth Street earlier this month, he couldn't have been happier.
About 400 to 500 spectators turned out June 12 to cheer for them in the 11th annual Western Pennsylvania Soapbox Derby. Two winners will travel to Akron, Ohio, to compete with racers from all over the country in the All-American Soap Box Derby on July 24.
The local event took Mr. Patrician, 57, back to the days of his youth when 4,000 to 5,000 people would line the streets of Ambridge to watch the Soapbox Derby.
"I think we need to go backwards," Mr. Patrician said. "Malls and shopping centers have destroyed small towns. Kids are no longer working with their hands. They're not building things. They're not playing outside."
The event had not been held in Ambridge for nearly 40 years until last year. Mr. Patrician worked with local organizations and businesses to get the event going again.
As president of the local chapter of The Polish Falcons of America, he got that fraternal and social organization to sponsor the derbies last year and this year.
A member and former president of the Ambridge Area Chamber of Commerce, he got that group to support the event and help with organization and publicity.
"Nobody wants to live in a town that does not have anything," Mr. Patrician said. So he sees an annual soapbox derby as a cog in the revitalization wheel.
There were 32 racers this year -- a 10-car increase over last year. Mr. Patrician hopes the event will get bigger and better each year.
"The idea is that kids build the cars with their fathers, grandfathers or uncles," he said.
Racers across the country start with an even playing -- or racing -- field. They purchase car kits from the national headquarters in Akron. The fiberglass bodies are assembled and then can be custom painted.
In the Ambridge area, local companies and organizations donated $100 or more to help sponsor cars, and then "their decals and logos were on the cars, like NASCAR," Mr. Patrician said.
The kits coast about $600, "which isn't cheap, but they can be used year after year," Mr. Patrician said. The Polish Falcons, the Chamber and local companies also made donations to help children who could not afford the cost of the disassembled cars.
Sponsors of the cars included the Eagles, Rotary, Oddfellows and the Borough of Ambridge.
The Polish Falcons bought two cars, and one driven and raced by Tessa Vezza, 10, of Ambridge, finished in third place in the race for younger children. She's the daughter of Heath and Kim Vezza.
The winning racers who will move on to the national race in Akron are Alexis Gallaher, 13, of Franklin Township, in the superstock division for older racers.
Maggie McLaughlin, 11, of Beaver, won the stock division for younger racers.
More than 60 people volunteered to help on race day, including 14 ROTC students from Ambridge Area High School. Mr. Patrician views that as another good omen for future races.
"It's growing and we are learning," he said. "I'd love to see winners in the future get $1,000 scholarships."
He hopes next year's race will be held on 14th Street, which is being repaved this summer. If that project gets done on time, Mr. Patrician would like to see a local "rally race" of soapbox cars zoom down the hill by the 911 center in September.
Information: www.aasbd.org.
First Published: June 24, 2010, 2:00 p.m.
