Ogallala Wild West Soap Box Derby will run Double/Double this Saturday

In this POST Podcast, Derek Beck spoke with Wild West Soap Box Derby's Bob Collins who is the Rally Director about this Saturday kick off races in Ogallala.

 

OGALLALA, Neb.  — April 24, 2025 — Soap box derby season is set to roll out this Saturday in Ogallala, where young racers from across the country will gather at the Wild West Soap Box Derby Track for a day of head-to-head competition.

Located at 1502 North Spruce Street, the event will begin early with pit crews arriving at 7:30 a.m. for registration, vehicle inspections, and weigh-ins. The first race is expected to start around 9:30 a.m., according to Rally Director Bob Collins, a longtime organizer who’s been with the Wild West Soap Box Derby for more than 25 years.

“We’ll try to get all the cars weighed in, get everybody registered, and get their wheels checked — they can’t run their own wheels, they run ours,” Collins said. “Then we’ll get the cars scaled and the first race hopefully around 9:30. It should be a pretty full day.”

Organizers anticipate between 30 and 40 cars will compete, with participants traveling from states including Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and occasionally from as far away as California, Nevada, and Florida.

Racing is free for spectators, and attendees are encouraged to support the on-site concession stand. This weekend's event is billed as a "Double/Double," meaning racers will compete in back-to-back heats across all three divisions: Stock, Super Stock, and Masters.

Collins expressed gratitude to sponsors who make the event possible, including the Ogallala Optimist Club, Pinnacle Bank, Adams Bank & Trust, Kent’s Towing, NB Properties, and All Tech Electric. He added that the derby is actively seeking additional sponsors. Interested businesses can contact Collins at 308-289-6050 or Local Director Dave Barrett at 308-289-1464.