Login | July 16, 2025
Organizers gear up for the 20th anniversary of the National Super Kids Classic
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: July 12, 2024
It’s been 11 years since Hampton, Ontario resident Owen Derby first competed in the National Super Kids Classic in Akron, a nonprofit organization that provides safe and organized Soap Box Derby races for children with disabilities from around the world.
The national race is now held in conjunction with the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship in July at Derby Downs.
Now 18, Owen’s mother Victoria Derby said this will be the last year that he qualifies to compete in the race, which she said provides numerous benefits to special needs children and their families.
“The Super Kids races are fun and provide a social outlet for the kids and their parents,” said Derby. “Special needs children tend to always be spectators at events. Programs like this one allow them to be participants in the action and to see that they are not the only ones who have challenges.
“Owen has Cerebral palsy and uses a walker to get around but he has always had a need for speed,” said Derby. “Because of his condition he will not be able to drive a regular car so sitting beside a copilot and going downhill fulfills his desire while providing a social outlet at the same time.”
Started in September 2001, the first official National Super Kids Classic race took place in 2003 at Akron’s Derby Downs, drawing participants from around the country.
Today the national race attracts people from across the U.S. and Canada.
Akron attorney and former Summit County Common Pleas Court judge Mike Callahan has served as president of the board of the National Super Kids Classic right from the start, attending board meetings, organizing fundraisers and coordinating activities, while maintaining an active practice.
“I first got involved in the local Super Kids race back in the late 1980s,” said Callahan, also a former Summit County prosecutor. “I only participated for a year but I made a lot of connections in the Derby community.”
Years later, he was asked to attend the first meeting of the National Super Kids Classic in 2001.
“That night I walked in and the organizers said we think you should be president and the rest is history,” said Callahan.
“We went from a very small race initially to where we are part of the All-American race week,” he said. “We have raced every year since we started, but we missed two years because of Covid.
“We’ve had severely handicapped children participate, including kids who are blind or deaf. You name it; we’ve had it. We don’t prevent anyone from participating. It’s great to see families and children come together, interact and just enjoy themselves.”
Children between the ages of eight and 18 are eligible to take part in the races locally and nationally.
To qualify for the National Super Kids Classic, racers must win their local events and secure financial sponsorship from a business or organization to cover the registration cost. If there are no races available in a child’s immediate area, he or she can be an ambassador of the region, provided a sponsor agrees to pay the $200 entry fee, which Callahan said has not gone up since 2003.
Given that this is the official 20th anniversary of the race, there are a number of festivities taking place, immediately following registration on Thursday, July 18.
That night families will attend a banquet at Guy’s Party Center in Akron, with each race participant receiving a trophy and a bag of souvenirs.
The event kicks off on July 19 with an opening parade at Derby Downs, followed by a series of double-elimination races, with the top six finalists going car-to-car at the All-American Soap Box Derby on July 20.
This year, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshall.
“The kids enjoy the parade as they anxiously anticipate racing,” said Callahan.
While the finalists race during the All-American on July 20, they only compete against each other.
The cars, which were built locally by volunteers, are provided to the racers, who are seated next to trained copilots who guide them along the track.
While the sponsors cover the registration fee, the National Super Kids Classic reserves a free hotel room for two nights for each family and pays for most of their meals.
“The registration fees help us defer some of the cost and we also have a lot of generous sponsors, including our major sponsor South Akron Orioles Nest 167,” said Callahan.
While there have been as many as 75 racers, Callahan said he expects approximately 50 kids to participate this year.
“We are still working on getting our numbers back up after the pandemic,” he said.
Although it’s the last year that Owen Derby can participate, the family expects to continue making the trip to Akron for their younger son Brennan, who got involved after seeing how much his brother enjoyed it.
“Brennan was only four when Owen started doing our local race,” said Derby. “He has ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and Dyslexia.”
Now 13, this is the third year he’s participating.
“Brennan is not as social as Owen, so it has been good for him.”
While neither child has won the nationals, the Derby family is hopeful that could change this year.
And even if it doesn’t, it’s a good bet they’ll be back again in 2025 for Brennan’s four-year anniversary.
“It’s a great event for children and adults,” said Derby. “Families get the chance to travel and interact with other people who are in similar circumstances.
“It’s the one place where no one is different, yet everyone is different, but those differences are what we all have in common.”
As for Callahan, he has no plans to step down as president in the near future.
“For many of these children, this is the only sporting event they will ever be able to participate in,” said Callahan.
“The smiles on these kids faces make it all worthwhile.”