Greater Houston Soap Box Derby

09/04/2026

We want to wish all our derby families and volunteers a happy and safe Labor Day weekend! And don't forget to register for our fall events, starting with Co-Pilot Training for high school volunteers and New Driver Training for kids on Saturday, Sept 12. Register on-line at https://www.ghsbd.org/

09/01/2026

On-line registration and event details are available at https://www.ghsbd.org/

Fall 2026 Gravity Racing Events at Hockley Derby Park

Sept 12 - Co-Pilot Training for student volunteers | 8-11 AM

Sept 12 - New Driver Training for kids ages 6-17 | 11 AM -1 PM (required for ZGD & TTGS)

Sept 19 - Super Kids Race for special needs children | 9 AM - Noon

Oct 3 - "Zero" Gravity Derby (ZGD) for kids & adults | 9 AM - Noon

Nov 7 - Texas Top Gun Rally (TTGS) for ages 6-17 | 8 AM - Noon

IMPORTANT: A Release & Indemnity Waiver (PDF) is included with registration to download, print, sign by an adult and bring to the event to be placed on file for the 2026-27 season. One form per family.

07/28/2026

GHSBD's website has been updated with our Fall event schedule (includes dates, times and info). Also, check out our new AI-generated Super Kids and "Zero" Gravity Derby logos.

NEW!!! We are organizing a Super Kids Co-Pilot Club for high school student volunteers. On Sept. 12 we will be providing a training session for co-pilots in the morning. Select "Co-Pilot Training" on the website for more details. Please help us spread the word about this fun way for students to earn service hours.

PLEASE NOTE: Derby events are reserved for individuals and families only. We cannot accommodate groups due to our limited number of derby cars and the driver training requirement. 

07/18/2026

Yesterday's (7/17) the National Super Kids Classic Championships in Akron had to be canceled due to dangerous air quality conditions from the smoke caused by the Canadian fires. We wish our local champ Super Sy and his family safe travels back to Houston.

07/09/2026

A Labor of Love: This is one of nine trophies Ken Cline is making for the Vintage Derby Car Show on July 17 in Akron. Rick provided him with the 3D printed 1956 Austin, TX, local champ car, which has a very "Space Age" look, from the Bill Wrigley collection of vintage derby car SketchUp 3D model files. Ken has an eye for repurposing things: the "hill" on this trophy was created from an oak sofa arm from the 1930s. Bill also designed this year's belt buckle that is mounted on the trophy.

07/03/2026

Happy 4th of July to all our derby volunteers and families!

06/26/2026

Congratulations to our Derby Volunteer/Announcer Katye McGinnis on becoming a mom! Her daughter Trixie June was born back in March.

06/20/2026

To all our Derby Dads...

06/14/2026

The History of Old No. 7

The following is "Mr. Derby" Jeff Iula's FB post from the "Memories of the Soap Box Derby in Akron" page 6/13/26

Happy Flag Day to all my friends but you know it’s a lot more than that 93 years ago today a young photographer named Myron Scott saw these five kids going down a hill in Dayton Ohio. They were going down in little cars and he took some pictures of them and said you know if you guys come back in a couple weeks, we’ll have a little race and I’ll give you a couple trophies and there was one individual there named Bob Gravett. He drove his car & He put number seven on it because he said it was the easiest number to write and Scotti took a bunch of pictures of that car that became the symbol of the Soap Box Derby and today is the birth 93 years ago of the Soap Box Derby! Think of all the people you met in the Derby and all the Fun both winning and losing! It’s been a great ride! Let’s hope it’s makes it 12 more yrs and we celebrate the 100th running of the All-American Soap Box Derby!!

Photos: The Dayton Daily News / Old No. 7 at Derby Down's topside / Jeff with Bob Gravett / Jeff with Myron Scott

06/12/2026

Flashback Friday: Two local news clips from our 1995 AASBD local race on the Westpark Hill. Some of the participants now have their kids racing at our events.