NCSBD History

Northern California maintains a longstanding tradition of soap box derby. San Francisco, San Mateo, Dublin, Elk Grove, Vallejo, and Tuolumne have hosted Local Championships that qualify participants for the World Championship in Akron, Ohio.

Soap box derby came to San Francisco in 1936. The race was held on Carolina Street on the north slope of Potrero Hill. It moved to Treasure Island for 1939 and 1940, returning to Carolina Street in 1941. After World War II racing moved to Sunset Boulevard between Ulloa and Wawona. Sunset Boulevard was clearly a different kind of road in August 1946. After the first Sunset Soap Box Derby, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote: “Sunset Boulevard, a lovely, peaceful parkway drive in the Sunset district that is seldom used even on Sunday, was turned into a speedway between Ulloa and Wawona yesterday.” San Francisco stopped hosting the All-American Soap Box Derby in the 1960s, when it moved to Dublin, CA. In the 1970s the race moved to San Mateo and Elk Grove, CA.

The early 1970’s marked a significant milestone in Northern California. Oroville’s Larry Blair and brothers Bret and Curt Yarborough, from Elk Grove, earned the region’s first World Championship titles, establishing Northern California’s early prominence in the sport. Winning continued in 1980 when Danny Purol captured the Senior Division World Championship.

The legacy of excellence was kept alive when Vallejo’s Sally Thornton won the 2006 Super Stock World Championship and Alex Khachigian, from Tuolumne, won the 2012 Stock World Championship. These 21st century wins reinforced Northern California’s reputation of producing skilled and passionate competitors.

Northern California currently races in both Folsom and Oakdale. We continue to look for new locations, hoping to give more Northern California kids the opportunity to experience Soap Box Derby.