Kool Time Cruisers find perfect match

COLUMBIANA -- Members of Kool Time Kruisers, a group that's all about cars and cruising, found their perfect match in the Quakertown Super Kids Classic.

"We've been looking for charities to support," Kool Time Kruisers Vice President Rick Vogel of Columbiana said.

Cool looking cars and racing -- what better event to help sponsor than the non-profit that puts challenged children in soap box derby cars for an annual race down South Broadway in Salem.

"This is perfect," Vogel said.

Kool Time Kruisers treasurer and SKC liaison Bill Hoover of Lisbon had been involved with the Quakertown SKC before and had the idea for the car club to become a sponsor.

"We're pleased to be a part of it," he said.

The group invited Quakertown SKC race director Janet Keene and her husband Randy, who serves as Quakertown SKC manager, to their meeting this past week at Bellaria in Columbiana to hand over a check and hear all about the race, the kids and how the organization started.

Keene said 15 kids are signed up this year, but they're accepting registrations through today via email at janwel2002@yahoo.com or call 330-853-5114. Information and forms are available on the website at www.quakertownskc.com.

"A lot of these children have never been able to participate in any sporting event," she said.

Race day is 9 a.m. June 3, with practice day starting at 10 a.m. May 13 at the Washingtonville V.F.W. York Drexler Post 5532, where all the cars are stored.

On practice day, each child is fitted for a new helmet and volunteers make sure they can get into a car. The cars are always checked over, with new brake pads installed, to ensure they're working properly and ready to race.

Children between the ages of 7 to 18 (can't turn 19 before national race day in July) who have a physical or developmental challenge preventing them from participating in the All American Soap Box Derby in Akron are eligible.

There's no charge -- it's free -- with sponsors covering all costs.

All racers use a double car for their protection, with ghost drivers handling the controls. According to a brochure about Quakertown SKC, ghost drivers are other children who have experience racing, are strong enough to brake the car, can fit into the car and have the maturity to understand special needs children. Some of the ghost riders race in the All American Soap Box Derby.

All racers must pre-register and have an appointment for Practice Day. The weight limit is 185 pounds.

This year, Keene said each participant will receive a cool new pair of sunglasses.

The Super Kids Classic was founded in 1980 by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 32 in Akron. According to Keene, it all started with a question by a challenged child at the All American Soap Box Derby who wanted to know "why can't I race like my brother?"

Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter 40 in Columbiana County started participating in the second year. The goal was to give kids with challenges the same experience as other kids in a soap box derby.

In 2006 as part of the Salem Bicentennial, the Quakertown Super Kids Classic was started and hosted a race in Salem for the first time.

Keene said it's a lot of work but very rewarding. She recalled one child saying it was like winning the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500 in one day.

The winner, along with a couple of wildcards pulled randomly from all the kids, go to Akron for the Super Kids Classic there.

Each child in the Quakertown SKC receives a trophy, receives a photograph of themselves by Jen's Photographic Memories from Leetonia and a yearbook that includes a bio for each racer. Each racer also gets a driver's license for the day, presented by the Salem Police Department.

A lot of the cars are painted by Dynamic Auto Body and Municipal Signs creates the signage for the cars and posters for the sponsors.

Keene said "we're always looking for people to help us."

Extreme Lawn Care hauls the cars to Salem and both the Salem police officers and firefighters help out as volunteers, with the fire department providing medical standby. Members of the Salem High School Interact Club, which is connected to Salem Rotary, assists as ghost riders and Salem High School football players provide the muscle to lift the cars.

On race day, the Kool Time Kruisers plan to park some of their classic cars in the parking lot at the Salem First United Methodist Church. South Broadway will be lined with traffic cones and bales of straw from Bricker Farms. The Salem Frostop mug is coming this year, too, with Salem Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey acting as the starter for the race.