History

In 1980 the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #34 had a community project
and their undertaking was to assist with the local Akron Soap Box Derby. A
veteran named Dave Mitan was working with the racers when he felt a tug on
his shirt. Turning around to look who was trying to get his attention, he saw a
special needs child next to a brother competing in the event. That small child
asked, "Why can't I do that?" Dave's heart was so moved and his spirit so
touched that he began discussing the experience with member veterans. The
Chapter immediately met with the All-American Soap Box Derby, designed and
built the cars. In 1981, the first Super Kids Classic was held in Akron, Ohio, and
indeed on the same hill used by the All-American Soap Box Derby.
Although the founding veterans maintained troublesome moments and
disabilities from their own war experiences, they were overcome by these
special children's smiling faces, positive attitude, and desire to compete. These
wonderful kids were indeed "Super Kids" and thus the race was named the
Super Kids Classic.

In the years that followed and as the Akron veterans traveled around the
country, they shared their "Super Kids" experience, detailed the project, gave
advice, and passed out handbooks including blueprints for the cars. At the
Vietnam Veterans of America National Convention in 1989, a resolution was
passed to allow local chapters across the nation to hold races in their local
communities.

The local Super Kids Classic committee participants and board members, while
working on the annual event year after year, also had a much bigger dream - a
national race in which youngsters who were not able to participate in the
All-American Soap Box Derby race could experience a race of their own. On
August 9, 2003, the National Super Kids Classic in Akron, Ohio became a
reality. The same hill, the home of the All-American Soap Box Derby, known as
Derby Downs, became the home of the National Super Kids Classic.

PS - The National Super Kids website is: http://nationalsuperkids.org