Rand, Bullock capture Soap Box Derby crowns

Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
HEADING TO AKRON — Seth Rand, left, was a Winner of Winners (WOW) at Saturday’s 16th annual Northern Maine Soap Box Derby. Rand captured the flag in the Stock Division, while Rebecca Bullock of Hampden took the Super Stock class. Both racers will be heading to the All-American Race in Akron, Ohio in July.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    After misting early Saturday morning, the ominous clouds closed up for the running of the 16th annual Northern Maine Soap Box Derby.
    The Derby began by recognizing a longtime member of the Zoo Crew — volunteers who help remove derby cars from the track and load them onto trailers —who passed away.
    “Through 16 years, one person has touched every single one of those cars that rolled down this hill and the previous years when we ran at Drake’s Hill,” said friend Mitchell Holmes. “As well as touching all of those cars, he touched the lives of every one of those kids in may ways.”
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph /Gloria Austin
ONE HAPPY GIRL — Jilllian Haggerty erupts with emotion after winning her heat at the Soap Box Derby race.
    A special ceremony recognizing Bill Weber brought tears, smiles and an emptiness in those associated with the Soap Box Derby race.
    “Sportsmanship was a big thing with Bill,” Holmes recalled. “He instilled that in all of the kids who participated in this event.”
    Weber landed in the Shiretown in the early 1970s to play soccer at Ricker College, and Holmes said, “He never left.”
    Weber married Julie Rush and the couple had two children Jessica and Christopher.
    “I am sure they were influential in what turned out to be a life-long commitment to the youth of the greater Houlton area,” added Holmes.
    Weber was involved in many activities within the Houlton area from being a member of the Houlton Recreational Board to coaching “everything that involved a stick and ball,” Holmes added. Weber coached from the very young through the junior high, junior varsity to varsity levels.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
SPORTSMANSHIP — Maddie Grant, right, congratulates Holden Stoutamyer on a good race down Derby Hill.
    “Always with one thing in mind,” said Holmes. “That was the best interest of the youth involved. It didn’t matter to Bill what the scoreboard said, what did matter, was that every kid got an equal opportunity to play and learn the basics of whatever sport they were involved in.”
    Holmes noted that Weber stood up for every single youth.
    “It didn’t matter who you were or who your parents were,” he said. “The kids came first.”
    Through the 16 years of Soap Box Derby racing in Houlton, Weber, whether rain or shine, hot or cold, showed up with his bandana, wool socks and work boots, ready to go to work.
    “Donnie McGary and Bill would play a game of ‘we own lane one,’” explained Holmes. “They picked up every single car that came down lane one, every single heat. If you got near Bill’s car, he would move you out of the way – and he did.”
     One aspect of meeting Weber at the bottom of the hill was that he was going to make sure each driver showed respect to the other.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
A RACER TO BE — The next generation of Webers to be participating in the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby is yet to come. Sitting in the car is Eli, surrounded by his family, father Chris, grandmother Julie and Aunt Jessica.
    “He would make sure every kid jumped out of their car, regardless win or lose, shake hands and go off with a smile,” said Holmes.
    If a driver came down with a grimace on his face, Bill would go over and have a little chat, lay his big hand on the driver’s shoulder and remind him/her that sportsmanship and fun always mattered.
    “The next time the kid came down, that is what you saw,” said Holmes.
    Before closing, Holmes brought up the fact that the small soccer field at Houlton High School hasn’t been named.
    “I’d like to get some interest going to name the field after Bill,” he said as those attendance agreed with an applause. “I don’t know if it is appropriate or if it can even happen. But, he did touch the lives of many in this area and Houlton, Maine is a much better place because Bill Weber lived here.”
    Though Weber wasn’t at the Soap Box Derby in person, Holmes said, “He is here in spirit and always will be.”
Houlton Pioneer Times photographs/ Gloria Austin
DERBY RACING — Frank Sullivan helps his son Damien Sullivan get his car in the starting gates.
    With that said, each Derby participant had a balloon and let it go, watching it float gently into the air.
    After racing for three years, Seth Rand of Ludlow captured the Stock Division championship over Cole Winslow of Hodgdon.
    In the championship, Winslow would have had to defeat Rand — who won every race in his division (Winner Of Winners) — twice to gain the title.
    In the A phase, Rand beat Winslow by .077 and in the B phase, Winslow won by .057, but it wasn’t enough to force another heat, as Rand clenched his fist in victory by an overall time of .020.
    “It feels great,” said 11-year-old Rand as he celebrated his win.     Rand has been racing for four years and the closest he has been to winning was two years ago when he finished third.
    Rand noted his toughest race was in the end against Winslow.
    “He was fast,” he said.
    Rand’s strategy was simple.
    “Get low and go fast,” he said.
    And that tactic will take him to Akron, Ohio in late July to race in the All-American Derby Race, a goal he has wanted to reach since he started racing.
    “It’s exciting and I am happy to go,” he said.
    The Super Stock championship involved two racers from the Bangor area, Rebecca Bullock and Rachael Graves.
    Graves, along with Rand, was a Winner of Winners, as she had posted no losses on the day coming into her final race against Bullock of Hampden.
Nick Craig gets ready to roll down the hill.
    In their first heat, each girl picked up a win with Bullock taking the overall time to force two more phases down the hill before a champion was declared. In the second heat, A phase, Graves won by .231 and in the B phase, Bullock took the phase with a time of .238 to edge Graves (.007) for the win.
    A happy Bullock celebrated with her family, as she triumphed.
    “I like Houlton [Derby Hill] a lot and all of my brothers and sisters have won on it,” she said. Now with the win, “it completes the family,” she added.
    Her siblings Sarah, Josh, Seth and Mary have all had a turn winning on Derby Hill through rally racing.
    This was Bullock’s fourth race in Houlton and she has been in a derby car since she was 8 years old.
    The 13-year-old Reeds Brook Middle Schooler likes the Houlton race because “it is a lot of fun.”
    Throughout the race, her brother was coaching along.
    “He said to stay near the cones and to stay straight,” she said.
    As far as a trip to Akron, “I am excited,” she said smiling ear to ear.
Houlton Pioneer Times photograph/ Gloria Austin
HAPPY FAMILY — Jordan Rand, left, and Jenna Rand congratulate their little brother on winning the Stock Division.