Historical Society Hosts High Point Soap Box Derby Racers

The High Point Historical Society hosted its monthly program series on Saturday, March 18. This month's topic was "High Point's Soap Box Derbies" in connection with the Museum's current exhibition, "The Need for Speed: Soap

Box Derby Racing in High Point." The program featured interviews with panelists who raced in High Point's derbies from its start in the 1950s to the end in the 1970s.

Harrison "Bud" Lyons traveled from Durham, North Carolina, to join the program. Lyons was the first African-American boy to win High Point's derby in 1954. He shared his experience of racing in High Point as well as going to the national race in Akron, Ohio.

Bill Blair also spoke about his experience racing in the early days of the High Point derbies. Blair, whose family has a long history of racing in High Point and beyond, participated in High Point's first derby in 1951. He shared memories of how he got involved in the derby and what he remembers of the big race days.

Finally, attendees heard from Gail Simpson, one of the first girls to race and the first to win High Point's derby in 1972. Simpson talked about her experience racing in the last soap box derby race in High Point and her time at the national race in Akron, Ohio.