And at the All-American Soap Box Derby, gravity, the car and the skill of the driver can make all the difference at Akron's famed Derby Downs. Some 300 racers from the United States, Canada and Japan ...

Soap box derbies send motorless cars down a steep incline. At one event, contestants make their cars look like cartoon characters, subway cars, food, and giant animals (among other outlandish shapes).

The All-American Soap Box Derby, held in Akron, will host around 300 racers from the U.S., Canada and Japan. The 87th annual championship runs July 13-19, with racers hoping to break speed records at ...