Former racer Nigel Fullerton said, “I would say it wasn’t particularly difficult to get from the top of the course to the bottom.” “There were no areas like ‘I’m going to lose here’ or ‘I’m going to go off the track if I’m not really careful. Then you should have no problem getting off safely.”
Race organizers limit the weight of junior coasters to 300 pounds and senior divisions to 350 pounds. Coasters typically reach speeds of 40-42 mph during the race. There were no coaster speed limits until 1980, when tragedy struck.
“The speed isn’t as high as it used to be. Around 2007, 2008, it was around 50, but in the mid-’90s it was 65, 70,” Porter said. “There was no limit. There was no limit on weight, no limit on tires, no limit on brakes.”
dark times
Adults were allowed to participate until 1980, when the 700- to 800-pound coaster spun out of control and crashed into the crowd on Main Street. As the driver crossed the finish line, only his right brake worked and he plowed into the crowd, killing two and injuring several others.
Therefore, the race was discontinued from 1980 to 1993, and when the race was renewed it was decided that only children could participate. Since 1993, the race has been divided into two divisions, a junior division for 9-12 year olds and a senior division for 13-16 year olds. Each division has about 15-25 drivers, although it varies from year to year.
Safety discussions are always at the forefront. A few weeks before the race there will be mandatory practice runs. Vehicle safety inspections, weighing and brake checks are all done. Drivers test their cars at the Warren Cutoff Road in Warren, from which organizers can assess their capabilities.
Shortly after that, a trial run on the actual course takes place to familiarize you with the track. It’s also a good idea to bike down the canyon and make a mental note of where the manhole covers are.
“(Safety measures) have always been a concern as racing has progressed over the years,” said Fullerton. “Several incidents have occurred, we have reviewed the situations that could have occurred, analyzed what happened, and developed rules and training so that we could deal with the situation and minimize the risk. I checked to see if there was anything I could do to rectify that it would happen again.
“So as things progressed, we continually fine-tuned the rules and specifications to ensure a safe race.”
It takes a lot of effort to make coasters because drivers have to build their own coasters in order to participate in the race. Creating coasters requires creativity, ingenuity, and attention to detail.
“These coasters are a lot sturdier than your average soapbox derby car,” said former Bisbee resident Grant Fullerton. “Perhaps one of the most important things is running resistance and friction, using bearings that roll as smoothly as possible to minimize speed loss. We want to save as much of that energy as possible because we’re going to move forward.”
After all, hard work pays off. The amount of time it takes to build a coaster and the ability to use it to run down Tombstone his canyon creates a sense of pride and satisfaction.
“Whether I finished 1st or 6th, it was really fun to be there,” said former entrant Grant Fullerton. “Of course, getting the hardware at the end is a nice reward. It gives you bragging rights, especially if you’re competing with friends. Well, it’s obviously really exciting to win.”
For former racer Nigel Fullerton, winning a race in his final year of qualification was a great experience. But it was the atmosphere that he remembered most.
“I was always in and well ranked. …Overall it’s always been a really good experience,” he said. “It just felt like a good crescendo. I won this last year, so I can move on from that point. In fact, it was in very good shape.”
Racers will start lining up for the derby cars early Tuesday morning The race will begin at 8am, marking the start of Independence Day 2023.
As the racers cross the finish line, they are hailed by the crowd.
“The top is fairly empty except Volante. …As we approach the populated part of the track near the end, the sidewalk is completely packed and everyone is cheering,” said Fullerton. “It’s been really cool and it’s been such an amazing experience, something I’ve never had before.
“When you go down to the bottom and you see a crowd of people, you know they’re all watching you, cheering you on, applauding you and all that. , it was a really great experience as a young kid.”
An experience that began over 100 years ago.
