INDIANAPOLIS — David Fulton had sports to bond with his two youngest sons over. His oldest son, however, wasn’t the sports type.
One day he read a newspaper notice on a soap box derby clinic and took his son to it. That was in 1978. Fulton has been involved in the Indianapolis Soap Box Derby Association ever since.
“I feel you need to give back, if you’re going to be involved in something,” said Fulton, who has also coached baseball and basketball in the Chapel Hill and Westlake areas. “I like to keep my hands in what my kids were doing. With both parents often working, it’s so difficult to get people to do the work in kids’ sports. We don’t turn anyone away.”
Currently, Fulton is chairman of the derby’s clinic. Scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 13 at Krannert Park, 605 S. High School Road, the event shows boys and girls ages 8 to 17 the world of soap box derby. The Indy Soap Box Derby Association will also have a display at the World of Wheels that same weekend at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Fulton says soap box derby, as with anything, “gets very competitive. I think everyone wants to win.”
It also attracts people of varying backgrounds.
“Our group of people is a diverse group of kids,” Fulton said. “It represents all of Indianapolis.”
Aside from the familial communion the activity promotes, participants also matriculate a lot of science and technology.
“It really is educational,” said Fulton, who wrote a book about soap box racing in 1992 called Winning Ingredients. “You can learn so much from soap box derby. I know people in soap box derby and they tell me that’s where they learned all their technical knowledge.”
Fulton, a retired aircraft mechanic, didn’t expect his son to win the first time they participated in soap box derby. But after lots of study and practice (and consulting the previous year’s winner), the younger Fulton did indeed come in first. In 1980 Fulton’s middle son won the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio — the national championship. He’s the only person from Indianapolis to ever win it. His trophy still sits in Fulton’s basement.
“At the time, I think it was almost as tall as he was,” Fulton said.
For more information on the soap box derby clinic, visit the website at www.indianapolissoapboxderby.org.
wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com
Local News
Related Photos
-
David Fulton looks over his granddaughter’s soap box car in his basement. / Photo by Wade Coggeshall
-
Soap box cars race down the track during one derby. / Submitted photo
Clinic to show children the world of soap box derby
- Local News
-
-
Facebook page nets BPD a catch
Early returns on the Brownsburg Crime Tips Facebook page are positive as one of the suspects featured has already been identified.
-
Police investigate night time murder
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a person shot at the 3100 block of N. Guilford Ave. just before 10 p.m. Wednesday.
-
Women of Influence conference to target cancer
One of life’s most ruthless opponents will be the focus of the third annual Women of Influence conference set for 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 1 at Five Star Catering at Primo West in Plainfield.
-
SWAT team ends potential hostage situation
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department SWAT team took Zachary Pipes, 18, Indianapolis, into custody Wednesday morning, putting a non-violent cap on a contentious situation.
-
Pence makes first official campaign stop in Plainfield
Mike Pence filed paperwork on Monday to officially run for governor of Indiana. Then the Republican made his first campaign stop here, at The Coachman restaurant.
-
Steuerwald leads effort to bolster human trafficking laws
Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon) co-sponsored a bill strengthening Indiana's anti-human trafficking laws that Gov. Mitch Daniels signed just in time for the Super Bowl.
-
First Lady kicks off state employee food drive
First Lady Cheri Daniels recently announced the start of the annual Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers state employee food drive. During the month of February, 60 agencies and 261 divisions throughout Indiana state government will coordinate efforts to collect non-perishable items for local food banks and pantries.
-
Shoe recycling event going on this week
The Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District says old shoes that are discarded can spend more than 200 years in a landfill before decomposing, and shoes are in great demand in third world countries.
-
Hanging with Madonna
With hundreds of millions of people throughout the world watching Super Bowl XLVI, Avon made a nice splash.
-
Pizzeria opens in North Salem
As a Tri-West High School graduate, Bob Miller knows western Hendricks County well. It's this community he's most fond of.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
