Soapbox derby drivers are rain delayed until September.
The Aug. 24 competition was called off after rain hit the track the night before, and fearing the road wouldn't dry up in time, Mission and District Soapbox Derby Association executives cancelled the event around 6 a.m. on race day.
The weather forecast was calling for more and more rain, explained association president Remco Bergman. "It was drizzling, cold, and the clouds were moving in."
Any moisture on the track could be hazardous on drivers, he added. Bergman said he wouldn't want to explain to any parent how a child was injured going down a steep hill at an average of 45 km/h. "We have to be safe."
By 9:30 a.m., Stave Lake Street dried up, but it was too late.
"It had already been called," noted Bergman, who knows not everyone agreed with the decision.
The decision had to be made early to reduce set up costs, such as dropping off 1,400 bales of hay and closing off the street. Even the cancelled event cost the organization nearly $2,000 for insurance and having the hay bales driven out.
The Soapbox Derby has been re-scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14. If you would like to become a board member, or for more information, visit missionsoapbox.com.