Fast Times at Independence High
Founded in 1934, the All-American Soap Box Derby remains a well-known Ohio past-time for area residents who have taken part in the annual festivities. Designed with the goal of "teaching youngsters some of the basic skills of workmanship, the spirits of competition and the perseverance to continue a project once it has begun", Precision is a strong supporter of the AASBD and all that it does to help educate youths from across the country.
Building off last year's success, Precision Environmental and Independence High School recently teamed up for the 2013 Gravity Racing Challenge. Held each year at Akron's world famous Derby Downs Track, the GRC is one of many events hosted by the All-American Soap Box Derby and is designed to promote the S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and math) efforts encouraging students K-12 to learn through gravity racing. Each team is comprised of up to 10 student members (driver, alternate driver, 2-4 pit crew members, a media specialist) and two coaches.
Since its inaugural season in 2010, the Gravity Racing Challenge has grown from 2 racing teams to the field of approximately 90 teams that competed in this year's race. In 2012, the Independence High School + Precision Team finished 32nd out of the 65 teams competing.
Led by driver John Roddy and teammates Brandon Stralka, Jacob Rick and Shane Bender, the 2013 team finished in the Top 16! To learn more about the design and development of the car, click here to read last year's Precision Soap Box Derby Press Release.
The DiGeronimo family has deep roots in derby car racing and is honored to be a part of the increasingly popular Gravity Racing Challenge event. Precision is proud of everyone that was involved with the challenge and looks forward to continuing its longstanding relationship with Independence High School in the years to come.