Natural History. Stewardship. Sustainablility.
Soap Box Derby in Hartley Park
Dale Mell and his father plan their strategy for winning the next race at the Hartley Field Soap Box derby racetrack.
Before the Hartley Race Track, young racers used to fly down Lemon Drop Hill on London Road. Prompted by increasingly dangerous traffic flows, the City of Duluth authorized the construction of the 960-foot track in Hartley Park in 1961.
Soap box derby racing was an exciting activity for the whole family. Building the car was a project in itself, as getting the weight and steering to work required a lot of time and effort. One former racer shared that he had to save up the entire summer to purchase the regulation wheels for $5 a set.
We are fortunate to have this car on display at Hartley Nature Center. Dale went on the the state championship in 1964. Other state qualifiers included Conrad Hartley.
Check out this You Tube video about Duluth's only National Champion, Bo Conrad and his big win in 1963.