Quincy Derby Re-Scheduled For July 24 & 25

In a summer riddled with cancellations due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Quincy Optimist Club is going full steam ahead with plans to hold this year’s rescheduled Quincy Derby.  The event, formerly known as the Quincy Soap Box Derby, was scheduled for the weekend of June 19 & 20, but was postponed because of the Coronavirus pandemic and has been rescheduled for Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25.

This year’s event will mark the 16^th year for the races which are held on North 18^th Street between the Tom Awerkamp Bridge and Bob Mays Park.  Race Director Ray Wilson anticipates no participation falloff due to the new date according to his comments in the June 13^th edition of the Herald Whig. He is anticipating some 250 boys and girls to be racing down the hill. That total would set a new record of entries which was established last year when 219 racers participated in the event.

There will be one new class added to the 3 established classes for the Derby and that is the Elite Masters for racers from 17 to 21 years of age and is designed for former Derby champions to participate in. The other classes are the Stock & Super Stock which will be held on that Saturday and the Super Kids Class for kids who are physically or mentally challenged.  Those races will take place that Friday.

All proceeds made by the Quincy Optimist Club from the Quincy Derby will go right back into the community through the Optimist Club’s community projects. To find out more information or to sign up your youngster between the ages of 8 and 17, contact Ray Wilson at (217) 491-3204.