Grand Junction Derby continues to expand in fifth year
Westfield sisters Hannah and Katie Kmetz are still years away from getting a learner’s permit, but on Oct. 5 they can’t wait to get behind the wheel and drive down South Union Street.
“It seems really fun. I’ve never done it before,” Hannah, 9, said. “I’ve done bumper cars. I think that’s close enough.”
“You get to steer it and go down a great big hill,” Katie, 8, said.
to turn their soapbox derby car into
a sheep for the Grand Junction Derby
(Photo by Robert Herrington)
The Kmetz girls will be driving their “Wolves in Sheep Clothing” themed car at the Grand Junction Derby. In addition to the two riders, the car will be in costume too. Hannah and Katie will be dressed as wolves – complete with face paint – and the car will be in wool as the sheep.
“I love wolves. Katie decided we should do a wolf theme and I liked it,” Hannah said.
“I bought a soapbox derby car from craigslist and family members have modified it,” said Leane Kmetz, the girls’ mother.
The Kmetz family has never been to a derby before, but saw photos from the previous race and became interested.
“I always wanted to do this as a kid but only Boy Scouts got to do it,” Leane said. “I love Westfield because they have events like this … inexpensive and family oriented. It gets the kids off the computer games and doing something that is tactic and they used to do in the old days – like in the ‘Little Rascals.’”
The event
Westfield’s wacky answer to the Indy 500 takes place each year on Westfield’s main drag – South Union Street. Entering its fifth year, the Grand Junction Derby was previously organized by the Downtown Westfield Association. This is the first year under the direction of the City of Westfield Parks Dept.
“Once we have the first year under our belt we’ll know what worked. Then we’ll evaluate to see how we can make things even better,” Special Events Coordinator Amanda Jackson said.
Jackson said the derby made minor rule changes to create a line for pushers to enter the course and a prerace tech inspection. In addition to the driver, who starts the race at the top of Union Street’s slope, two pushers enter the race at the bottom of the hill and propel the car to the finish line.
“We want to make sure each car is safe to race,” she said. “The pusher line was not marked out in years past.”
Jackson said the event was condensed to four hours in the hopes residents would come to the race and stay for the entire duration.
“We want people to stick around, get some food, listen to music and hang out,” she said. “There’s something for everybody.”
Along with the gravity-powered, downhill car race which begins at 3:25 p.m.; there will be food and marketplace vendors, food trucks and local restaurants open along Union Street. A kids’ zone hosted by City Springs Church and Adagio Dance Academy will feature games, inflatables and face painting.
“It’s a unique event. It speaks to a lot of different age groups. Parents work alongside of their children to make cars,” Jackson said. “If somebody is there the first year we want to encourage them to come back and make it a family tradition.”
The growth
Chad Huff, owner of CSI Signs, has been involved with the derby for three years.
“It’s growing every year. It’s a really great community event,” he said. “We’ve tried to build it a little more each year, but not too fast. It’s gained momentum and legs and is now a true, official City of Westfield event.”
Huff said the biggest jump came last year.
“We had food trucks, vendors, Sun King Brewery. Last year was the biggest growth,” he said. “The derby replaced Homecoming floats with each class building a derby car.”
The derby had its highest attendance of spectators in 2012.
“We struggle to reach out to let people know (about the race),” Huff said. “It’s a really good time. Everyone involved loves it and wants to come back.”
Huff said the event got its name to promote the upcoming development of Grand Junction.
“It was to bring awareness to what’s going on in downtown Westfield,” he said.
The race is unique as it provides an outlet for competitive and creative juices.
“If it was a true derby race all the entries would look the same but have different colors. Last year there was our surfboard, a trash can car from the public works department and an F-16 fighter jet. That’s the neat part of it. You never know what’s going to show up,” Huff said.
Schedule of events
1 to 2 p.m. – Derby car racers arrive and check in
2:15 p.m. – Driver’s meeting
3 p.m. – Derby car parade from Westfield Friends Church to Gasoline Alley (near Westfield Pharmacy)
3 to 7 p.m. – Kids area open
3:10 p.m. – Singing of “Back Home Again in Indiana”
3:15 p.m. – Tricycle race
3:25 p.m. – Derby car race begins. Awards presentation will follow the race.
4:30 to 7 p.m. – Ripple Effect performs live music on Jersey Street
*Schedule is subject to change depending on the number of participants.
