Published: June 30, 2009 12:15 am      

Some Summer Motion events missing

Parade, Soap Box derby on hiatus this year

ASHLAND — The relocation of Ashland’s Summer Motion to Central Park this year has caused the temporary absence of two popular Summer Motion staples, the All-American Soap Box Derby and the Independence Day Parade.

Both events are expected to return to Summer Motion but were canceled this year in part because of the relocation of the event from Ashland’s riverfront and economic restraints.

Summer Motion volunteer Paula Mayo said the parade was canceled because of logistical concerns about relocating spectators from the park to the downtown streets for the parade and then to the limited viewing area for the fireworks.

“It should be back, hopefully, next year when we have a little bit more time and the days will be different,” she said.

Mayo said the public has been very understanding.

“We have had just a few calls. Most people understand. They say they’ll just be in the Christmas Parade,” she said.

Despite the parade’s cancellation, the Shine and Show event featuring emergency response vehicles from across the area will still be in Central Park along Central Avenue between 18th and 20th streets on Saturday, she said.

Summer Motion President Chuck Charles said the Soap Box Derby was eliminated in part because of financial reasons and for the purposes of revamping the event.

“We just want to revamp it to try to gain some interest in it,” Charles said.

He said the event had faltered in recent years. Although different children were driving the cars, the same vehicles were being recycled year after year.

For that reason the event didn’t pass this year’s cost analysis test. Summer Motion has to pay large fees to the American Soap Box Derby to sanction its race, he said.

Charles said he would like to see the event return to its original mission of being a family-oriented activity. He said he would like to see more recruiting efforts in schools and more children building cars again with their parents.

“I’m looking for someone to oversee the Soap Box Derby,” Charles said. “We need someone who has those connections in the school to do a really great job with it. We’ve got a good setup as far as a great race but we need a driving force behind it.”

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.