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 The Uptown Optimist Club sponsers the Tucson, "Soap Box Derby" this event is held several times a year. The Uptown Optimist Club was instrumental in bringing the Soap Box Derby Back to Tucson after a lapse of nearly 20 years. The club is now in charge of all Soap Box events in Southern Arizona. Uptown club memeber Phil Schultz, is the Tucson Soap Box Derby Director.
The club sponsors races in Tucson several times each year. We have racers from other cities in Arizona and sometimes out of state racers participate in our local events along with our own local racers. We also participate in Rallies held in Superior, Arizona and our racers sometimes travel other cities in Arizona, California & New Mexico to participate in those cities derby races
There are three main nationally sanctioned divisions for Soap Box racing events;
- The Stock Divison for beginers and first time builders this is open to Boys and Girls 8 thru 13 years old this division includes kit for purchase that include step by step directions for building the basic lean forward style soapbox derby cars.
- There is also the Super Stock Division for kids ages 10 to 17 years old.this beginer's divison includes more advanced model cars and allows the kids to expand thier knowledge. Both these divisons used kits and shells that are available from the All American Soap Box Derby organization.
- There is also a Masters Division which offers a advance class for Boys and Girls 10 though 17. This division allows the kids to expand their creativity and design skills. In this division entrants may purchuces a Scottie Master kit with a fiberglass body from the ALL-American Soap Box Derby organiztion.
In addition to sponsering the races the Uptown Optimist club owns 15 Soap Box Race Cars that we can loan to kids who can’t afford to purchase their own kits to build their own cars so they can race. The club also sponsers the local winners in all three divisions and sends these kids to All American Soap Box Derby National Championships Races, which are held in Akron, OH in July of each year. Our club holds our qualifying races for the National Championship Races in May of each year. Uptown Memeber Phil Schultz has also built a trailer that will carry 23 Soap Box Derby cars. He uses this trailer to transport our winners as well as winners from the town of Superior, and the Phoenix area and their cars to National event. In addtion He also sometimes helps with the transport of soap box derby cars from out of state racers to and from national races in Akron. Ohio! This is a great event that the club is proud to sponser for local youth.
Uptown Optimist's, "Annual Christmas Party"
this a event that is held annually. The club invities 150 kids from ecominicially disadvantaged areas of Tucson. Members of our club cook hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids we also provides chips and drinks for the kids. The
Club provides entertainment in the form of a clown and course we have a Santa Claus who hands out gifts to the children. This party cost the club about $7000.00 a year and this is paid for out of the funds we raise from the Oktoberfest and private donations. This is the highlight of our year. To see the smiles on the kids faces and to hear their thank you's make it seem worthwhile.
 Optimist Youth Appreciation Week is held annually during the second week in November to honor the positive contributions of young people to society. This week recognizes young students that have turned their lives around in spite of severe adversity and displine problems. Over 4,300 Optimist clubs from across North America join in this special recognition of youth.
Optimist Youth Appreciation Week reminds the public of youth's many positive accomplishments and spotlights young people's importance as tomorrow's leaders.
During this week the Uptown Optimist Club honor's these acomplished youth's with a Youth Appreciation Banquet usually held on the second Thursday in November, many of the local Tucson optimist clubs participate in this evening event.
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