63rd Plaquemine Cub Scout Races set for April 15-17
Plaquemine Cub Scouts’ 63rd annual running of their downhill soapbox races has been set for April 15-17 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) at the levee adjacent to the Plaquemine State Lock Site and the Iberville Museum.
Festivities begin with a parade down Main Street to the Lock historical site. The parade will be followed by a beauty pageant with contestants chosen from each den. Judges will be looking for the best looking soapbox racer while scouts and their parents will be voting on the “People’s Choice Award”.
Saturday at 9 a.m. Father Cleo Milano from nearby St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church will bless the event and last year’s champ will then take a scheduled “Victory Run: down the levee ramp. The official call of “Gentlemen, Start your Engines!” goes out and the races will begin.
The race finals will be held Sunday.
The event is growing larger each year with all Istrouma Area Council Cub Scouts invited to take part. That includes 13 parishes and Wilkinson County, Miss.
The race began in Plaquemine 65 years ago. The only race ever cancelled was in 2005 when construction was underway at the race site. The soapbox derby style of youth racing began in 1933 after a trio of boys raced motor less cars down a street in Dayton, Ohio and the fade began to become an established, organized yearly event down through time.
The race is designed to handle a field of 64 cards, the variance down through the years is 50-60 race cars at the Plaquemine event under a triple elimination format.
The event is hosted by the local Pack 21 and 23 Cub Scouts.