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Some of the MGA faculty and staff who volunteered at the 2017 Soap Box Derby.
Carlee Simmons
By Tyler Horne
Magnolia Soap Box Derby
Showcases STEM Creativity
and MGA Involvement
I f you’ve never heard of the Magnolia Soap
Box Derby, you are missing out on one of
Central Georgia’s best annual events. If you
have, then you know just how much fun and
excitement fill the air of downtown Macon on the
second Saturday in April.
Soap box racing in Macon dates back to the
1930s, but in 2009 a group of derby enthusiasts
rebooted the race as the Magnolia Soap Box
Derby. It has flourished as a community event
every year since.
In 2015, the group welcomed the addition of
the Gravity Racing Challenge, a race that features
competing high school race teams. This new race
20 MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
joined a lineup that already boasted a Professional
Class, a “Shade Tree” Class (think fun, communi-
ty-built cars) and Big Wheel Racing for the little
ones. These races, along with the music, perfor-
mances and food trucks, attract 5,000 spectators
each year.
When high school racing was added to the
derby, Middle Georgia State University faculty
saw a way to engage with both the community
and future MGA students. The University has
been presenting sponsor of the high school race
division every year since.
“This is a great opportunity for us as an
institution to connect with regional high school