CLAREMORE, Okla. -
Leave it to the American spirit of competition to bring out the best in David Isenbart's eighth grade engineering tech class at Will Rogers Junior High School in Claremore.
When the Sand Springs Derby was introduced in 2008, Isenbart thought it'd be a great way to get the kids interested in building.
Unfortunately, when it came to designing and building a soap box car, the fruits of their labor in that first year were a bit fruitless.
"We were horrible and could barely move," said, Isenbart. "And we got dead last. But my kids made them all and I thought that was the important part."
What Isenbart and his students needed was a little more expertise in this specific type of design. An engineer from Houston happened to see an interview regarding their first car.
And he wanted to help.
"I got a phone call from Kevin Frank, who was an engineer for American Airlines at the time, and he was also the world record holder in soap box car derby," Isenbart explained.
"And he said, 'I would love to help you make your cars.'"
Frank not only donated a few thousand dollars to their project the following year, he spent several classes teaching the students the basic principles of aerodynamics and how they apply to downhill racing.
It inspired the classes to volunteer time on nights and weekends to make their car. It was good enough to win first place in the child and adult divisions.
According to Isenbart, "They do everything. I do the design and guide them through it."
"They design it. They build it. And they race it. And that's why I think it's a great experience for my kids."
The Sand Springs Derby is Saturday, September 22. For more information, the race has an official site at
www.sandspringsderby.com
