A Look Back at the All-American Soap Box Derby 1946-1959 By: Ronald Reed It’s billed as “The Greatest Amateur Racing Event in the World” and that is an accurate statement. Modern terminology has called it “The Gravity Grand Prix.” Whatever name you attach to it, Derby people just call it the “All-American.” It started as a city race in Dayton, Ohio, in 1933 and in two short years it became a national competition. Originator Myron Scott, through some creative promotion and the sponsorship of Chevrolet, brought it to national prominence. The first three books of this series covered the move from Dayton to Akron and the construction of Derby Downs followed by six years of prosperity and growth. World War II caused a delay, but we will see in this book it was but a bump in the road. The program resumed and in the years since there have been several hundred thousand participants who have been watched by millions. The Derby has undergone many changes over the years, but the focus has always been to make it safe, fair and fun.