The 4th Annual White Squirrel Festival in Brevard, North Carolina hosts the first ever downhill, gravity racing "Squirrel Box" derby on Memorial Day weekend, May 26th and 27th, 2007. Free for kids 8 to 17. Prizes include "Nuttiest," "Squirreliest" and "Road Kill," among others.
Brevard, NC (PRWeb) February 8, 2007 -- Just when things couldn't get any nuttier, the organizers at the 4th Annual White Squirrel Festival in Brevard, North Carolina have announced a downhill, gravity racing event being hailed as "The Squirrel Box Derby." The event is open to kids ages 8 to 17, as well as adults and businesses, and is scheduled to run Saturday and Sunday, May 26th - 27th.
"We have a big hill right in the middle of downtown Brevard and we wanted to make use of it this year," states Madrid Zimmerman, Executive Director of The Heart of Brevard. The long stretching slope, known to locals as "jailhouse hill" because of its proximity to the county courthouse, has been host to a number of crazy events in the past. Mayor Jimmy Harris recalls the hill being closed as a child to allow for sledding during winter snow days. "I even tried riding down it on a skateboard as a kid, but I would advise against that."
For the official Squirrel Box Derby, contestants must build a hand made vehicle, with no a footprint of no bigger than 32 square feet (i.e. 4 ft. x 8 ft.) The downhill derby carts must rely solely on gravity (no engines) and have brakes that affect at least two of the four wheels. Drivers must also wear a DOT-approved helmet (such as a motorcycle helmet) with enclosed toe shoes, leather gloves and a long sleeve shirt or jacket.
A preliminary run indicated speeds could reach 35 to 40 m.p.h. or more. A 9:00 a.m. registration and vehicle inspection will be required on Saturday, May 26th to help ensure safety. Inspections will be provided by volunteers from the Brevard Rescue Squad.
Entry fees are waived for kids 17 and under, and $100 for adults and businesses. Several companies have already expressed their interest in sponsoring a car to hopefully win "The Golden Nut" for best overall performance. The prize categories include…
- The Village People Award (People's Choice - vote at the Registration table)
- The Nuttiest (weirdest, wackiest, nuttiest design)
- The Squirreliest (most in keeping with the White Squirrel theme)
- The Fastest Critter (for the speedy driver/rodent in each age category)
- The Road Kill Award (for the slowest rodent of them all)
- The Golden Nut (best overall winner, combining speed and design creativity)
For those with little or no knowledge of how to build a downhill derby car, John Taylor from O.P. Taylor's Toy Store will be conducting a workshop at his store on the corner of Broad and Main Street in downtown Brevard on Saturday, February 24th. John is an old pro at gravity racing, have won ten consecutive titles at the now defunct Chimney Rock Hill Climb in Lake Lure, North Carolina.
"Earning the 'Golden Nut' award will give instant bragging rights to any person or business in Transylvania County," states Mayor Harris. "I'm sure we'll have a number of banks, real estate companies and fire departments vying for the award, to name just a few."
Last year's White Squirrel Festival drew an estimated 15,000 spectators over the Memorial Day weekend. This year's crowd is expected to grow to 20,000 or more with the addition of the Derby. The event is already famous for its music venue, with two days of free concerts, as well as guided walking tours to see Brevard's White Squirrels. For more contest rules and entry information, potential speed rodents are encouraged to visit the WhiteSquirrelFestival.com web site.
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