Pleasant temperatures and no wind made Saturday’s 16th annual Challenge Series Soapbox Derby a festive occasion for competitors and their loyal fans.

The only problem encountered, other than a few drivers forgetting to stand on the brake pedal of their gravity-powered racers hard enough which resulted in a couple of minor collisions with the hay bales just beyond the finish line west of the post office, was the event could have used a few more cars.

By 11 a.m. more than 20 enthusiastic kids were on hand for a flying ride down Barrington Hill in cars steered by a group of fearless young drivers. But there were only five derby cars available, which resulted in a line of kids being formed as they waited their turn.

Fortunately, the wait wasn’t all that lengthy thanks to the stellar effort by members of the Oak Harbor city maintenance crew, who hustled to load the cars on a flatbed trailer at the end of the run and haul them back up the hill to the starting line in front of Island Thrift.

Many of the kids were participating in their first-ever derby and were wide-eyed and somewhat fascinated by the color and sounds of the event that included the NJROTC color guard and the cheerleaders from Oak Harbor High School.

Jeff Phelps said his 5-year-old son, Richard, was one of the first-time racers.

“It’s a great event, a good thing for the kids,” Richard Phelps said.

Prior to the start of the first race local real estate agent Wayne Locke, in his Wally the Clown persona, was persuaded to take a run down the hill in one of the cars.

Wally happily obliged, but got teased by several of the young competitors preparing for the main event when he hung one of his big shoes over the front of his car.

“That will slow you down,” the kids said.

One of the veteran racers, Johnathan Robinson, was busy giving a few pointers in the pit area to his buddy, Dylan Christy, prior to the start of the race. At age 11, Robinson has participated in several Oak Harbor derbies, while 2008 was the first time in one of the cars for the 7-year-old Christy.

“We’re gonna win, yeah,” Robinson said, prior to his first trip down the hill.

Speed and remembering to stay low in the car was important, and racers were able to check their speeds going down the hill thanks to the Oak Harbor Police Department that had positioned one of its radar devices along the course.

Normally used to slow down motorists by giving them an electronic readout on their speed, shouts of joy from derby drivers and their passengers could be heard echoing up Barrington Drive as the radar indicated speeds 22 or 23 miles per hour.

“I think one of the greatest things about this event is that some of the kids start out as rid-

ers and end up as drivers,” said Hector Powell, a second-year Rotarian. “You can see the sparkle in their eyes.”

Sparkling eyes, smiles and cheers were the name of the game on Saturday.