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Celebrity races by KDKA-TV's Ross Guidotti and Stephanie Watson and WKFB (770) radio hosts Frankie Day and "Caveman" Ralph highlighted the 27th consecutive running of the Greater Pittsburgh Soap Box Derby, held Sunday morning on Eden Park Boulevard, near Renziehausen Park and McKeesport Area High School.

Photographer John Barna captured some of the sights of the annual event, open to boys and girls aged 9 through 16.

The top winners in three divisions --- stock, superstock and master's --- are advancing to the 72nd All-American Soap Box Derby, to be held July 25 at the "Derby Downs" in Akron, Ohio.

The winners, according to a spokesman for Greater Pittsburgh Soap Box Derby Association, were Ashley Coffield (stock division) and Valerie White (superstock) of Pittsburgh and Lacey Howard of Springdale (master's).

First held in 1934 in Dayton, Ohio, the race moved to Akron the following year because of its hillier terrain. A permanent race track was created in 1936.

The All-American Soap Box Derby is billed as the fastest "gravity-powered" race in the world for young adults. The Greater Pittsburgh chapter, based in West Mifflin, is one of 170 nationally sanctioned organizations holding regional competitions. About 7,500 children in 42 states participate each year.

Although the McKeesport race has been run since at least the 1950s, it was suspended for several years before returning in the early 1980s. Cars can be built from kits --- available through International Soap Box Derby, a non-profit corporation in Akron --- or designed from scratch, though all must meet certain minimum requirements and pass various safety checks.

Photos continue after the jump, and complete results are available at the end of this story.

(All photos taken especially for Tube City Almanac and © 2009 John Barna; contact John for reprint permission.)

Above, Malinda Mallor of Hazelwood poses with her custom-painted racer, a detail of which is shown below. Mallor came in first place in the "stock" division during the 2008 race.

Above, Vinny Tavoletti races a car sponsored by West Mifflin's Veterans of Foreign Wars "Intrepid" Post 914.

All but hidden inside her car's cockpit, Kara Cox of Jefferson Hills prepares for her run.

KDKA-TV reporter Ross Guidotti appears to be enjoying the celebrity race more than his colleague, weekend news anchor Stephanie Watson.

Frank "Frankie Day" Dittig of North Huntingdon, morning host on Jeannette-based WKFB (770) radio, competed against fellow oldies disc jockey "Caveman" Ralph Speaks of Clairton, not shown.

Flagman Bob Cox, 63, of West Mifflin has been participating in the soap box derby since his childhood. His own children raced in their youth.

. . .

2009 Results

Ashley Coffield and Valerie White of Pittsburgh and Lacey Howard of Springdale will represent Western Pennsylvania during the national finals, to be held July 25 in Akron.

Below are the names of all finishers, as supplied by Greater Pittsburgh Soap Box Derby Association, along with the names of their sponsors.

Stock Division

Ashley Coffield, Pittsburgh (VFW Intrepid Post 914)
Emilie Gniewkowski, North Huntingdon (All Occasion Disk Jockeys)
Justin Limley, Port Vue (Interior Excellence)
Brandon O'Brien, Jefferson Hills (Pittsburghdave.com)
Ahlaya Limley, Port Vue (Port Vue Pub)
P.J. Molnar, West Mifflin (State Rep. Bill Kortz)
Tommy Cox, Jefferson Hills (Quaker Steak and Lube)
C.J. Fisher, Uniontown (Team Cyrus)
Jack Bass, Pittsburgh (Moore's Construction)

Superstock Division

Valerie White, Pittsburgh ( Knights of Columbus 955)
Jonathan Winterbottom, McKeesport (Century Heritage Federal Credit Union)
Christina Bowman, Springdale (Haunted Hills Hayride)
Nate Missig, West Mifflin (The Daily News/Trib Total Media)
Troy Buzza, Pittsburgh (Three Rivers Harley-Davidson)
Melinda Mellor, Pittsburgh (Mellor Auto Service)
Arielle Harper, Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)
Stefan Henry, Pittsburgh (Team Stefan)
Vinny Tavoletti, West Mifflin (VFW Intrepid Post 914)
Mikayla Wrobrak, North Huntingdon (Bill Todd Towing)
Amanda Fink, Springdale (Jim's Landscaping)

Masters' Division

Lacie Howard, Springdale (Ray Benney General Contracting)
Derrick Jerome, West Mifflin (Haunted Hills Hayride)
Kara Cox, Jefferson Hills (Quaker Steak and Lube)
Judy Winterbottom, McKeesport (Two Men and a Truck Moving)

Celebrity Race

KDKA-TV: Ross Guidotti over Stephanie Watson

WKFB Radio: Caveman Ralph over Frankie Day

Political Race: State Rep. Bill Kortz over Pittsburgh City Councilman Jim Motznik