List of museums with Soap Box Derby racers

The Soap Box Derby is a youth-oriented soap box car racing program which has been running in the United States since 1934. Proclaimed "the greatest amateur racing event in the world", the program culminates each July at the FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship held at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio, with winners from their local communities from across the US and abroad travelling to compete.

Vintage Soap Box Derby racers on exhibit at Memory Lane Museum, a private automotive and transportation museum located in Mooresville, North Carolina

Since the Soap Box Derby's creation, numerous kid-built racers have since been retired, most of them probably meeting their demise, but many ending up in the attics, basements and garages of countless American households. Today some of these survivors have been finding their way into public venues like bars and restaurants as decorative examples of Americana, with many more being exhibited in museums honoring Soap Box Derby's heritage as a cherished American institution.

Museums with Soap Box Derby racers

Below is a list of various museums and historical institutions as well as venues open to the public that have in the past or are currently exhibiting Soap Box Derby racers or adding them to their permanent collections, usually acquired via donation by the cars' original owners.

Name	City	State	Year	Notes	Status	Image
1910 Franklin County Garage & Auto Museum	Benton	Illinois	2022[a]	Has a single Derby car, named "Rythm Ride," on exhibit on the showroom floor.[1][2]	On exhibit
Aberdeen Museum of History	Aberdeen	Washington	2018[a]	Has two 1960s cars on exhibit, both piloted by Ed Gegen, located in its hot rod garage diorama.[3]	On exhibit
Albany Regional Museum	Albany	Oregon	Current	Hosted an exhibit in 2023 titled Hub City, which featured in the children's area a transportation-themed display comprising two Derby cars that visiting kids could climb into.[4][5] Among them was a racer piloted by 2010 Super Stock World Champion Tucker McClaran.[6][b] Another car piloted by Allen Blake, who competed as a class A entry in Salem, OR in 1953[8] and 1954,[9] is exhibited as well.[10]	On exhibit
All-American Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame Museum	Akron	Ohio	Current	Home of the Soap Box Derby, dedicated to showcasing Championship racers that won in Akron since the program began. It houses about half of the 140+ vehicles that have crossed the All-American finishing line as winners over the years. They include a replica of Robert Gravett's Old #7 racer from 1933 used in the official logo, and 1947 World Champion Kenneth Holmboe (pictured).	On exhibit
				1952 World Champion Joe Lunn's racer, dubbed "The Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia"
				1961 Colorado Springs, Colorado racer Bob Carter's racer, a unique example of a car that did not win in Akron
				1963 World Champion Harold Conrad's racer
				Ken Cline's 1967 World Championship racer, dubbed "the Grasshopper"
				Karren Stead's 1975 World Championship lay-down racer
				1983 Senior World Champion Mike Burdgick's lay-down racer
Allen County Museum and Historical Society	Lima	Ohio	Current	Has a racer from 1971 Lima, Ohio Champion James Ethan Jackson.[11][12] The car is not on public display.	Collection only
All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey	Bridgeton	New Jersey	Current	Has a 1941 racer piloted by Irving Halter.[13][14]	On exhibit
America on Wheels Auto Museum	Allentown	Pennsylvania	2010	Hosted an exhibit of numerous Derby cars.[15]	Was on exhibit
American Treasure Tour Museum	Oaks	Pennsylvania	Current	Has on exhibit a few Derby cars, including a blue class A entry from New Castle, Pennsylvania piloted by Ronnie Boy,[16][17] who won the Best Constructed Award in 1970.[18]	On exhibit
Anderson County Museum	Anderson	South Carolina	2022[a]	Hosts an exhibit with a 1940 Derby car[19] said to be from the community, along with a helmet and race jersey from 1941 Anderson Champ Joseph E. Harbin displayed above.	On exhibit
Antique Automobile Club of America, or AACA	Hershey	Pennsylvania	2012	Exhibited two cars piloted by 1971 York, Pennsylvania Champion Glenn Dale Laughman and 1972 York, Pennsylvania Champion Debbie Laughman.[20]	Was on exhibit
The Bag Factory	Goshen	Indiana	2022[a]	A retail facility in an historic property has a Derby car piloted by 1994 Goshen Masters Rally Champion Greg Koop[21] suspended above the retail floor.[22][23]	On exhibit
Beaver Falls Historical Society Museum	Beaver Falls	Pennsylvania	2017	Exhibited a racer piloted by 1969 Beaver Falls Champion Robert Javens.[24]	Was on exhibit
Beech Creek/Marsh Creek Watershed Heritage Museum	Orviston	Pennsylvania	Current	Has a 1963 class A racer donated in 2019 by builder/owner Steve Rhoads.[25]	On exhibit
Belfast Historical Society and Museum	Belfast	Maine	Current	Has a car piloted by 1966 Belfast, Maine class B racer Butch Richards, with an announcement in 2022 of it being put on display.[26]	Collection
Blackstone's Smokehouse	Flint	Michigan	Current	Has a car piloted by 1957 Flint, MI Champion Dwight Harley Polzin. The racer is suspended above the restaurant floor.[27][28][29]	On exhibit
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science	Wilmington	North Carolina	2011[a]	Had as recent as 2011 a class A racer in their collection not on display.[30]	Collection only
Carillon Historical Park	Dayton	Ohio	2020[a]	Has as a Derby car[31] piloted by Donald Doerfert, who placed third in Dayton in 1934 and won the Best Constructed trophy.[32]	On exhibit
Catawba County Museum of History	Newton	North Carolina	2024	The museum hosted an exhibit titled A Race To Remember: Catawba County's Soap Box Derby (1967–1972), which opened on March 9, 2024.[33] It featured six Derby cars of local champions from those dates.[34] A film by Richard Eller, which features interviews of Hickory Derby director John Vaughn, as well as past racers,[35] was shown on the opening day, along with sales of a book titled Down the Hill – A Race to Remember that Eller compiled directly from transcripts of those interviews.[36][37][38]	Was on exhibit
				The exhibit included cars piloted by the following Champs: Mark Steven Cockerham winning in 1968, Mike Bolch in 1969, Keith Whitener in 1970, Keith Throneburg (pictured) in 1971, and Buster Carpenter in 1972. Rounding out the six was Andy Killian, who took 2nd in 1972. The exhibit ran through the summer.[39]
				Mike Bolch's 1969 car (pictured) has already been on display at the museum as early as 2018.[40]	Collection
Clinton County Historical Museum at Paine-Gillam-Scott House	St. Johns	Michigan	Current	Received a Derby car donated by Kris Patterson,[41] winner of the St. Johns Championship in 1968.	Collection
Codington County Heritage Museum	Watertown	South Dakota	Current	Has at least two cars, including one piloted by 1968 Watertown Champion Randall Kent Brandriet.[42]	Collection
Cole Land Transportation Museum	Bangor	Maine	Current	Has three Derby cars suspended high above the exhibit floor,[43][44] including those piloted by 1950 local champion James Roy (pictured), and 1957 champ Robert S. Briggs.[45]	On exhibit
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum	Colorado Springs	Colorado	Current	Has an interactive exhibit titled Story of Us: Explore the History and Geography of the Pikes Peak Region,[46] which features, under the letter "D" on the website,[47] a Derby car piloted by 1947 local entry Al Bates.[48]	On exhibit
Connecticut Science Center	Hartford	Connecticut	2009[a]	Has a racer piloted by 1999 World Rally Super Stock Champion Carleigh LeBlanc as part of the center's Sights & Sounds exhibit.[49]	Was on exhibit
Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum	Cleveland	Ohio	2018[a]	Had a racer[50] piloted by Margaret "Peggy" Zoller, who won the Cleveland Championship in 1973 and placed 5th at the All-American.[51]	Was on exhibit
Darlington County Historical Commission	Darlington	South Carolina	Current	Received a car donated by 1951 Hartsville, South Carolina Champion Tommy Jordan.[52]	Collection
Deer Park Winery and Auto Museum	Escondido	California	2021[a]	Has three unidentified Derby cars from different decades on display side-by-side on an incline ramp situated above the exhibit floor.[53][54]	On exhibit
Detroit News Building	Detroit	Michigan	1964–2014	Home of the Detroit News newspaper from 1917 to 2014, housed in its reference center a Derby car piloted by 1964 Suburban Detroit Champion Patrick Shorkey. By October 2014 it was one of the last remnants remaining[55] at the property while the newspaper was relocating to a new facility.[56]	Unknown
Don Laughlin's Classic Car Museum	Laughlin	Nevada	Current	Has in its collection of vintage automobiles[57] a Derby car piloted by 1971 Las Vegas, NV Champion Terry Steve Leisek.[58]	On exhibit
Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery	Portland	Oregon	2018	Hosted an exhibit by Brooklyn-based artist, activist and professor Gregg Bordowitz, titled I Wanna Be Well, an art installation on the AIDs pandemic continuing to exist worldwide. The exhibit included a piece titled Drive 2, which was a lay-down Derby car of unknown origin covered in vinyl stickers.[59] After the 2018 exhibit, it opened again in 2021 at MoMA PS1, a contemporary art institution located in New York (Queens), with the same Derby car.[60]	Was on exhibit
DuBois Area Historical Society	DuBois	Pennsylvania	2024	Hosted in concert with The Courier Express is a series of exhibits titled Turn Back the Clock, which in April 2024 features a Derby car piloted by 1950 DuBois Champion James M. Shaffer. The exhibits can be viewed at the E. D. Reitz Museum in DuBois.[61]	On exhibit
Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR)	York Springs	Pennsylvania	2015[a]	Has multiple Derby cars on exhibit,[62][63] including examples piloted by 1940 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Champion Jack Finney,[64][65] 1970 York County, Pennsylvania Champion Mark E. Ilgenfritz (pictured),[66] and 1980 York, Pennsylvania Champion Chris Thorn.[67]	On exhibit
Edge Motor Museum	Memphis	Tennessee	Current	Has a Derby exhibit that features a car built and donated by Leslie Dale,[68][69] who was the class B champ in Nashville, Tennessee in 1940.[70]	On exhibit
Eisenhower Conference Center	Gettysburg	Pennsylvania	2017	Hosted an auction of historic wax figures on May 13, 2017, which included a Derby car[71] piloted by 1980 Montgomery, Alabama Senior Champion Allen Young.[72]	Was on exhibit
Elkhorn Valley Museum	Norfolk[c]	Nebraska	2022[a]	Has a red Derby car from the mid- to late-seventies.[74]	On exhibit
Ellwood City Area Historical Society	Ellwood City	Pennsylvania	Current	Has on permanent display a Derby car piloted by 1959 Ellwood Champion Eddie Berendt. Exhibited in 2019 is the Bernard "Bucky" Kline miniature collection of Ellwood Champions from 1936 to 1962, of which Berendt's car is replicated.[75]	On exhibit
End of the Commons General Store	Mesopotamia	Ohio	Current	Has on permanent display two Derby cars, including one piloted by 1960 Warren, OH Champion Allen Frantz, who donated it in 2015.[76][77]	On exhibit
				1961 Warren, OH entry James Chadwick, located above the retail floor alongside other memorabilia.
Florence County Museum	Florence	South Carolina	2016	Hosted an exhibit highlighting the history of the annual Soap Box Derby race that took place in Florence during the 1960s and 1970s.[78]	Was on exhibit
Floyd County Historical Museum	Charles City	Iowa	2019[a]	Has a local entry piloted in 1960 by Rick Justus on display.[79]	On exhibit
Frankenmuth Historical Association	Frankenmuth	Michigan	Current	Has a racer from 1968 Saginaw, Michigan Champ Marcus Haubenstricker.[80] The car is not on public display.	Collection only
Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center	Fredericksburg	Virginia	2012	Hosted an exhibit from June 16 to August 31, 2012, titled Thrill on the Hill, featuring a car piloted by 1959 Fredericksburg Champion Boyd E. Blevins.	Was on exhibit
Gardner Museum	Gardner	Massachusetts	Current	Has a single racer piloted in 1938 by All-American third-placer Stanford Hartshorn.[81][82]	On exhibit
Geary County Historical Society	Junction City	Kansas	Current	Has a single racer piloted in 1963 by Junction City, Kansas Champion Dana Wolf that was exhibited in 2013[83] and is now kept in their archive.[84]	In collection
Gilmore Car Museum	Hickory Corners	Michigan	2023[a]	Has three Derby cars from the region exhibited on the showroom floor, each from a different decade,[85][86] and another suspended from the ceiling piloted by 1962 Kalamazoo, Michigan Champion Alan Richard Dean.[87][88][89]	On exhibit
Governor Motor Company	Jefferson City	Missouri	2019[a]	Has a single racer piloted by 1970 Southwest Suburban, Illinois Champion Mark T. Ahlgrim.[90]	On exhibit
Greater Southwest Historical Museum	Ardmore	Oklahoma	Current	Has two examples on display, including a 1970/71 racer piloted by Alan Sharp.[91]	On exhibit
Greensboro History Museum	Greensboro	North Carolina	2019[a]	Has a car piloted by 1959 Greensboro Champion Joe Harmon, donated by Harmon in 1993[92][93] and is currently not on display.[94]	Was on exhibit
Greenwood Antiques	Greenwood	Virginia	Current	Has an unrestored car piloted by 1965 Charlottesville, Virginia Champion Donald Reid Jr. on the front veranda of the store.[95]	On exhibit
Hartley Nature Center	Duluth	Minnesota	Current	Once the site of Duluth's Soap Box Derby track, the center has a car piloted by 1964 Duluth Champion Dale Mell[96][97] to honor that legacy.	On exhibit
Hattiesburg Area Historical Society	Hattiesburg	Mississippi	Current	Has a racer[98] piloted in 1971 by Hattiesburg, Mississippi entrant Steve Mozingo.[99]	On exhibit
Heinz History Center	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	Current	Is hosting an exhibit from March 22 to Oct. 6, 2024 titled A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh, which includes a Soap Box Derby display that features a car piloted by 1982 Western Pennsylvania Senior Champion Jessica Clark.[100]	On exhibit
Hennepin History Museum	Minneapolis	Minnesota	Current	Has a racer piloted by 1959 Minneapolis Champion Jerald Edward Houk.[101]	Collection
The Henry Ford Museum	Dearborn	Michigan	Current	Showcases 1939 North Platte, NE Champion Mason Colbert's racer.[102][12]	On exhibit
High Point Museum	High Point	North Carolina	2023	Hosted from February to March 2023 a Derby-themed exhibit featuring photographs of past participants, memorabilia and a single racer (pictured) driven by 1953 High Point, North Carolina racer Henry Clyde Williams Jr. (1937–2022).[103] A panel discussion and question period was also held on the last Saturday of the exhibit. Invited to speak were Harrison "Bud" Lyon of Durham, the first African-American youth to win High Point's Derby in 1954; Bill Blair Jr., who participated in High Point's first Soap Box Derby in 1951;[d] and Gail Simpson, one of the first girls to race and the first to win High Point's Derby in 1972.[104] Ms. Simpson was unable to speak due to an illness.	Was on exhibit
Hi-Way Diner Lincoln	Lincoln	Nebraska	2024[a]	Has on display a Derby car piloted by 1972 Claremont, New Hampshire Champion Mike Wise. The car is suspended upside-down from the ceiling.[105][106][107][108]	Current
Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County	Indiana	Pennsylvania	2022	Has in its collection a Derby car donated in 2002 by owner and 1957 Indiana, Pennsylvania Champion Kennard Fairman.[109][110] The car was exhibited in 2022,[111] along with trophies for his Championship win in Indiana and his Best-Design award at the 20th All-American World Championship in Akron later that summer.[112]	In collection
Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley	Ephrata	Pennsylvania	Current	Has on exhibit a racer[113] piloted by Mike Ocker, who took the class B runner-up and 4th overall in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1969.[114][115]	On exhibit
The History Center in Tompkins County	Ithaca	New York	2020	Had on exhibit a racer piloted by 1970 Ithaca, New York entry Robert Neigh.[116]	Was on exhibit
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum	Indianapolis	Indiana	Current	Accepted a car piloted by 1954 Hartford, Connecticut Soap Box Derby Champion Denny Zimmerman,[e] who donated it in 2007.[118][119]	Collection
International Motorsports Hall of Fame	Talladega	Alabama	2022[a]	Has two Derby cars on exhibit, a 1960s entry from Birmingham, Alabama piloted by Matt Wright,[120][121] and a second by two-time (1997 and 1998) Birmingham, Alabama National Derby Rally (NDR) Masters Champion Will Waldrip.[122][123]	On exhibit
James Madison Museum	Orange	Virginia	Current	Has a single Derby car piloted by Johnny Altman, who raced in Orange and won the Best Constructed Award in 1960. Mr. Altman donated the car in 2013.[124][125]	On exhibit
Kansas Historical Society	Topeka	Kansas	2024[a]	Has a racer in its collection that was piloted but Russell Dille,[126] who took sixth place in the local Topeka Derby race in 1973.[127] Included with the car is related memorabilia like Dille's helmet and photos of him constructing the car.	In collection
Kassel Museum	Kassel	Germany	2020-2021	Hosted an exhibit entitled "Es Lebe der Sport",[128] which featured a racer piloted by 1957 Kassel, Germany Soap Box Derby Champion Ernst Krönert.	Was on exhibit
Kosciusko County Historical Society	Warsaw	Indiana	2014	Exhibited at their 49th annual banquet was a Derby racer piloted in 1955 and 1956 by Larry Shively. Held at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion in Warsaw, speakers also included fellow racer Tom Plew, who came second at the local championship in 1957.[129]	Was on exhibit
Lancaster Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame Museum	Lancaster	Ohio	Current	Has a large collection of their local champ cars on display at their topside building.[130] Some of their earliest entries, all sit-ups, include those piloted by Scott Straley in 1956—their oldest car, Jerry Campbell in 1957, Don McCellan in 1958, Dick Kraner in 1959, Larry Wilkins in 1960, Larry McCoy in 1961, Ben McCoy in 1963, Jeff Engel in 1964, David Beach in 1966, Rick Wilkins in 1967, Jim Hunt in 1969 and David Brenstuhl in 1970. Early lay-down models include Ray Blair in 1971, Pike Hull in 1972, Bill Hunt in 1973, Brian Hunt in 1974,[f] Mike Roth in 1975, Ken Hoffman in 1976, Lisa Spires in 1977 and Lori Roth in 1978.	On exhibit
Larz Anderson Auto Museum	Brookline, Massachusetts	Massachusetts	2019[a]	Has suspended from the wall a black Derby racer piloted in 1949 by Ronald Meletzke from Cleveland, Ohio, and a 1953 helmet hung alongside.[131]	On exhibit
The LeMay – America's Car Museum	Tacoma	Washington	2024[a]	Has two examples, including a car piloted by 1967 Tacoma, Washington Champion Richard R. Peterson,[132][133] and 1972 Seattle, Washington Champion Mark Spencer Chamberlain.[134]	On exhibit
Lorain County History Center	Elyria	Ohio	Current	Has a Derby racer in pristine condition that was piloted in 1967 by Amherst, Ohio Champion David W. Gard (1953–2006).[135] Gard's children donated the car and its memorabilia in 2012,[136] which has remained on exhibit by the main entrance ever since.[137][138]	On exhibit
Mattatuck Museum	Waterbury	Connecticut	2023–2024	Hosted from January 2023 to January 2024 a Derby-themed installation featuring pamphlets, photographs[139] and a 1971 racer loaned by its owner, driver Stephen Longo.[140]	Was on exhibit
McHenry County Historical Society & Museum	Union	Illinois	2007[a]	Has a car piloted by 1952 Woodstock, Illinois Champion Peter Perkins,[141] who is a life member of the museum.[142]	On exhibit
Memory Lane Museum	Mooresville	North Carolina	Current	Has twenty-one vintage Derby cars in their collection.[143] They include examples from Dan Parks of Charlotte, North Carolina, who finished his long career in 1965 as a class A;[144] Neil Castles Jr., also of Charlotte, who took 6th place in the Senior Division of that local in 1985;[145] and Mark Whitley of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who competed at the All-American in 1990 in the Kit Division, winning his first heat.[146] The following year he raced as a Senior at the All-American, taking 8th.[147]	On exhibit
				Steve Matlock of Knoxville, TN, who competed from 1955 to 1958, taking 2nd in 1956.[148]
Miller House Museum	Hagerstown	Maryland	Current	Curated by the Washington County Historical Society, which is headquartered at the Miller House Museum, is an exbibit of a restored Derby car piloted in 1939 by Hagerstown, Maryland Champion Lewis Spessard (1923–2018).[149] The car was restored a month prior to its unveiling on March 1, 2025.[150][151]	On exhibit
Minnesota History Center	Saint Paul	Minnesota	Current	Has a Derby car piloted in 1938[152] by St. Paul, Minnesota Champion Herbert Garelic[g][153]	On exhibit
Miriam P. Brenner Children's Museum	Greensboro	North Carolina	2022[a]	Has three Derby cars from the 1970s suspended above the Volvo truck and Petty Enterprises Hot Wheels exhibits.[154][155] They were all constructed by the same builder, who is unidentified.	On exhibit
Mission Museum	Mission	British Columbia	2020	Exhibited a racer piloted by 1961 Mission City, British Columbia Champion Raymond Mack.	Was on exhibit
Morrison Motor Car Museum	Concord	North Carolina	Current	Has two cars piloted by 1965 Charlotte, North Carolina Champion David Alexander, and 1966 Charlotte, North Carolina racer Mark Alexander on the showroom floor.[156]	On exhibit
Muscatine Art Center	Muscatine	Iowa	Current	Is hosting an exhibit titled Muscatine History Revisited from October 2024 to August 2025 that features a Derby car named The Melon Shed[157] piloted in 1949 by Muscatine class B Champion Jim Hoopes.[158][159]	On exhibit
Museu da Casa Brasileira	São Paulo	Brazil	2018	Held an exhibit titled Design Aerodinâmico – Metáfora do Futuro[160] (en. Aerodynamic Design – Metaphor for the Future), featuring a 1940s Derby car from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.[161]	Was on exhibit
Museum of American Speed	Lincoln	Nebraska	Current	Has numerous Derby cars on exhibit,[162] including examples piloted by 1934 Indianapolis, Indiana Champion Raymond A. Kern, 1949–51 Muncie, Indiana class B racer Garland Ross Jr.(pictured), 1962 Detroit, MI Champion Robert Joseph Hanlon, as well as 1969 entries from Mark Larivee of Detroit and local Steve Fralin of Lincoln.	On exhibit
National Automotive and Truck Museum	Auburn	Indiana	Current	Home of GM Futurliner#10,[163] has on display two Derby cars,[164] one a blue class B entry from the 1960s,[165] and the second an orange lay-down design from the 1970s.[166]	On exhibit
National Museum of American History	Washington	D.C.	Current	Has several Derby items, including two cars. One (pictured) was piloted by 1961 Hartford, Connecticut Champion Robert J. Pusateri,[167] and the second by 1994 National Derby Rally Stock Division Champion Laura Shepherd[168][h] from Kent, Ohio. The cars are not on public display.	Collection only
New England Racing Museum	Loudon	New Hampshire	2021[a]	Has three Derby cars hung on a wall display,[172][173][174] including one piloted by 1982 Junior World Champion Carol Ann Sullivan. 1954 Hartford, Connecticut Champion Denny Zimmermans's car (pictured) was on exhibit there in 2021,[175] on loan from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.	On exhibit
New York State Museum	Albany	New York	2010	Hosted an exhibition titled Derby Doings: The All-American Soap Box Derby, which celebrated the history of the sport and specifically Albany's participation in it, with its first competition held in 1940. Featured were two local Derby cars, one built by 1949 entry Richard Russell and a Super-Stock entry piloted by Michael Morawski, who raced in 2007.[176] In 2018 the museum acquired a car piloted by 1971 Albany, New York Champion Randy Hood, along with his race jacket and trophy.[177]	Was on exhibit
North Carolina Museum of History	Raleigh	North Carolina	Current	Has a single racer (pictured) in their collection, piloted by 1972 Chapel Hill, North Carolina Champion Priscilla Freeman, who took fifth place at the 35th All-American.[178] The car is currently not on public display.	Collection only
Northwest Connecticut Fire Fighting Museum	Torrington	Connecticut	2022[a]	Situated at the Bad Dog Brewing Company in Torrington, has two Derby car as floor exhibits, both sponsored by the Torrington Fire Department,[179][180] including an example piloted by Tommy Petrovits.[181]	On exhibit
Oakland Museum of California	Oakland	California	2010–11	Hosted an exhibit by artist Mark Dion titled The Marvelous Museum, that featured overlooked "orphans, curiosities, and treasures" seldom displayed nor borrowed by other museums.[182] In it a Derby car from pre-1948[i] was included, and was like many of the items in the exhibit presented in its storage crate.[184] The car was gifted to the Museum by Bill Jolliffe, who is credited as its maker.[185]	Was on exhibit
Ohio History Center	Columbus	Ohio	2022[a]	Has a Derby car on display piloted by 1949 Akron, Ohio 3rd-placer Carl William "Bill" Ford.[186][187]	On exhibit
Okoboji Classic Cars	Milford	Iowa	2020[a]	Has three Derby cars on display, including one (pictured) from 1966 Sioux City, Iowa Champion Roger Lee Van Waart.[188][189]	On exhibit
Old Courthouse Museum	Sioux Falls	South Dakota	2024[a]	Has two cars in a Derby exhibit,[190][191] including 1970 Sioux Falls, South Dakota entry Evan Jones and 1971 Sioux Falls Champion Steve Peterson.[192]	On exhibit
Old School Museum	Winchester	Illinois	2022[a]	Has a Champion car from Clint Buckley who won the Jacksonville, Illinois, local race in 1972.[193]	On exhibit
Old State House Museum	Little Rock	Arkansas	Current	Has a racer piloted by 1960 Magnolia, Arkansas Champion Wallace F. Waits (1945–2023).[194][12] The car is currently not on public display.	Collection only
Owls Head Transportation Museum	Owls Head	Maine	Current	The museum has a wealth of Derby-related ephemera in its archives and several cars tucked away in storage, including 1938 Portland, Maine Champion Perley Bartlett.[195] As recent as 2017, it along with two others were exhibited in the museum.[196]	Collection
Parsons Historical Society Museum	Parsons	Kansas	2016[a]	Hosted an exhibit of Derby memorabilia that featured at least four cars,[197] including examples piloted by 1949 local Champion William Schibi[198] and 1950 local Champion Jerry Schibi.[199]	May be on exhibit
Peekskill Museum	Peekskill	New York	Current	Has a single example upstairs in the Marion Boyle Children's Room, piloted by 1936 Peekskill, New York Champion William Barthelmes.[200]	On exhibit
Pennsylvania College of Technology	Williamsport	Pennsylvania	2012	Pennsylvania College of Technology, which opens its masonry laboratory annually for construction of cars used in the Williamsport Soap Box Derby, exhibited in 2012 a Derby car piloted by 1951 World Champion Darwin Cooper, who hails from there. The car was put on display at the entrance of the college's Madigan Library.[201]	Was on exhibit
Region of Waterloo Museums & Archives	Kitchener	Ontario	Current	Has in their collection a class B car built in 1955 and raced in the area. The driver's name is withheld pending permission of the donor, who was original owner and builder of the car.[202] It is currently not on public display.	Collection only
Rock County Historical Society	Janesville	Wisconsin	2021[a]	Housed at Lincoln-Tallman House in Janesville, and in the basement, are two cars in a Derby-themed exhibit[203] piloted by 1948 Janesville, Wisconsin Champion Carliss H. Shuler (pictured) and 1949 Janesville, Wisconsin Champion Gerald S. Wells.	On exhibit
Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill and Museum	Springfield	Illinois	2019[a]	Situated above the restaurant bar is a Derby car[204] piloted by 1972 Springfield, Illinois Champion Robert Wayne Wieks, along with other memorabilia like a flag and trophy connected to the car's history. Mr. Wieks hadn't seen the car since his win in 1972 until much later when it was put on display above the bar. Now back in his possession, the car remains on exhibit.[205]	On exhibit
St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre	St. Catharines	Ontario	2023	Hosted a Derby-themed exhibit on the history of the Soap Box Derby in St. Catharines featuring photographs, trophies and related memorabilia.[206] In it were two cars piloted by 1954 Champ Larry Tracey (pictured), which is in the Museum's permanent collection, and 1972 Champ William Roy "Bill" Hand.	Was on exhibit
St. Louis County Historical Society	Duluth	Minnesota	2021	Hosted an exhibit at the Fesler Gallery on 1963 Soap Box Derby World Champion Harold "Bo" Conrad, who hailed from Duluth, Minnesota. On display was a blue Derby car and videos, with trophies and memorabilia on loan from Mr. Conrad.[207][208][209] The car he won in (pictured) is on exhibit at the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame Museum in Akron, Ohio	Was on exhibit
San Diego Automotive Museum	Balboa Park	California	2017	Exhibited a Derby racer piloted by 1946 World Champion Gilbert Klecan, who loaned the car.[210]	Was on exhibit
Sanford Museum & Planetarium	Cherokee	Iowa	2024[a]	Has hosted several Derby cars, including a Soap Box Derby exhibit[211] that ran until March 18, 2024.[212] They have included examples piloted by 1954 Sioux City, Iowa racer Martin Booth,[213] and 1971 Cherokee, Iowa Champion Jim Krueger.[214]	Was on exhibit
Saratoga Automobile Museum	Saratoga Springs	New York	2017	Has exhibited vintage racers piloted by Peter Voronovsky of Schenectady, New York,[215][216] who was awarded the Best Constructed trophy in 1951, and Jordan Milner of Windsor, Connecticut, who competed as a Stock Division entry in 1995.[217]	Was on exhibit
				Linda Lee Aidala (her extant car pictured) was Albany, New York[218] Senior Division Champion in 1981.
Seiverling Museum	Ephrata	Pennsylvania	2023	Seiverling Museum, a car and pedal car museum, entered a float at the 88th Ephrata Fair Parade,[219] which featured a Derby car piloted by 1973 local Champion Brad Kreider, whose family were volunteers. The parade took place on Main Street, the same thoroughfare that Brad had won on 50 years earlier.[220]	Was on exhibit
Silver Creek Museum	Freeport	Illinois	Current	Has a single example piloted by 1950–1951 Freeport, Illinois racer Dean G. Speilman.[221]	On exhibit
Sioux City Public Museum	Sioux City	Iowa	Current, 2023	Has at least four cars, including a replica of 1937 Sioux City, Iowa Champion Wayne Johnson's "mushroom car", which he constructed in 2008 and donated to the museum,[222] and 1967 Sioux City, Iowa Champion Mark Lehmann (pictured),[223] both suspended high above the museum floor. In 2023 a show entitled New to You: Recent Artifact Donations exhibited recent acquisitions, including two Derby cars driven by 1970 Sioux City, Iowa Champion Stephen T. Lalley[224] and 1990 Sioux City, Iowa Masters Champion Wendy Van Waart.[225][226]	On exhibit, collection
Smoky Hill Museum	Salina	Kansas	2021[a]	Has exhibited[227] a Derby car piloted by 1967 Salina, Kansas Champion Jack Klein[228] (1955–2004).	On exhibit
South Dakota State Historical Society	Pierre	South Dakota	Current	Has a donated Derby car that was piloted by 1941 Rapid City, South Dakota Champion Jack Enterman.[229]	Collection
Stables Cafe	Guthrie	Oklahoma	2022[a]	Has as part its extensive antiques collection an unidentified lay-down racer from the 1970s suspended above the dining area.[230][231]	On exhibit
Stratford-Perth Archives	Straford	Ontario	2019	Displayed a derby car in 2019 dubbed "Miss Canada," which was raced in Stratford from 1951 to 1954 by brothers Gary and Marvin Thomas. The car is in the collection of the Stratford Perth Museum, who loaned the car.[232]	Was on exhibit
Strong National Museum of Play	Rochester	New York	Current	Has multiple examples in their collection, including cars piloted by 1951 class A racer Richard E. "Dick" Zicari[233] (1936–2011),[234] donated by Mr. Zicari, 1964 Rochester Champion William Lentzer, which has been on display as recent as 2018,[235] and 1975 Rochester Champion Dave Marra, donated by Mr. Marra.[236][237]	On exhibit
Swift Current Museum	Swift Current	Saskatchewan	2018	Hosted a Derby exhibit in October 2018 that was pitched to the museum by the Swift Current Soapbox Racing Association, which at the time was celebrating 35 years of continuous racing. It featured several racers, including a senior lay-down car piloted by Aiden Jahnke.[238]	Was on exhibit
Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame	Syracuse	New York	Current	Has a single Derby car piloted by 1970 Syracuse Champion Walter G. Hadyk.[239][240]	On exhibit
Tallahassee Automobile Museum	Tallahassee	Florida	Current	Has three cars on exhibit, including examples from Roy Garren, who raced in the Senior Division in the DeKalb County, Georgia, race in 1984, and David Garren, who won the Junior Division Championship in Atlanta in 1985.[241]	On exhibit
Toronto Motorama	Toronto	Ontario	2020, 2022	A single example, an all metal-clad racer from the 1960s, was exhibited in the Bodymotive Services kiosk at the Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo in 2020.[242] In 2022 the car competed at the Elora, Ontario soapbox derby.[243]	Was on exhibit and raced
Tustin Area Historical Museum	Tustin	California	2021	Exhibited on June 11, 2021 a racer piloted by 1948 Sidney, Nebraska Champion Marlin Clark, with Mr. Clark speaking of his Derby experience to guests in attendance.[244][245][246]	Was on exhibit
Tyler History Center	Youngstown	Ohio	Current	Has two cars on display, piloted by 1967 class A entry James Strock[247] and 1968 racer Donald Del Cessna,[248] both who competed in Youngstown.	On exhibit
Unser Racing Museum	Los Ranchos de Albuquerque	New Mexico	2023	Featured two Derby cars[249] piloted by 1960 Albuquerque, New Mexico Champion Lawrence Martin[250] and 1966 Albuquerque, New Mexico Champion Richard E. Martin.[251] The museum closed in 2023, with its collection being relocated to the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska.[252]	Was on exhibit
Vance-Tousey House	Lawrenceburg	Indiana	2019	Hosted an exhibit titled The Great Race,[253] featuring a Derby racer piloted by 1969 Lawrenceburg, Indiana Champion Alfred Dewayne Uhlman.	Was on exhibit
Verdigris Tea & Chocolate	Hudson	New York	2025	Hosted a fine art exhibit of paintings by Jack Fenn in the Verdigris Gallery from February 26 to April 1, 2025.[254] Mr. Fenn participated in the Soap Box Derby in 1956 in Greenport, New York and exhibited his extant car alongside his work.[255][256]	Was on exhibit
Vintage Derby Car Show	Akron	Ohio	3rd Friday in July	Annual exhibit taking place during Race Week that culminates in the All-American World Championship in Akron, Ohio. The exhibit showcases extant vintage Derby racers and memorabilia that invites any and all Derby alumni to attend and participate, and is open to the general public. At its inaugural exhibit in 2022 an array of classic Derby car designs (pictured) was put on display.	Was on exhibit
				Oldest car at the 3rd Vintage Show in 2024 piloted by 1952 Soap Box Derby World Champion Joe Lunn, showing collision damage
				Oldest car at the 2nd Vintage Show in 2023 piloted by Indianapolis, Indiana Champion David M. Knight in 1953
				1956 Valparaiso, Indiana racer Doug Hoback's car at the 3rd Vintage Show in 2024
				An original and unrestored racer piloted by 1961 Ashland, Ohio Champion James Stine
				1961 Mansfield, Ohio Champion Timothy Boyer exhibited at the 3rd Vintage Show in 2024
				1969 New Philadelphia, Ohio Champion Jeff Bitticker's car at the 3rd Vintage Show in 2024
				1974 Conshohocken, Pennsylvania Champion Edward L. Myers (1961–2025), who took 3rd at the 37th All-American and set the current track speed record in Akron.[257]
Virginia Museum of Transportation	Roanoke	Virginia	Current	Has Tim Royer's orange Super Stock car from 2001 to 2003,[258] Roanoke, Virginia Champion Michael Jay Dobie's blue car from 1966 and Roanoke, Virginia Champion Charles Lineberry III's yellow car from 1969.	On exhibit
Vortaunus Museum	Oberursel	Germany	Current	Has numerous cars on exhibit, including those piloted by 1950 German Champion Alfred Hänle, 1955 German Champion Heinz Soethof, 1967 German Champion Klaus Rohde, 1968 German Champion Bernd Schacherl, 1971 German Champion Karl-Heinz Peter[259] and 1983 German Sr. Champion Rieke Monschauer.[260]	On exhibit
Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum	Waukesha	Wisconsin	2019	Exhibited a car piloted by 1947 Waukesha, Wisconsin Champion Jack Chapman (1932–2019).[261]	On exhibit
Wayne County Historical Museum	Richmond	Indiana	2022	Has several cars suspended above the museum floor,[262] including one piloted by 1968 Richmond, Indiana Champion James B. Wells II.	On exhibit
Whataburger	Tyler	Texas	2022[a]	Located at 5003 Troup Highway in Tyler, TX, this fast food restaurant has an interior décor that honors the Soap Box Derby,[263] including a single lay-back racer standing on its nose inside of a glass-enclosed display case.[264]	On exhibit
Wisconsin Historical Museum	Madison	Wisconsin	2010	Hosted an exhibit titled Zoom! Whiz! Wow! A High-Speed History of Madison's Soap Box Derby, which ran July 26 through September 11, 2010. Included were memorabilia, trophies, photos of boys that participated, and some cars, including one by 1957 Madison Champion Van Steiner.[265][266]	Was on exhibit
Yale Museum	Yale	British Columbia	2020[a]	Has at least two Derby cars on exhibit,[267] including one piloted by 1969 Western Canada Champion Dennis Lissimore on display.[268]	On exhibit
Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum	Ypsilanti	Michigan	2015[a]	Has a car (pictured) piloted by 1950 Ypsilanti, Michigan entry Bill Nickels.	On exhibit

Notes

1. most recent confirmed date
2. Tucker McClaran, who hails from Salem, Oregon, competed in the Ultimate Speed Challenge Division in 2015, placing 2nd.^[7]
3. Johnny Carson, who hails from Norfolk, entered the Derby^[73] and built a racer at age-13.
4. Blair's family has a long history of racing in High Point and beyond. His father, Bill Blair Sr., was one of the pioneers of NASCAR
5. Racing as an adult, Zimmerman was awarded Indy Rookie of the Year in 1971 and, as of 2011, is the only All-American Soap Box Derby participant to compete at the Indianapolis 500.^[117]
6. Image of 1974 Lancaster, Ohio Champion Brian Hunt's car at the 2nd Annual Vintage Derby Car Show in Akron, Ohio in 2023
7. 1938 St. Paul, Minnesota Champion Herbert Garelic founded Garelick Manufacturing Company, a marine accessories supplier.
8. Laura Shepherd won Rookie of the Year in 1994.^[169] In 1995 she placed 4th at the All-American, then clinched her second National Derby Rally Championship, this time in the Kit-Car Division a week later.^[170] Called "Lightening Laura," the Stock Division car was inducted in 1997.^[171]
9. According to the Official Rules Books of the All-American Soap Box Derby, cars built before 1948 were permitted the use of wind-screens,^[183] which the exhibit car had.