The last time a Box Car Derby was held on Ellicott avenue, pop music stars Michael Jackson and Madonna were popular.
The Downtown Batavia Business Improvement District stirred up a bit of history and brought back the popular event after some insight from Committee member Chris Suozzi whose father Joseph was the 1951 Box Car Derby Champion when he was 12 years old.
The event is dedicated to Joseph P. Suozzi, Patrick Suozzi and Teresa R. Suozzi. Winners of the annual derby will be listed on the Suozzi Memorial Plaque each year.
Roger Martin, a 1940 winner was also on hand to enjoy the derby’s return to Ellicott avenue along with the box car he built for that year’s race. Roger’s son Dave went for a spin down the hill in between races, the 82-year-old car traveled the longest length of the day, with Dave having to apply the brakes to stop.
BID Executive Director Shannon Maute says they wanted to start small this year. Next year the event will be open to adults also.
26 racers, ages 7-10 and 11-13 participated on Saturday morning on Ellicott avenue between Richmond and Park avenue. The racers were provided with a box car kit at cost and built and decorated their derby cars for this morning’s race.
The derby was a double elimination format of 1 vs 1 races in both age brackets with first, second and third place winners in each bracket.
Winners of the 7-10 year old bracket:
1st- Brett Doward
2nd-Levi Bennett
3rd Jack Lawrence
Winners of the 11-13 year old bracket:
1st- Dominic Darch
2nd-Luke Hemmer
3rd- Keagan Calmes
Most Creative entries:
Ceili Finn
Maylo Kemp