Cub Scout Soapbox Derby draws 27 cars and more than 50 scouts to El Segundo

El Segundo — The annual Cub Scout Soapbox Derby on Grand Ave drew 27 cars and more than 50 scouts from across the South Bay, organizers said, with races staged on a downhill course and multiple rounds held throughout the day.

Organizers and parents said the event is a long-standing local tradition that brings families together and gives children hands-on experience building and racing gravity-powered cars. “It is a fun event that brings the community together, and the kids just absolutely love it,” a pack volunteer said.

Event organizers described the cars as built for safety and speed. “The cars are made for safety and speed. We're racing down the hill,” a parent said, adding that the event attracts Cub Scouts from other packs because it is a longstanding tradition. Another parent said their family joined the troop specifically for activities such as the derby and praised the program for teaching teamwork and practical skills: “This teaches them teamwork too.”

Organizers reported 27 cars registered and more than 50 scouts scheduled to race, and said the derby is typically held right after July 4. Races were organized in several rounds during the day, with riders switching turns and young competitors described by parents as rising second graders learning through the experience.

Several participants described themed cars and decorations. “We've been working on this car. You could see it's a Minecraft car, and we're super into F1. So we put all the decals in there representing both Ferrari and McLaren,” a parent said.

The event included entries from multiple packs across the South Bay and was described by an organizer as one of the region's few remaining soapbox derbies. Reporting for El Segundo Media, Tully Anderson covered the event on Grand Ave.