Culpeper honored for world’s largest derby

AKRON, Ohio – The idea for a Soap Box Derby in Culpeper began in the summer of 2002.

The brother and sister combination of Tony Troilo and Frankie Gilmore had the vision of putting together the event to go along with the 75th Anniversary of there family owned and operated business, Rosson & Troilo Motor Co. Inc.

That dream became a reality in June 2003 and each year since Culpeper has had children compete in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.

“It was a way for us to give back to the community,” said Gilmore, the Culpeper Soap Box Derby Race Director. “It’s a family oriented activity. It’s something for the youth of the community and their families to get involved in.”

Fast forward to Saturday when Gilmore received a plaque from All-American Soap Box Derby President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Huntsman on behalf of Culpeper, which hosted the largest soap box derby in the world.

Huntsman praised Gilmore for “outstanding achievement.”

Culpeper had 154 total racers compete in the recent local competition and six advanced to compete in Akron for the 72nd year of the annual event, which took place at historic Derby Downs.

“I am very proud of the six drivers and so thankful to everyone in Culpepper,” Gilmore said. “The volunteers and the sponsors that made this possible have been excellent. I am so proud of the drivers up here in Akron and everybody back home. It’s an amazing group of people back home that helped us make it here.

“I also want to thank Tony Troilo,” Gilmore continued. “If it were not for him, we would not be here. His continued support has been outstanding. He takes care of the expenses and helps the families with their travel.”

Brandon Feagan, Tyler Miller and Hunter Chapman each qualified for the derby, but were eliminated from their respective racing divisions after Round 1.

Ciera Backe, Amanda Halsey and Rebecca Johnson each advanced past Round 1, but a loss in Round 2 eliminated them.

“We had three local champions and three that earned enough points to qualify for the Soap Box Derby,” Gilmore said. “They traveled to North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia so they could rally race. That’s how they earned enough points to make it to Akron.”

Feagan won the Rally Masters division world championship in 2008 in Akron after winning four races. He was one of seven racers from the Culpeper area to qualify last year. That is the largest contingent the area has produced in one year.

Gilmore, 45, said Feagan’s victory was special to the community and also to her family. Troilo, 59, was thrilled and Gilmore said sharing the win with their parents, Joe and Bootsie, was very memorable.

“Believe it or not, she always wanted to see a national champion and she got to see that,” Gilmore said of her mother. “The first stop we made when we got back was home.”

Bootsie passed away on Aug. 11, 2008 at age 86. Joe, a Soap Box Derby racer in Vandergrift, Pa. in 1935, will turn 89 in August.