The New Hampshire Soap Box Derby in Dover Is Way Cooler Than You’d Expect

There’s just something wholesome and awesome about kids building race cars and flying downhill powered by absolutely nothing but gravity.  Makes me want to be a kid again.

And honestly… the New Hampshire Soap Box Derby feels like one of those hidden New Hampshire traditions more people should know about.

The organization has actually been part of New Hampshire history since 1939, giving kids between the ages of 7 and 20 the chance to race gravity-powered derby cars in competition events across the Granite State. How cool is that?

If you’ve never seen a Soap Box Derby race before, picture this:

• Kids in custom-built cars.
• A giant downhill course.
• Side-by-side racing.
• Parents cheering like it’s the Daytona 500.
• And a whole lot of engineering, teamwork, and nerves.

The 2026 local championship race is happening May 31 in Dover on Broadway near Oak Street. If you want to check it out, you can attend for free, and organizers even encourage you to bring folding chairs, snacks, and hang out for the day.

And this isn’t just kids messing around in homemade wagons.

These races are serious.

Drivers swap lanes and even swap wheels between heats to keep things fair. Winners can eventually move on to the world championship in Akron, Ohio, competing against racers from around the country.

In a world where so much of childhood revolves around screens and apps and texts… this is kids learning how to build something, race something, compete, and problem-solve in real life.

READ MORE: Why Everyone’s Talking About the 2026 WOKQ Chowder Festival

Also… can we acknowledge how brave these kids are?

Because I���d absolutely convince myself I was about to launch directly into traffic halfway down the hill.

The New Hampshire Soap Box Derby also hosts rally weekends at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon throughout the year, including spring and fall events for racers from around New England.

And if your kid suddenly becomes obsessed after seeing this?

The coolest part might be that newcomers are welcome, and organizers even have cars available for loan or refurbishing for new racers getting started.

Let's go racing!