Newcomers Win Second Annual Pittsfield Soap Box Derby
 Ava Garlington Saturday drives the Interprint team's car to victory in a heat of the Westside Soap Box Derby. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Some self-described “nerdy” colleagues from Interprint took home the top prize on Saturday at the second annual Westside Super Soap Box Derby.
Peter Garlington piloted the team’s vehicle to victory over the host Westside Legends squad in the adult final to bring home the gold on Robbins Avenue.
“I’m from the design department,” Garlington said. “Some of the guys from the R&D side, but primarily two of us from design who are a little geeky and a little nerdy about things, decided to give it a try.
“It was fun. It was our first time building a car that had to hold a person and roll downhill.”
Bryson Purry won the derby’s children’s division, and Blue Q from the adult division took the prize for best in show for cart with a bed theme that featured everything from stuffed animals to a box of Kleenex to a pair of fake bare feet poking out beneath the covers at the foot of the bed.
Garlington said none of the Interprint team members even had experience in soap box derbies as youngsters, and Saturday was the first time they took their vehicle for a spin.
“We’ll probably do some tweaks if we race again next year, but we were pretty happy with it,” he said.
“We had it out at a couple of different points when we were trying to figure out the steering, making sure it was working. But that was just on the small hill by the studio parking lot – nothing major.”
Garlington was the third member of the Interprint team to get behind the wheel in Saturday’s races. His daughter Ava took a turn, as did Nate Keay, the car’s other builder.
“It was all cart, no driver skill,” Garlington said with a half.
“It felt good. The hill was fast at the top. Maybe I’ll add a little suspension next time, a little spring in the seat. It was a little firm. But it was fun.”
