“On your mark, get set, GO!”

Two soapbox derby cars tore down Second Avenue, near Issaquah’s City Hall. The speedometer beneath the speed limit sign displayed their growing pace – 13, 14, 15 miles per hour. As they soared over the finish line, supplied by the crosswalk at Bush St., the crowd whooped in celebration. But despite the audience’s enthusiasm, nobody cared about who won.

About 40 developmentally disabled kids, partnered with kids without disabilities, experienced the thrill of success on Saturday at the 11th annual Challenge Day Race. Life Enrichment Options (LEO), a nonprofit advocacy group for people with special needs, organizes the soapbox derby every year with the Issaquah Rotary Club as the chief sponsor.

Leo and Rose Finnegan, founders of LEO and parents to a developmentally disabled son, have several motivations for planning the event.

“We do it, number one, for something fun for people with disabilities,” Rose said. “Secondly, to increase awareness of people with disabilities in the community.”

She said the bonds made throughout the day help break down barriers between those who have special needs and those without disabilities.

“When people get to know somebody it kind of removes that fear factor,” Rose said.

But, at the end of the day, it’s all about the fun.

“I love what we’re doing,” said Marty Budzius, a charter member of Issaquah Rotary Club and the derby’s commentator. “It’s kids having a great time, and that’s what this whole thing’s about.”

Lindsay Allen, 13, rode with kids several times throughout the day. Brett, her 10-year-old brother, who has cerebral palsy, also enjoyed barreling down the hill.

“It’s fun to be able to go down with them because you’re able to see the smile on their face,” Lindsay said. “Some of them might not be able to go fast on their feet, but this gives them the opportunity to go fast in a car.”

Lindsay was not alone as a volunteer during the Challenge Day Race. Leo Finnegan estimated about 50 people chose to spend their time putting on the event.

Besides LEO and Issaquah Rotary Club, volunteer groups at the race included the Issaquah Police Department, the Issaquah High School wrestling team, Athletes for Kids, a local organization that pairs high school athletes with kids with special needs, and two Mercer Island youth volunteer programs.

“We have a lot of help now, we really appreciate it,” said Brian Thomas, a member of Issaquah Rotary Club who has worked at the race for all 11 years.

Bodies were needed not only to race with the participants, but also to lift the cars onto the starting platform and turn them around at the end of the race.

This year, a volunteer was hit by an oncoming racecar while trying to stop the other, knocking him off his feet. The accident was unprecedented.

But that was the only imperfection during an otherwise smooth day. Races ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a break at noon for some free pizza and an award ceremony. Each participant received a trophy and a certificate with their name and picture.

“It’s really cool – it’s a chance for all the kids to feel like they’re winning something,” said Anna Morgan, a junior at Skyline High School and a volunteer with Athletes for Kids.

Because only two cars, and consequently two pairs of kids, could race at one time, organizers offered other activities for the kids who weren’t cruising down the hill.

Outdoors for All, an organization providing athletic opportunities for people with special needs, supplied several different kinds of bicycles and tricycles specially made for the developmentally disabled so kids could try them out.

“We want to make sure that people with disabilities can get out and do everything that people who don’t have disabilities really enjoy in the Northwest,” said Ed Bronsdon, executive director for Outdoors for All.

Other entertainment included two clowns who juggled in the middle of the course and started some of the races. The men, dressed like two slices of a rainbow, are members of the Boeing Management Association Klown Klub, a group made up of current and former Boeing managers who clown around on the side.

Tom Kassens, a retired Boeing employee who said he learned how to juggle in “the school of bruised wrists,” said the group loves volunteering for events like the Challenge Day Race.

“We support all special needs functions because we feel that’s a very good area to support,” Kassens, whose clown name is Sparkplug, said. “We like to see people enjoy themselves and we like to share smiles.”

There were plenty of those going around. Vidya Aiyar, whose son, Rohit, has a developmental disability, said the 8-year-old provided a few.

“Every time I see him go down the ramp, his face just lights up,” Aiyar said. “We just appreciate anything that the community does for kids with special needs.”

Rotary District Governor Jesse Tam, who started a few races, agreed that it looked like fun.

“Starting off the races is exciting. Too bad I’m not young enough to get in the car,” Tam said.

But participation wasn’t about age – although most racers were kids, ages ranged from four to fifty. Height was the key issue.

“As long as they can fit in the car, that’s the only requirement,” Leo Finnegan said. “Five foot two or less, we don’t care how old they are.”

Families show their appreciation for the event simply by returning year after year. J.P. Hayes, 10, has been racing for about five years.

Hayes’s father, John, said that his family enjoyed the derby and will keep participating.

“They put on a good event every year – it’s well organized for all the kids,” he said. “It’s getting out there and it’s growing.”