All thrills, no spills at soapbox derby

The weather gods were once again smiling on Issaquah Rotary and Life Enrichment Options with their annual soapbox derby held in brilliant sunshine on Saturday.

By Jake Lynch • July 20, 2009 3:56 pm
Race starter Tim Finnegan checks that the course is clear before giving the drivers the checkered flag at the Issaquah Rotary Challenge Day Soapbox Derby on Saturday.
Race starter Tim Finnegan checks that the course is clear before giving the drivers the checkered flag at the Issaquah Rotary Challenge Day Soapbox Derby on Saturday.

The weather gods were once again smiling on Issaquah Rotary and Life Enrichment Options with their annual soapbox derby held in brilliant sunshine on Saturday.

Life Enrichment Options, or LEO, seeks to promote a good quality of life within the Issaquah community for citizens who have developmental disabilities, especially as it pertains to housing, employment and recreation.

For the 12th year, the soapbox derby was an example of the great successes of LEO, and the support they receive from Rotary. It was a wonderful day of children with disabilities enjoying the support of their peers to take part in an event which might otherwise be beyond them.

The steady slope on 2nd Avenue, next to the Issaquah Community Center, provided the perfect racetrack, with the soapbox’s reaching speeds of about 17 mph, recorded and displayed by one of the city’s speed camera signs.