OTBP#4 - Ready...Set...GO!!! - ASH13 Traditional Cache

A series of off the beaten path caches. Some easy to get to, some not so easy!

The fourth of the OTBP caches. This is one of my favorite new finds in Ashcroft! I'm sure I'm not the only one in town that didn't know about this little gem of history!
In the 1950's and 60's, soap box racing was a big event in Ashcroft and other areas. Racers used to roar down the hills in Ashcroft in the 50's but by the 60's, soap box racing had become so popular the organizers looked for a permanent place to race.
Below here is the old soap box strip with weeds poking through the pavement. This land above the current Rodeo grounds was prepared with the aid of local businesses, community groups and Bethlehem Copper.
Machine shops made the starting ramps and local businesses sponsored and purchased the wheels (which all had to be same so no one had an advantage). Kids aged 10-16 were allowed to compete in their respective categories and were expected to build the soap box cars themselves although they probably got help from their dads! Racers run races in heats and from these race events were able to qualify locally. From here they went to Mission, BC where representatives from around the province gathered to race and qualify for bigger events!
Winners from Mission went to compete in Akron, Ohio

A funny side story regarding the soap box strip. A small plane was flying through the area and thought the track was a landing strip! Apparently the plane came in for a landing and on touchdown realized that the strip was not level and ended up going nose first into a hill! The plane had to be hauled away. After that incident, large X's were painted on the strip to deter any further landings!