Littles win test runs at Akron, tweak axles

Editor's note: This is the third of several stories about a Cape Girardeau sister and brother competing this week in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. April Little is 13, and her brother, Jordan, is 9.

April, Jordan and Beth Little measured the distance between the rear and front axles on Jordan's Soap Box Derby racer Wednesday. The process, known as triangulation, confirms proper alignment of the car. (PETER WYLIE ~ pwylie@semissourian.com)

Watch April and Jordan Little at the Soap Box Derby

By PETER WYLIE

Southeast Missourian

AKRON, Ohio -- April and Jordan Little both finished first in their test runs Wednesday at the 70th annual All-American Soap Box Derby.

Although the results were not official, Jordan and April said winning their test races made them more excited for Saturday's competition.

After the test runs, the Littles and hundreds of other contestants aligned their vehicles in the pit area. Race officials supervised them as they tweaked the axles of their cars to maximize speed and decrease resistance.

The Littles are at their first All-American Soap Box Derby, and they welcomed help from veterans of the event.

Clive Sarvich of Indianapolis helped Jordan and Beth check the alignment of Jordan's car with a tool known as a C-gauge. The C-gauge measures the angle of the axle to make sure the axle is level once the child is in the car.

Sarvich said the tool costs more than $150. Beth said their sponsor, Mike Rushing of Rushing Marine Inc., planned to purchase a C-gauge and donate it to the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club for use in future events.

Each car also got a new set of wheels before being stored away in one of two spacious warehouses on the derby grounds.

April and Jordan planned to attend a contestant dance Wednesday night that gives the children a chance to meet other racers. Their mother, Beth, said race officials emphasized the event.

"I got the impression that it wasn't optional," she said. "They told us to drop the kids off at 6, then we have a parent's night. I'm not really sure what that's going to be like."

April and Jordan laughed as Beth then showed off a few spontaneous dance moves she said she might use at the parents' function.

That's just one example of the sense of humor the Littles have maintained, even while performing tedious maintenance and standing in long lines.

No matter what happens in Saturday's races, they said they've had a great time in Akron.