Tradition on wheels
Family continues its Soap Box Derby enthusiasm
Photos by Jessica N. Rex Todd Le Roy is pictured here with daughter Jennifer McQuiggan, and grandchildren Isabella Blankenship, Gwendolyn McQuiggan, Austin Kelwaski, Fiona McQuiggen, Bridget McQuiggan, and Allison Blankenship. Six of his seven grandchildren race, with the youngest, Lillian McQuiggan, (not pictured) ready to join as soon as she is old enough. Team Shurfine made it to the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship.
Next time you shop at Shurfine, be sure to look up and you will notice Soap Box Derby cars and trophies displayed. Here, Todd Le Roy stands with the car his son TJ raced more than three decades ago.
This year, Bridget McQuiggan took the Rally champ 2026 at the 88th First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship.
Austin Kelwaski is pictured here with his car–he took the rally champ in his division. Allison Blankenship took the rally champ in her division.
Isabella Blankenship is Todd Le Roy’s oldest granddaughter who has been racing since age eight. She is in the Chautauqua county hall of fame with winnings in the local stock division in 2021, super stock in 2023, masters stock in 2024 and rally champ in 2025.
Photos by Jessica N. Rex Todd Le Roy is pictured here with daughter Jennifer McQuiggan, and grandchildren Isabella Blankenship, Gwendolyn McQuiggan, Austin Kelwaski, Fiona McQuiggen, Bridget McQuiggan, and Allison Blankenship. Six of his seven grandchildren race, with the youngest, Lillian McQuiggan, (not pictured) ready to join as soon as she is old enough. Team Shurfine made it to the All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship.
Next time you shop at Shurfine, be sure to look up and you will notice Soap Box Derby cars and trophies displayed. Here, Todd Le Roy stands with the car his son TJ raced more than three decades ago.
This year, Bridget McQuiggan took the Rally champ 2026 at the 88th First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship.
Austin Kelwaski is pictured here with his car–he took the rally champ in his division. Allison Blankenship took the rally champ in her division.
Isabella Blankenship is Todd Le Roy’s oldest granddaughter who has been racing since age eight. She is in the Chautauqua county hall of fame with winnings in the local stock division in 2021, super stock in 2023, masters stock in 2024 and rally champ in 2025.
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For local Shurfine business owner Todd Le Roy, the 1990s soapbox derby tracks with his son weren't just a phase -- they were the starting line for a multi-generational family tradition now with grandchildren in the driver's seats.
Today, six of his grandchildren have joined in on the fun, creating lasting memories with their family. Granddaughters Isabella Blankenship and Bridget Mc Quiggan began racing at the young ages of seven and nine years of age. They have been participating in soap box derby races for nearly 10 years now.
Racing from region 9 from Jamestown, in June Le Roy's grandson Austin took second place in the stock division, granddaughter Gwendolyn McQuiggan took fourth in stock and granddaughter Bridget McQuiggan took fourth in super stock.
Recently, three of Le Roy's grandchildren participated at the 2026 88th First Energy All-American Soap Box Derby World Championship last month in Akron Ohio, where three children qualified. This year, Bridget took the Rally champ 2026 while Austin took rally champ in his division and Allison took rally champ in her division.
Isabella is in the Chautauqua County hall of fame with winnings in the local stock division in 2021, super stock in 2023, masters stock in 2024 and rally champ in 2025.
According to the International Soap Box Derby website, the name “Soap Box Derby” comes from the early races where children built their gravity-powered cars from wooden soap crates. The term originated in the 1930s when children in Dayton, Ohio, began racing homemade, motorless cars down hills. These early vehicles were often constructed from wooden crates that had originally been used to ship soap.
Today, the Derby is proudly celebrated as the "Greatest Amateur Racing Event in the World®." Spanning nine incredible decades, it continues to inspire young racers and uphold its rich, historic legacy. Anyone between the ages of 7 and 20 years of age is eligible to compete.
The International Soap Box Derby is a non-profit youth education and leadership development organization whose mission is to inspire the next generation of champions, bring STEM education out of the classroom, promote the derby experience, and cultivate lifelong skills and character.
Close to 100 cities are home to officially sanctioned Soap Box Derby Local Race Organizations. The first step to getting involved in Soap Box Derby racing and the International Soap Box Derby is to find your closest "race city." Local Champions are determined from there and qualifiers compete in the annual World Championships in Akron, Ohio.
Le Roy said, "For me it is about the camaraderie and teaching the kids hard work and skills when we work together to build and align the car to make it competitive. This is a skill set that will last a lifetime. I also just love getting a chance to spend time with my grandkids. It's time spent making memories and building a relationship. It means the world to me."
Le Roy shared that the average speed for the cars is just under 30 mph. On weekends throughout the year, he and his grandchildren participate in rally races across the eastern United States. Next on their schedule is a race in Columbus, Ohio followed by the Jamestown Area Soap Box Derby All American Fall Rally on Sept. 26. In October, they will travel to West Virginia.
The Shurfine family racers can be followed on the store's Facebook page. For more information on region 9 derby, visit https://jamestown.soapboxderby.org