Hey all. Are you building a cart for the September 19th Soapbox Races (and if not, why not!?!) and need some help or advice? Well, ponder no more…

Come to a soapbox cart build party at Nova Motocycles on 2nd Street in Turners this Saturday morning at 10:00. There will be some extra bike parts and small lumber on hand and “experts” who may be helpful.

You’ll be glad you did.

https://montaguesoap...-Soapbox-Build-Party
 

Hey all. The Montague Soapbox Race is back on this coming September, and my buddy Ben Goldsher is entering a cart for Hawks & Reed. He has enlisted the help of Ben Mailloux of Half Pint Homes to build it, and we’re looking for a used bike. Willing to pay, but a donation would be accepted as well. Any kind of bike will do, though a kids bike with foot brakes would be higher up our wish list.

Also, if any one out there wants to enter a cart, too, or maybe be a sponsor of some kind (the race is a fundraiser for Parks & Rec), you can check out https://MontagueSoapboxRaces.com for more info.

There will also be a race in Greenfield the Sunday before. https://GreenfieldSoapboxRaces.com If you’re building a cart, you may as well race in both.

Or… give us you’re unused kids bike. :-)
 

Over the past nine months I have been contacted by dozens of people about why the derby did not happen in 2014, and will it happen in 2015? Well, the answer to both questions is the same. The Montague Soapbox Derby needs a sponsor: an organization that is willing to be the fiscal agent, and the administrator of the derby.

MCTV was the owner for the first four years of the derby. They took out the insurance, and set up the bank account where all monies went into and came out of. And they were the beneficiary. If there was any profit, it went towards the station's capital needs for things like cameras, etc.

After running it for four years the board of directors and staff of MCTV decided not to hold it the following year, and ultimately to divest themselves of it altogether. It was now time to find a new owner for the derby.

I contacted many organizations in Montague. By March of 2014 it was apparent I was coming up empty, so I called it. No derby that year. I tried one additional organization in January of this year, 2015, but after a month of deliberations, they decided to not pick it up either.

So now I am appealing to the general public, and calling all organizations in Montague. If you enjoyed the derby in the past, or are looking to potentially bring in some money at an annual event, please contact me and let me know if you are interested in being the new owner of this event.

What does it take? At a minimum, you will need to set up a bank account, take out the insurance, and be the official organization associated with the event when meeting with the police department, fire dept, parks and recreation, and the select board. You would also need to build a committee of about seven or eight people, each with active participation in building the event. On the day of the event it takes about 40 volunteers.

I would definitely remain on the planning committee and would act as a consultant to the event, though I do not really want to be the director anymore. I would actually like to race in it for once!

Although MCTV did not fully maximize all the potential income, we did learn many things over the first four years, and now know what it would take to have the event generate several thousand dollars... while providing a day's entertainment for everyone.

A full planning document is available from the homepage of MontagueSoapboxDerby.com.

So, if you have Montague pride, and belong to an organization that has active board and member participation, and are seeking potential new income from an annual event, please contact me at 413-­320­-5336 about taking on the Montague Soapbox Derby.

You'll be glad you did.

Mik Muller
413-320-5335
 

Clifford H. Phillips

Clifford H. Phillips, 50, of 117 Ashfield Road, Buckland, died Friday, Oct. 3, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

He was born in Holyoke, Sept. 29, 1964, the son of Neil and Patricia (Underwood) Phillips.

He was a 1982 graduate of Franklin County Technical School in Turners Falls.

He was an equipment operator for Local Union 98 based in Springfield.

For the past seven years Cliff owned and operated Cliff ’s Smo k in’ Backyard Barbeque in Buckland.

Cliff was a member of the Western MA Rod and Gun Club, the Fraternal Order of Eagles both in Shelburne Falls and the Ashfield (MA) Rod and Gun Club.

An avid snowmobiler he was a member of the Buckland Riders. He also enjoyed deep sea fishing and four-wheeling adventures.

Survivors besides his mother of Buckland include his wife the former Kelly E. Charette whom he married on October 11, 1997; his step-daughter Ashley Sturgeon of Easthampton; his brother John Phillips of Warren, NH; and three grandchildren Willow, Blue and Layla Sturgeon.

There will be calling hours Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home in Shelburne Falls.

There will be a celebration of life service at a later date to be announced.

It is suggested donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation of MA, RI, NH, & VT, 85 Astor Avenue, Suite 2, Norwood, MA 02062.
 

Hey folks,

Sorry to say it, but I don't think there'll be a Soapbox Derby this year. MCTV has enough on its plate this summer and fall to be able to spare any resources to run the derby, and I need to focus on my business, so unless an organization steps forward to run it, I'm going to skip a year.

Mik
 

Yes, there were a myriad of problems setting up and recording the Soap Box Derby, it is a big and complicated task. I am impressed at how well the MCTV staff and volunteer crew kept their cool and held it together, problem solving one thing after another. It was my pleasure to be part of the process. I think we got a recording, so you will have to see the race post-production, Art.
 

Yes, we looked forward to broadcasting it on MCTV as well. But, despite our best intentions and testing -- someone sabotaged the line from the park down to the port we normally plugged in to broadcast. The wire was laid out on Thursday, and tested multiple times. So, probably Saturday night someone came along and compromised the cable in multiple locations. We found one of the points, but not the other(s) on Sunday morning when the staff was setting up. No matter what we tried, the station was getting only black from the park. Oh what a world. Next year we try something different.
 

Attention Soapbox Derby Racers!

Get ready to race in the Montague Soapbox Derby on Sunday, September 22nd, 2013!

Visit our website www.MontagueSoapboxDerby.com to sign up for one of the 100 available racing slots. We've kept the advance racer fees at the same rate to make it affordable. Sign up right now! As an incentive, the first 25 racers will get some free derby shwag.

http://montaguesoapb...0&title=Forms++Rules

We are also looking for race day volunteers; please let us know if you can help. We've got t-shirts and other collectibles for volunteers, and will provide refreshments.

Good News For Local Businesses

We are working with many local public access TV stations so we can air the race live on more area cable access stations this year in addition to Montague, including Greenfield, Shelburne, and very likely Bernardston / Northfield and the Deerfield area as well. We can offer some great publicity to the fine local businesses who have sponsored the Derby as well as some new ones. Space is limited, so if you know of a business that would like to be a sponsor, please let us know. All sponsors will not only have a hay-bale banner at the race, but will be mentioned on the air by the announcer, as well as showing up in print on the screen. Don't miss it.

We will also be listing sponsors on our Facebook page as they come aboard. Please check it out, like it, and pass it on.

https://www.facebook.com/MontagueSoapboxDerby

For those of you who participated last year, note that we will have 2 reliable back-up generators to avoid any electrical interruptions. We apologize for last year's long interruption and will conduct intensive public relations to boost attendance.

If you have questions, please visit the website. All will be answered there.

Many thanks!
Mik Muller, Race Director
 

I'm looking to upgrade the seats of two soapbox carts. If you have an old broken or unwanted cheap-o folding beach chair (the small one) and don't want it anymore, please let me know. I'll stop by and grab it. I need two. Color and material don't matter. Thanks.
 

Racers from the Montague Soapbox Derby or any of the other local races are invited to walk in the Franklin County Annual Spring Parade in Turners Falls on Saturday, April 14th!

Please bring your cart to Crocker Avenue between Montague and Davis Streets near Sheffield Elementary School by 11:00am. We are float #31. Look for the banner and other carts!

Make sure your cart has a strong hook on the front and the back so you can hook up to the cart in front of you.
 

Montague Soapbox Derby is looking for someone to put together a nice PowerPoint presentation for the derby. Will include Underwriters, sponsors and advertisers. As a fundraising event the position won't be paid cash, but instead you get a t-shirt, a pint glass, and a slide in the presentation to be accompany the shoot broadcast live -- and repeated several times throughout the month on MCTV and other local stations, and again in subsequent years.
 

RiverCulture is excited to have a table at the Derby! We are seeking donations of outrageous clothing for our CostumeCulture shop in October and will have a donation box at our Derby table. More info here. http://www.montaguem...7&ID=303&success=yes Consider looking through your closets for something crazy to contribute.
 

I just ran my cart on the turners falls track with the help of John Landino and it is slower than before it was paved. I ran the same car just before it was paved and it was a lot faster. The new ramps will be a great addition and it sure will give add a couple MPH. My new cart on the new pavement was about the same speed my old cart was last year.

I still have lots of free bikes and bike parts for those who want to build a cart. If you need a bike for just riding around come over and pick one out. Joe landry 863 2915
 

There are two events this weekend related to the Montague Soapbox Derby:

------------------

Saturday August 20th is Montague Old Home Days.

We're looking for carts to be in the parade, and then show off during the day. Race Director Mik Muller will be on hand to answer questions and hand out racer applications, and show off some of last year's carts!

Montague town common, Montague Center (corner of Main Street and Center Street)

Parade starts at 2:00 -- show up at 1:45 if you want to be in it.
Post Parade cart show-off: 3:00

------------------

Sunday August 21st is the Soapbox Build Party at Joe Landry's House.

From 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Joe Landry will open up his studio and workshop to those who need help with their carts. Joe also has about 50 old bicycles set aside just for cutting up and turning into carts and the tools to make it happen! Perfect photo op!

181 Turners Falls Road, Turners Falls, MA 01376

The Second Annual Montague Soapbox Derby will be held on Saturday, September 17th, 2011, at Unity Park in Turners Falls, MA. Up to 100 derby carts will compete for real metal trophy cups and local artist-rendered style-trophies.

------------------

The Official Derby Announcers will include Franklin County representative Steve Kulik, Montague selectboard member Pat Allen, Montague town clerk Deb Borbeau and the Duke of Sports' Russ Brown.

The Montague Soapbox Derby is a fundraiser for Montague Community TV.

For more information, call Race Director Mik Muller. (413) 320-5336
 

Why don't you guys put your energy into building a soapbox derby car. Call it " The Political Piss Pot " or something along those lines. Or Jimmy Cracked Corn... Or maybe a car like on Animal House. that was a cool car.

Anyways the derby is coming. It would be neat if there were a few rivalries battling it out for the trophy. Kind of like the conversation on this board. Only at the derby you will win atrophy. Not sure what the prize is on this board.