Autor: Ronald Reed

Ronald Reed is first, and foremost, a derby fan. Growing up in suburban Akron, he attended his first All American race in 1949 at age seven. Since then he has missed only three. By his personal account, he has witnessed more national derby races than any living person. He never raced as a boy, lacking the skill to construct a racer. As he explains it, “The trouble was everything I made looked like I made it.” In 1973, Ronald began carving miniature replicas of the top three racers of each year’s All-American, dating back to 1933. These cars are currently on display at the derby museum at Derby Downs in Akron. He is particularly proud of his collection of all fifty-two racers from the 1935 race. He has also assembled and maintains the derby archives, having collected over 60, 000 photos. He was inducted into the All-American Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame in 2008. Ronald currently resides in the Akron suburb of Mogadore, with Sandra, his wife of fifty years. Of his seven grandchildren Michelle, Kalyn, Reed, Bryson, Teghan, Calvin & Jordan; four race in the Portage County soap box derby.