There was a heavy rain advisory in place when organizers from Elliot Lake's Gentle Shepherd Christian Church on Ottawa Avenue made the decision, on Friday, to proceed with their annual Soap Box Derby the next day, despite it.
By 10 a.m. on race day, 48 young people had registered to participate in Saturday's racing.
As he did last year, Gentle Shepherd Pastor Bob Davies took to the PA to thank the boys and girls from 5 to 12 years of age who participated. He also offered a prayer of thanks to the Creator for holding off the rain.
While they had fewer participants than last year (74), or the year prior (83) organizer Bob Davies anticipated up to 50 registrants. He said with better weather he had hoped up to 100 children would take in the event down the hill on Lisbon Road.
There were many prizes awarded and dozens of local businesses and organizations helped out by donating prizes and other necessary items and supplies.
Volunteers worked for hours driving ATV's hauling soap box cars back up Lisbon Road after every race, organizing, cooking lunch on the barbecue, keeping race records, maintaining the cars, and setting up and tearing down the track.
Another event set for the same time Saturday, the Children's Fishing Derby at Weztview Park, was postponed til Sunday morning due to concerns about the weather.