HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – The annual Harrisonburg Soap Box Derby returns Saturday morning in the Friendly City, and the Rockingham County Rotary Club is inviting folks to come out and cheer on the kids – some of whom are making their derby debut.

Rockingham County Rotarian Jim Elmore said on the Mike Schickman Show yesterday that helping young drivers get in the race is great, but being able to teach them lifelong skills is even better.

“One of my favorite moments of doing this in the past was when we had our pre-race build clinic where we show kids how to put the car together,” Elmore said. “What are the safety features? And I had children come up to me and say ‘I have never used a screwdriver or a wrench in my life because I have nobody at home to show me.'”

He added that the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County usually sends between 6 to 10 kids to the derby.

The green flag drops around 11 a.m. on Research Drive – just off Route 11 north of Harrisonburg.