Mount Clemens Grand Prix Soapbox Derby Style Race - 33rd Annual 2026

The Mount Clemens Grand Prix sends kids downhill on Crocker Boulevard in Mount Clemens, Michigan, in gravity-powered soap box cars. Time trials start in the morning and the day runs into late afternoon, with head-to-head racing for local charities. The cars can weigh no more than 215 pounds with the driver inside, and they can reach about 20 mph before the hay bales at the bottom catch anyone who cannot brake in time. The race has run since 1992 and has raised more than $400,000 for local charities, scholarships, and organizations. Drivers show up in cars covered with stickers, airbrushing, or hand-painted themes, including Wonder Woman, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Uncle Kracker designs. Many families buy used cars from the organizers and customize them themselves; one grandfather said he and his granddaughter spent about a month and $500 building their SpongeBob-themed car in his garage. The day also includes a DJ, music, a pancake breakfast at the fire house, food specials at the Rec Bowl, and trophies for every kid, with winners spread across three divisions.