CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Soap box racers are putting the finishing touches on their gravity-powered entries for Clearlake’s inaugural Soap Box Derby on Saturday.

The city of Clearlake and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce are hosting the family-friendly event, which will take place on the newly constructed Dam Road Extension in Clearlake.

The fields are now set, with registrations having closed on Sept. 6.

There are two divisions – speed and art.

Within the speed division there are the following age groups: the Little Turtles, ages 7 to 12; Turbo Teens, 13 to 17 years of age; Awesome Adults,18 years and older.

In the Art Division, racers will be judged on creativity rather than speed on the course. Judges for the Art Division will beSupervisor Bruno Sabatier, Clearlake, Police Chief Andrew White, Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce President Denise Loustalot and Clearlake Mayor Russ Cremer.

The derby also will feature racing flagger Johnny Miskill, one of the top auto sport flaggers in the United States. Raised in Lake County, Miskill is a fixture at the Lakeport Speedway and also travels to tracks around Northern California and Southern Oregon.

“This is about the kids,” said Miskill. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing children engaged at the track, and this is even more exciting because they get to build the cars from scratch and sit behind the wheel.”

While speeds won’t match those at Lakeport Speedway, that doesn’t matter to Miskill. His focus will be on safety, fair finishes and teaching the next generation of flaggers the ropes.

The event is free for spectators, who are encouraged to bring chairs to sit along the course.

There also will be food and novelty vendors will be located near the finish line at Konocti Education Center.

For more information about the derby visit https://www.downtownclearlake.com/soap-box-derby.

The following is the schedule for race day. City officials said the times are subject to change based on the number of attendees.

Race schedule

7:30 to 8:30 a.m.: Check in for Little Turtles, including vehicle inspection

9 a.m.: Race for the Little Turtles

8:30 to 9:30 a.m.: Check in for the Turbo Teens, including vehicle inspection

10 a.m.: Race for the Turbo Teens

10:45 a.m.: Top four qualifying Turbo Teens drivers championship races

9:30 to 10:30 a.m.: Check in for Awesome Adults, including vehicle inspection

11 a.m.: Race for Awesome Adults

11:45 a.m.: Top four qualifying Awesome Adults drivers championship races

10:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Check in for Art Division, including vehicle inspection

Noon: Art Division race