Dover's Dick Behan joins his brother and sister in Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame

DOVER — In the summer of 1969, at the age of 14, Dick Behan won the New Hampshire Soap Box Derby, and then placed second in the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio, later that summer.

Ever since those two memorable events, Behan and the Soap Box Derby went hand-in-hand.

Fifty-five years later, Behan, now 69, was inducted into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame this past Saturday at the awards ceremony following the 86th FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby world championships at Derby Downs in Akron. The sport features youths racing in cars with no engines that race down an inclined track. Aerodynamics is the key to success.

Dover is known for hosting New Hampshire's local championship in June on Broadway at the Corner of Oak Street most years, going back decades.

Behan is one of three members in this year's class, and the Hall of Fame, which began in 1997, now has 89 members. This year's class also includes Lois Howell of Kent, Ohio and Tim Hiller of New Philadelphia, Ohio.

"I know a fair amount of people who are in the Hall of Fame, and it's a very good group of hard-working people," said Behan, who was notified about his selection last month. "I wasn't shocked, but obviously very happy."

Behan joins his brother, Bob, and sister, Carole (Behan) Berry, in the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame. Carole was inducted in 2018, and Bob in 2022.

"It's nice to have him joining the group, well deserved," said his brother, Bill.

"I am very proud of him," said his sister, Carole.

The Behans are the first family with three members in the Hall of Fame.

"That means a lot for the three of us," Berry said. "It's nice (for our family) to be recognized for all the time we've put in (with the Soap Box Derby) both locally and nationally. Our parents were very supportive of all of us growing up. I am sure they're smiling down on us from heaven; this just means a whole lot to all of us."

Bill Behan said having three members of the family being enshrined in the Hall of Fame is an honor.

"There are only so many in the Hall of Fame, and to have three family members, that's a great recognition," Bill said.

Hall of Fame credentials

Dick Behan, 69, won the local New Hampshire Soap Box Derby in Dover on his first attempt in 1969 and placed second in that year’s All-American Soap Box Derby. He has been involved as a volunteer in local, regional and national Soap Box Derby programs ever since.

Behan has been a board member and officer of the local New Hampshire organization since 2006 and has been New Hampshire race director since 2012. He became assistant regional director in 2012 and since 2022, he has been regional director of Region 10, serving as liaison between the All-American Soap Box Derby and local race programs in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.  He has mentored and encouraged young racers for decades.

Berry raced in the New Hampshire State Soap Box Derby in Dover in 1972 and 1973. She then started volunteering for the local race organization, for which she served as board president and rally director in the mid-1990s and continues as a volunteer. In 1995, Berry became a founding member of the All-American Soap Box Derby’s Internet team, where she continues her computerization efforts for race data, including the inspection process, heat and lane assignments, timing and race results. She became a member of the All-American Soap Box Derby’s Racing Commission and was elected to the board of directors in 2016.

Bill Behan first raced in the New Hampshire Soap Box Derby in 1966, and raced in the All-American championship two years later after winning the local New Hampshire race. He began volunteering the following year in Dover and has continued for more than five decades. During many of those years, he has been the local race and rally director, and has served as treasurer and vice president of the New Hampshire organization. Bill has been a member of the All-American’s A-Team since 1995 and is responsible for the communication system connecting the starting line, finish line and run-out area. During races, he captures finish line photos of each heat on the computer system’s overhead camera. For decades he has mentored hundreds of boys and girls on the design and construction of their cars.

Scott Taylor, the president and chief executive officer of International Soap Box Derby, Inc., said the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame was established in 1997 to recognize the significant contributions and efforts of individuals who have made it possible for the Soap Box Derby program to have an impact on the lives of young people throughout the United States and other parts of the world.

"We spend a lot of time helping the kids," Behan said. "There's an awful lot of supervising and getting kids in the right place, answering questions and stuff like that. I like doing that ... You help your local kids ... but you also help out other kids, too, as much as you can."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover's Dick Behan joins his brother and sister in Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame