All-American Soap Box Derby

This weekend's running of the All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron will probably not be affected by a small controversy regarding the publication of a book about the event that was written by Melanie Payne. According to an Associated Press article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer,

Payne, a former Akron Beacon Journal reporter who [now] works for a newspaper in California, spent three years writing "Champions, Cheaters and Childhood Dreams: Memories of the All-American Soap Box Derby."

Until December, Payne had cooperation from derby officials.

But she said that friendly relationship ended abruptly when officials learned the book would reference cheating at the race. They refused to allow her to use their photos and prevented her from having a booth at the event.

It appears that the race officials do not like the title of the book stating that cheating is involved and the publisher and author have refused to revise it. Payne states that only one chapter addresses cheating and the rest of the book describes all the wonderful aspects of the event.

Picky, picky, picky! I say, let the readers decide.