Zachary Brennan, son of Patrick and Rebecca Brennan of South Williamsport, tucked himself into a derby racing car during Thursday morning’s announcement at Brandon Park to mark the revival of the Williamsport Area Soap Box Derby after nearly 60 years.

An event that time may have forgotten — or, at least, may have allowed it to slip from its mind — will make a return to the city next year, when the Williamsport Area Soap Box Derby reignites for the first time in nearly 60 years. Race directors Jim Campbell of Hope Enterprises Inc. and Don Noviello of Pennsylvania College of Technology announced the derby’s comeback Thursday morning in Brandon Park, accompanied by Mayor Gabriel J. Campana and representatives of several agencies sponsoring the revival. The race will take place July 3, 2010, down the Market Street hill to Little League Boulevard. Local champions from each of the Stock and Super Stock divisions will then head to Akron, Ohio — the birthplace of the soap box derby — to compete for scholarships and merchandise prizes in the annual All-American Soap Box Derby. Campbell said the idea behind resurrecting the gravity-powered race is to bring something positive, rewarding and meaningful to the youngsters of Lycoming County.