“Things are going smoothly,” volunteer Jim Campbell said. “The weather is cooperating.”

John Hill, another volunteer who spent the day unloading cars and changing their tires, said the kids seemed to be having fun.

“I haven’t heard crying yet,” Hill joked.

Grace Stoltz, 9, and Alivia Lukowsky, 9, won the stock and super stock divisions respectively.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Grace Stoltz, 9, right holds her first place trophy after winning the Stock division of the Williamsport Soap Box Derby on Market Street Saturday. Shown with her is her family from front left: Daisy, 7, Abe, 5, Bo, 3, and Grace Back are parents Morgan and John-Mark Stoltz of Montoursville.

Grace, who won the stock division, said the secret to her success was practicing on the hill in her driveway in Montoursville, where her dad would push her down.

“I’m really proud,” Grace’s mom, Morgan Stoltz said. “She worked really hard.”

Grace, in her second year of participating, had fun building the car but her “favorite part was racing,” she said.

Audrey Mosier, 10, of Williamsport and Emmett Kinney-Polchin, 9, of Loyalsock Township agreed.

Emmett, racing for the first time, said he was having a lot of fun.

MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Ethan Parke, front right, holds his runner-up trophy as he poses with his family after placing second in the Stock division of the Williamsport Soap Box Derby on Market Street Saturday. From left is his brother Jacob and Jacob Parke. Back left is his parents Josh and Lori Parke and"pit chief" Dave Hess.

Audrey said that “going down the hill” — the Market Street hill, between Washington and Little League boulevards — is the best part, while Raylan Spencer, 9, of Williamsport, said he enjoys crashing into the cones at the bottom of the hill. Raylan’s dad, Eric Spencer, said he is confident Raylan will want to race again next year.

“We’ve always liked racing,” Eric said. “Getting to do this is fun.”

Two former champions — 2015 winner James Doyle and 2016 winner Liam Doyle, both of Muncy — shared some advice for aspiring champions. James recommended keeping a positive attitude and keeping their heads down and their eyes focused on the road, while Liam said racers should take care of their cars.

Eden Shirey, 7, of Linden, echoed James’ advice about keeping a positive attitude.

“You don’t always need to win, you just need to have fun,” Eden, who wants to race again next year, said.

Marie Mertes and Holly King watched the race from their seats near First United Methodist Church, cheering on Jim King, who was racing for his second year.

“It’s always a blast,” Mertes, Jim’s aunt, said.

“We like to cheer him on,” Holly, Jim’s mom, said.

“It’s been a good day so far,” Matt Doyle, father of Oliver Doyle, 9, a second-year racer, said. “He’s overflowing with excitement.”

“It’s fun,” Oliver said. “I just like it. I just love it.”

Campbell, a long-time volunteer and organizer for Soap Box Derby, said planners meet for 10 months out of the year. Campbell said recruiting children to participate and recruiting sponsors and volunteers to keep kids’ participation free were the “key ingredients” of organizers’ planning efforts.

“We’re so fortunate,” Campbell said, explaining the organizers buy the cars for the kids to use so there are no financial barriers to participating. “We’re really proud of the fact” that all kids have the opportunity to race, he said.

The event had 52 cars in the first year after its revival. Now, more than a decade later, they have 64 cars compete.