Chalk the 2018 Lehighton Education and Athletic Foundation Coaster Race up as a victory for the girls.

The LEAF race, which ran along Beaver Run Road in Lehighton on Saturday, saw more than 20 children competing in two age categories, 8-11 and 12-16, and in a remarkable first for local derby history, the top three slots of each group were dominated by female drivers.

Coaster Club coordinator Rocky Ahner said that coaster racing has always been a great sport for boys and girls to compete together.

Saturday’s race was one of several that the Coaster Club runs during the year, and a new partnership with LEAF.

“We’re running this coaster race for the LEAF program. They wanted a little event to draw some more people here, and this was a good event because we always draw the people for the coaster races,” Ahner said.

Elwood Reed, co-coordinator of the Coaster Club, said that the concept of coaster racing fits perfectly with the ideals of LEAF.

“It’s all education. This teaches kids the basic skills of building cars, taking care of cars, cooperation with everyone else,” he said.

Thanks to the help of Barry Reed, kids from all over the area get a chance to participate in coaster racing.

“I’ve been doing this for 35 years, for the kids. It started back in 1982, when I built one for my nephew. Ever since then I’ve been building them and buying them so kids can have fun and race,” Reed said.

All but one of the cars on Saturday was provided by Reed, who loves to foster the kids’ interest in the derbies by having them work on their own vehicles.

“I get the kids involved, they decorate them how they want. They put on numbers, letters, their name, stuff like that. We clean the wheels every race, and keep them lubed up,” he said.

That passion for racing produces some local legacies, as family members often see their interests pass on to siblings, children and grandchildren.

Angelina Fisher has been racing in numerous circuits for three years, and she always looks forward to getting on the track.

“It’s fun racing other people, it’s exciting. I ran in Second Street in Lehighton, and in Mahoning,” she said.

Angelina Romito said that coaster racing has always appealed to her, ever since she was a kid.

“I love the adrenaline rush, and meeting new people,” she said.

Romito said that the hobby is a lifelong passion, and she is proud to see it pass on to new generations of enthusiastic racers.

“When I started, it was a whole bunch of little kids, my age and up. When they got older, they couldn’t race anymore, and then you see the younger generation come up. Like my sister, she started talking about it to her friends, and it just kind of blew up.”

When she ages out of the derbies, Romito plans to come back and offer her assistance to young racers in order to pass on the tradition.

When it comes to competing against such strong and seasoned veterans in the derby circuit, races can be intimidating. But at the end of the day, most racers agree that victory is just a matter of a few simple principles.

“Make sure you have all of your equipment, and don’t touch the brake until you get to the finish line!” Fisher said.

Winners

Age 8-11

1st place: Cali Reed

2nd place: Maya Kerestes

3rd place: Angelina Fisher

Age 12-16

1st place: Latoya Raush

2nd place: Aleise Romito

3rd place: Abbi Kerestes