CONNEAUT — Generational connection was the name of the game Saturday during the 28th Annual Northeast Ohio Soap Box Derby competition on Broad Street Hill.

Families worked together toward a common goal under sunny skies that drove temperatures into the 80s.

One family had to deal with the challenge of sibling against sibling competition.

Kaitlyn and Elizabeth Ezzone faced off during an early round of the competition Saturday afternoon. “We knew it (the internal family race) was going to happen, but we were hoping it would be later (in the competition),” said Mike Ezzone who competed in the Derby back in the 1980s.

“We’ve advised them not to look at each other (during the race),” said Mike Ezzone.

“We said no bragging,” Elizabeth said while preparing for a trip down the hill. The sisters competed twice in a preliminary round with Kaitlyn winning the races.

“I cried the first time (race) the whole way down because I don’t want either of them to lose,” said Holly Ezzone of her two daughters.

The family is already looking forward to next year. “Next year they will be in different divisions and we won’t have to worry about this,” she said.

Soap Box Derby Director Tracy Welton said 36 competitors participated in the event which is five more than last year.

One challenge to the early competitors was a group of young ducks that had to be rescued from the track. “The mother kept flying down,” Welton said.

Soap Box Derby preparation begins in the winter with a variety of clinics that detail how cars should be made while allowing families the individuality to personalize their ride.

“We set up the track around noon yesterday (Friday),” Welton said. He said there were five more competitors than last year, which he attributed to a reduced age requirement that allows seven-year-old boys and girls to compete.

The race is open to residents of Ashtabula County and Madison with winners moving on to competition in the national Soap Box Derby in Akron during the month of July.

Welton said he started competing with one of his children who is now 31, but the tradition lives on. “I have a two-year-old granddaughter,” he said of the possible racer who was in attendance Saturday.

“I built her a wagon out of an old Soap Box car,” Welton said.

The family nature of the event made a perfect connection to Father’s Day weekend,” several families said.

“Both my kids are involved. It gives us a good Father’s Day weekend activity,” said John Hogan of Ashtabula while waiting for his daughter to be driven back up the hill and his son to get in his car for a quick ride down the hill.

“We’ve been working on the cars for about three months,” Hogan said. He said they would spend an hour or so working on the car on a regular basis.

Carleigh Seeley, 11, of Conneaut, and her father Lynn Seely enjoy working together on the project.

“It’s fun because it’s Father’s Day weekend. He (Lynn) wanted me to be in this and I wanted to be in this. I feel like it is a gift to him,” she said while waiting for her next trip down the hill.

Tents lined the course as fans tried to keep cool in the blistering heat, but were cooled by a breeze.

The Master’s Division winner was Ashley Stoneman, 14, of Ashtabula, with Andrew Estock, 14, of North Kingsville, runner-up.

The Super Stock Division winner was Tristan Hogan, 12, of Ashtabula with Travis Stoneman, 14, also of Ashtabula, runner-up.

Jenna Wolf, 9, of North Kingsville, won the Stock Division with Nicholas Hall, 11, of Conneaut, finishing second.

The three winners will be competing July 21 at the national Soap Box Derby in Akron.