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Miami Valley StoryCorps interviews are the result of WYSO’s collaboration with StoryCorps, the national oral history collection project that visited Dayton in the spring of 2010 and 2014. All the Miami Valley StoryCorps segments consist of interviews between two local residents.

Miami Valley StoryCorps: Erica Fowler & Melissa Fowler

Erica Fowler and Melissa Fowler
StoryCorps
Erica Fowler and Melissa Fowler

"Soapbox racing gave me so much more confidence in who I am."

When Erica and Melissa Fowler became soap box derby racers in 1985, they were joining a Dayton tradition. The sport was founded by Dayton Daily News photographer Myron Scott in 1933.

Fifty-five years later Erica Fowler was the champion of the Dayton Soap Box Derby, raced that year in its original location at Burkhardt Hill.

Erica brought her sister Melissa to the StoryCorps booth to reminisce about that final race, and the impact soap box racing had on them as young women.