Pam Dorfi met a couple the other day and, when Ms. Dorfi told them her name, the woman said, “Oh, you’re the derby lady.”

The year after Ms. Dorfi and her fellow members of the Sharon Elks Club founded the Greater Pennsylvania Super Kids soap box derby in Sharon, Ms. Dorfi has achieved some measure of notoriety.

More importantly, the derby has a track record. Ms. Dorfi already has some money in hand for this year’s derby — June 27 — some of last year’s sponsors have said they will return — including lead sponsor Henry P. Nemenz of Sharon Save-a-Lot — and a number of volunteers have signed up.

“It’s coming together,” she said, adding that she is more relaxed this year than she was last year, when she didn’t know if she could pull off her dream.

“I can’t wait,” the Hermitage woman said. “I’m really excited.”

The derby is for kids with special needs. They race down East State Street in specially built cars steered by experienced drivers. The winner gets to go to the All-American Rally Championship in Akron.

Ms. Dorfi is hoping to double the number of racers. Twenty-seven braved the hill last year, and she wants 40 to 50 to catch the thrill this year. So far, 11 applications have come in.

Racers must be 8 to 17 years old and have verifiable mental and/or physical challenges as defined by he Americans With Disabilities Act. The derby is free to racers and their families.

“There is nothing the children have to bring but themselves that day,” she said.

Watching the race also is free, and Ms. Dorfi is hoping people will line the course just below White Avenue to watch the races — as they did last year.

“We need people on the hill to cheer these kids on,” she said.

Organizers had five more cars built, bringing the total to 15. The cars are decorated with sponsor decals, just like NASCAR racers.

The success of last year’s derby has spun-off a new race. After a Campbell, Ohio, child won last year’s race, the mayor of Campbell started planning the city’s own derby, which has been set for June 13. Ms. Dorfi and others from the Sharon derby will help out, and allow use of the Sharon Elks’ cars.

“We’re hoping next year to add a couple more cities,” she said.

The Elks will hold a spaghetti dinner to raise money for the Sharon derby from 1 to 5 p.m. May 3 at their building at 260 Connelly Blvd., Sharon. Takeouts will be available.