Whiz Kid: Travis Chambers Possesses Many Talents

This week's Whiz Kid comes to us from Sara Chambers, mother of Travis Chambers.

• Travis, 9.
• Attends as a third-grader.
• Not only is Travis a talented painter, pianist, gardener, Sunday school helper and Cub Scout, he's also an inventor and a seasoned Soap Box Derby racer.

Travis  became fasinated with Hoover vacuums at 18 months old while visiting friends who had the little Hoover play vacuum. As he got older, he used Legos to  build models of vacuums and even built some from scraps of wood and a plastic bread bag. At the age of 5, he became friends with everyone at the Hoover Museum. When Hoover turned 100, he had collected so many  Hoover items that he was able to have his own display table during the celebration.

"He admires the people of Hoover, especially Boss Hoover, who gave so much to the town and citizens of North Canton," Sara said.

And there's more.

Last  September, Travis built his own Soap Box Derby car. He had his first race at Derby Downs in Akron and came in third place. On July 23, he'll race in the All-American Soap Box Derby, where he'll compete against kids from all over the world.

"He's an extraordinary kid to us and and his younger brother and sister," Sara said.