Imagination Station's Nerdy Derby Enters Hyperspace

Daily Dose | 06/25/2026 4:00 pm

The Nerdy Derby is strong with this one. Imagination Station’s most notorious event is back, but this time we’re heading to a galaxy far, far away. Nerdy Derby: Podracer Edition officially kicks off on Friday, June 26, and Jedi, Sith and scientists alike are invited to come make their own Star Wars-inspired vehicle and send it down a 40-foot ramp at lightspeed.

Set your coordinates to Imagination Station’s lower atrium, where six different stations beckon you to create your own galaxy-inspired car or starship. Take inspiration from Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder, the infamous Podracers or the Rebel Alliance's X-wing before sending it on its mission. At the Nerdy Derby, there are no rules. But this year, there is The Force.

What: Imagination Station's Nerdy Derby: Podracer Edition

When: Friday, June 26 - Sunday, June 28 | All Day

Imagination Station’s Nerdy Derby is one of the science center’s most popular events that tasks kids and families with one goal: make a car and send it down the 40-foot ramp. Some racers will chase lightspeed. Others will try to master the art of the Kessel Crawl, where the goal is to reach the end as slowly as possible without stopping.

By eliminating rules and specifications on how to get to the finish line, the Nerdy Derby gives creativity free rein while exercising engineering and design skills.

“Adding Unofficial Galaxies into this year’s Nerdy Derby means we’re taking innovation to a whole new level,” said Carl Nelson, Chief Scientist at Imagination Station. “For nearly 50 years, Star Wars has inspired generations with imaginative starships, starfighters and vehicles. Now, we’re inviting guests to dream just as big and bring their own creations to life on the Nerdy Derby track.”

Nerdy Derby: Podracer Edition starts on Friday, June 26, at 10am and runs through Sunday, June 28. The experience is included with admission. More information can be found on imagination station toledo .org.