Evening star., 1938-05-27
FIRST ENTRANTS
FILE FOR DERBY
SOAP Box Contest Attracts
Many Boys Interested
in Building.

6Ox LEROY, SpOIlSOItu ny AHe oeoA
and the American Legion, today was
drawing boys throughout the metro
politan area into the list Of entries
for the summer event.
Probably the first boy to get into
the derby was Thomas c. Skinker, 13,
who was accompanied by his father,
Muscoe B. Skinker, 1918 Kennedy
place NV, on a visit to his neigh
borhood Chevrolet motor dealer.
Thomas and his father, who is in
the tire business, signed both the ap-
plication for membership, which en-
ters Thomas in the All-American
Soap Box Derby, and the safety
pledge for boy derby drivers.
The derby is attracting many boys
who have had wide experience as
builders around their own homes and
class work in manuel training at
Junior and senior high schools, as
we'll as few who have competed In
Soap Box Derbies in other cities.
Other Early Entrants.
Other early entrants included:
Robert Huestis, IA. of 719 Webster
street NV. son Of j. L. Huestis, in
surance salesman. Robert is men,
Der of Boy Scout Troop No. 10. Rock
Creek Church. He plans first to inter-
est his troop in building racer as a
group entry, because IF all the fell
lows chip in We can build a better
one" If this doesn't work. Robert
who has been quite builder for a
number of years, will construct his
own entry.
1--WE built lot of things" Robert
recounted, including racers, the
skatermobiles or scooters, wagons, ta-
bles. benches-well, little bit Of
everything" He is in 9-B grade at
Macfarland Junior High School. and
one Of his classes is manual training.
Like other boys getting into the derby,
he will be allowed to work on his
racers in manual training class.
Several Paul Junior High boys are
In the derby. including John Caswell.
ir.. l3, OF 1901 Parkside drive NV;
Homer I. Jones. 13, l19 Peabody
street NV; Robert L. RidgeWay, IL,
of esO3 Laurel street NV, and Walk
er r. Parker, IA, of 40l Concord ave-
hue NV
Cosmopolitan Speaker.
At Yesterdays meeting of the Co.'S
mopolitan Club James E, Diver called
attention to the Soap Box Derby
sponsored by The Star and the Ameri-
can Legion through its Americanism
Commission and urged club members
to have their sons enter.
Wealth plays no part in winning
the championship, Mr.. Diver pointed
out, because each boy must make his
own racer within the limits of $40.
"It is a fine project" he said, be
cause it tends to bring out the in
genuity of American youth"
The Soap Box Derby will give boys
of the Washington area chance to
compete for countless prizes which
will be offered to first, second and
third place winners; winners OF the
elimination heats, boys with the best
designed and best upholstered racers
and the best brakes. There also will
be consolation prizes.
For the Washington champion the
prizes will include the trip to Akron,
Ohio. to compete in the national finals,
q fine trophy and gold wrist watch.
The champion will be accompanied
BY his parent or other chaperon, and
their expenses will be paid by The
Star.
Many Local Prizes.
The local prizes will include medals,
trophies. sporting and athletic goods
and pen and pencil sets. Prizes for
second and third place winners OF
the Washington derby will be an
nounced later, but they definitely will
be something of which every boy
would be proud.
The greatest prize of all, however,
Is that which goes to the United
States Soap Box Derby champion-a
four-year state university scholarship
Entries in the derby are limited TO
BOYS not younger than 9 nor older
than IS years. A boy is not eligible
for competition if he has passed his
18th birthday anniversary on the day
Of the local race. for which the date
will be announced later.
Here's what to do to get In the
Washington derby:
Go with your parent or guardian
TO the nearest Chevrolet motor car
dealer, who will furnish Cd the 1888
Oficial Rule Book for the Fifth ALL
American Soap Box Derby, CD your
entrance blank for the local race and
90 The Star-American Legion safety
pledge which you are to sign and re-
turn to the Chevrolet dealer together
with your entry blank
The rule book gives you minute
rules and regulations on how to build
q racing car that will qualify for the
derby. In the safety pledge you prom
ise mot to run my derby racer on
the streets or sidewalks in such man.
ner as to 'endanger my own safety or
the safety of others"
There will be two divisions, accord
ing to ages. Glass A for boys l3 to Is
and Glass b for boys to IL, inclusive.
The champion of each class will COM
pete for the title.
watch The Star daily for
DerbU Ne1DS.)