Evening star., 1938-05-31
TSTOSPONSOR
. ORPHANS |NDERBY
Each Legion Unit Agrees
! to Bear Expense of Racer
Building for Boy.

District American Legion posts will
make it possible for at least 30 orphan
boys to race In Washington's first
Soap Box Derby, sponsored by The
Star and the Legion.
This was announced today by o. j.
Holleran, derby director and chair
man of the Americanism Commission
of the Legion, following a meeting
OF the Executive Committee of the
District department.
Every one of the 80 posts in the
city has agreed to sponsor at least
one orphan boy" Mr.. Holleran said.
This means that members of the
posts will select the boys from vari-
Gus orphanages in the District. boys
who really want to get into the derby
and race to win.
"The Legionnaires will furnish
whatever money is necessary-within
the SO cost limit for coaster racers
for these boys to build cars that will
furnish real competition when the
Washington race Is won. Further
more" Mr.. Holleran said. several
posts may sponsor more than one
orphan"
To Sponsor Orphans.
Two Legion posts, Bunker Hill and
Bureau of Engraving, voted at their
last meetings to defray the derby
,entries of one to three orphan lads
each. There is no entry fee and the
cost will come in building miniature
coaster automobiles.
I'VE will enter one orphan and two
or three If we find boys Of the proper
quality who are really interested in
the derby" said Haywood Saunders,
commander Of the Bureau Of Engrav-
ing Post. "Our members think the
Soap Box Derby is q great thing, and
we are encouraging every boy eligible
to get in it and get to work on a
racer"
This assures large group of orphan
boys in an already growing list of
derby entries. Along with other boys
whose fathers and guardians or
friends are helping them financially,
they will soon be busy building cars.
Boys from all parts of the metro
politan area are entering the derby.
A glance at the list reveals aspirants
from Alexandria and other sections
Of Virginia, Takoma Park, Chevy
Chase, Brookmont and Colmar Manor,
Md, and the four corners of the
District.
Those who are getting in the derby
early have at least eight weeks to
plan and build their own miniature
automobile coaster racers for WASH
ington's first Soap Box Derby. The
date for the event has not yet been
set, but it will be held late in July in
oil probability.
Some Already Building.
According to the showing thus far,
the boys are going in for the Soap
Box Derby in a big way" Mr.. Hol-
leran said. I'm fact, they aren't even
waiting for their summer vacation to
begin but are going to work right now.
The results are very gratifying"
Registration for the derby is being
conducted by II Chevrolet motor car
dealers in Washington, Silver Spring
and Hyattsville, Md; Alexandria and
Clarendon, Va. Each boy who visits
q dealer should be accompanied by
q parent or guardian, who must sign
with him the application for mem
bership In the an-American Soap
Box Derby and the safety pledge for
safe driving of derby racers on streets
and sidewalks.
The dealers are furnishing the 1898
official rule book, which gives COM
plete rules and regulations on how to
build a racer that will qualify for
the derby.
The biggest prize for the Washing
ton champion Is the trip to Akron,
Ohio, to race in the national and in
ternational Soap Box finals. A fine
trophy and gold wrist watch also
awaits the local winner, and there
will be scores of prizes for others who
compete in the derby.
(WGtch The Star for Derby Netos.)