Evening star., 1938-06-28
DERbYENTHUS|AST
GETS HIS CHANCE
Boy Who Saw First Soap
Box Race Is Building Car
for Washington Event.

Ever since he saw the first running
Of the Soap Box Derby in Dayton,
Ohio, in 1888. Eugene Stocker, ., has
wanted to race car of his own. This
year his first opportunity came when
Washington's first Soap Box Derby
was scheduled by The Star and the
American Legion. so he and Robert
Harrison. IA, of u T street NV. a
student at Langley Junior High School,
decided to build q racer together.
Although Eugene was only years
old at the time Of the first race. he re-
members the excitement as the racers
swept down the hill at Dayton, and he
has been aching for a chance to race
his own car. This is the first year he
would have been permitted to race be-
cause the entrants must be between 8
and Is years old.
Robert became interested when he
stopped by Eugene's home, at ll24
Neal street NE, and saw the younger
boy working on the car. They have
been building the speedy looking racer
at Eugene's home for about three
weeks. and expect to have 1t finished
in another week.
Develop Steering Arrangement.
Since they started to build the car
they have made several changes in
their original plans, trying and dis
carding ideas as they were proven i'm
practical. The scrap wood piles in the
were raided for the
frame and the body, but the wheels
and axles were bought new. One of
their own developments. of which they
are pretty proud. is the steering ar
raneement. which abides by the rules,
but at the same time has a novel de-
velopment of their own creation. Like
most of the boy builders, they have
their construction secrets, and the
method they have devised cannot be
divulged.
Eugene, who will be in the fourth
grade at the Whea:ley School next
year, calmly asserts they have the
fastest car in Washington. Their chief
corn, now that they have ironed
out their problems of construction, is
finding out when they will be able to
make test run or two.
The boys admit they haven't given
toe much thought to one of their
greatest problems-that of who will be
In the drivers seat on the day of the
race. Both boys would like the thrill
OF driving, but they know that the
rules permit only one driver. They
both feel that they've had so much fun
building the racer that there won't be
any difficulty about the selection of a
pilot.
Mrs. Fry Indorses Derby.
Mrs. Walter Fry, president of the
District Congress of Parents and
Teachers, today gave her stamp Of ap-
proval to the Soap Box Derby, de-
scribing it as "a fine summer diver
sion for Washington's boys and
project worthy of the fullest support
from every branch of the citizenry."
The parent teal cher associations"
Mrs. Fry said, always are anxious to
find some worthwhile recreation for
children during the vacation season.
The Soap Box Derby gives every boy
in its age limits-9 to 15-a real test
Of his inventive genius as we'll as a lot
Of fun. Likewise, it keeps them busy
and therefore out of mischief"
Maj. Ernest w. Brown, Superintend-
ent OF police and founder of the BOYS
Club Of Metropolitan Police. is to-
nights radio speaker in behalf Of the
derby. His address will be broadcast
over Station WJSV at 1890 pm. Mai.
Brown Is a member of the Derby Ex-
ecutive Committee.
The Derby Question Box will be con-
Quoted on the same broadcast period
by Charles Dumont Heath, IS, of 52Ol
avenue NV, derby candidate
from Roosevelt High School, and O. c.
Holleran, director of the derby.
Speaking over WJSV in yesterdays
derby program, Washington 1. Cleve-
and, manager of the District branch
of the American Automobile Associa-
ton, declared, THE Soap Box Derby
has become known as the greatest
amateur racing event tn the world.
The Star and the American Legion
have given our local boys their first
opportunity to take part in what has
grown to be an event of more than
interest
The derby, however, means more
than that" he continued. Its major
Importance lies in the face that it fos.
lers fine spirit of sportsmanship and
helps in a small way to develop the
latent ingenuity which should permit
| COar Rov Do~hx,