Evening star., 1938-06-11
SOUTHEAST BOYS
EAGER FOR DERBY
IS in Club Unit Entered for
Coaster Racer Event
in July.

Club OF washington, Seventeenth
street and Massachusetts, avenue Sc,
Is one of the centers of activity for
The tar-American Legion Soap Box
Derby.
Fifteen boys already have entered
the derby at the Southeast club. while
several members Of the Central
Branch at 230 C street NV. also are
planning to get into the midsummer
coaster racer event for boys Of the
metropolitan area.
Under the impetus by club leaders
and Club President Frank r. Jelleff,
member Of the Derby Executive Com
mittee. the workshops are being turned
into assembly lines for boy-built cars
that will compete for the champion
ship in the Capitals first derby. slated
for late in July.
Shortage of Wheels and Axles.
Stanleigh Jenkins. vocational di-
rector for the Boys Club, wants as
many OF his charges as possible to
complete their cars. but number Of
aspirants are handicapped by lack Of
wheels and axles.
Unless they are helped by inter-
ested citizens several of the boys may
have to fall by the wayside," Mr.. Jen-
kins said in issuing an appeal for
wheels and axles Wood Is easy to
get. The boys pick up quite bit of
1t in their own back yards and neigh
borhoods, but wheels and axles that
will be satisfactory are proving a
tough proposition"
The Southeast Branch has prospects
1T present for the entry of three
racers. The lumber for these will
come from a float that the club made
for a recent paarde. Several boys
will be selected to construct their
racers at the Southeast Branch, in
cludine those who cannot possibly do
the work at their own homes. In
addition, one member Of the branch
will be sponsored by an American
Legion post.
List Of Entrants.
The derby entry list for the South
east branch includes John McVeigh
IL: Donald Dixon. 8; Mack Wyatt,
.: Warren McQuigan. 10; Lawrence
Connally. l3; Ray Morrison, H. John
Lonlan, l3; Robert Dee. l3; John Nc
Hugh, IL; Kenneth Saxty, IL, and
Eddie Glover. 10. who plan to COM
bine their efforts in a single entry;
Wayne Davis. 13; Jack Kelly, l3; Jack
Robinson, l3, and Jack Kaiser, IA.
At the Central Branch. where there
Is fine workshop, Director John
Jankowski also is working up an en-
try list of boys for the Soap Box
Derby. Interest in the derby is uni
versal among the membership there
and at least three boys are prospective
drivers when the Washington race is
staged in July.
The exact date and the place for
the Soap Box Derby will be announced
later. For the winner of the WASH
tngton championship there is a trip
to Akron. Ohio, to race for the ma
tonal title and the four-year State
university scholarship prize that goes
with it, as well as a fine trophy Ito
be presented here) and q gold wrist
watch which will be given him at
Akron.
broadcasts Details.
The Soap Box Derby was presented
70 the radio audience for the first time
last night in a talk by o. C. Holleran,
director of the derby and chairman
OF the American Commission of the
District American Legion.
Since the derby was first announced
Mr.. Holleran said over Station WMAL,
hundreds of boys have told US of
their intention of taking part in it.
great many others have had cues
tlons to ask, so I will tell you what
the derby is and how it will be run.
The whole object is to give every
boy in Washington between o and *
years old the opportunity to enter a
competition that is absolutely fair
and in which his success depends en-.
tirely upon himself.
Every boy in the derby must build
MS own car. He may receive advice
from his father, his manual training
teacher or from his friends, but he
must actually build his coaster him.
sell. 1t is a real chance to have q
lot Of fun building things.
The rules for the Soap Box Derby"
Mr.. Holleran continued, are designed
to place all boys on a basis of yirtu-
ally complete equality. Ten dollars
Is the maximum cost, but your car
can cost nothing for that matter. You
know plenty of places where a supply
OF free wood can be obtained-in
your own back yard, your neighbor's
back yard, or down at the corner
store"
Time to Be Set Later.
The derby chairman explained that
the coaster races competition will be
held late in July at place to be
designated later, and declared that
every boy who entered had a chance
not only to win the Washington
championship but the United States
title and the four-year States uni
versity scholarship that goes with it.
Scores OF boys. he said, are already
et work on their racing cars. Mr..
Holleran urged all prospective en-
trants to register now for the derby
and thus have plenty of time to as
semble and build their soap box rae
ers.
Tonights radio speaker will be
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, president
OF the District Board of Education
and member of the Derby Executive
Committee. Mrs. Doyle will talk for
Is minutes over Station WRC at
$50 o'clock. Brig. Gen. Albert L.
Cox. commanding general of the Dis
trict National Guard, will discuss the