Evening star., 1938-05-26
SOAP BOX DERBY
ENTRANTS AIDED
Woodwork Shops in Schools
and Y. M. c. A. Opened
for Use by Boys.

S"tWOOUWOlk SllOpS VI -CA1C DAoeAAS0
pnblic schools and the Y. NJ. G. A.
were thrown open today to Washing
ton bows who want to build their own
coaster racers for Washington's first
Soap Box Derby, sponsored by The
Star and the American Legion.
This news came from j. Elmer
zearfoss, director of manual arts in
the District public schools. and
Leonard w. De CAST general secre-
tary of the Y. M. c. A.
Meanwhile Linn c. Drake, Scout
executive of the National Capital
Area Council, Boy Scouts Of America,
recommended the derby as fine ex-
perience for Scouts" in connection
with their handicraft projects.
All three of these men whose work
brings them in contact with boys
gave their whole hearted Endorsement
to the Soap Box Derby and urged
students, Boy Scouts and "Y" men,
bers to participate.
The Soap Box Derby is open to
boys who are not younger than or
older than Is. Each contestant, either
an individual boy or a group of boys
in Scout troop, manual training
class or the like, must build his own
miniature automobile coaster racer.
The winner of the Washington derby
will be sent to Akron, Ohio, with his
parent Cr other chaperon as guests
of The Star, to compete for the ma
tional and international titles there
on August IA.
IS How to Get Instructions.
Boys who want to build and run
their own coaster racers in the derby
should 60 to their nearest Chevrolet
motor car dealer and obtain:
Cd The 1898 Official Rule Book
for the Fifth All-American Soap
Box Derby. This book gives you
minute rules and regulations on
how to build racing car that will
- 2, qualify for the Washington Derby.
49,. 90 Your entrance blank for the
~ Washington race, tentatively set
for July %.
- 90 The Star-American Legion
safety pledge which you are to sign
and return to the Chevrolet dealer
together with your entry blank. In
~ this pledge, you promise mot to run
my derby racer on the streets or
sidewalks in such manner as to
: endanger my own safety or the
safety of others"
Bows wishing to enter the derby
should be accompanied to the Chev-
rolet dealer by parent or guardian
who must indorsc the registration
blank and the safety pledge. or the
proper blanks may be obtained, IN
dorsed and returned to the dealer.
The 1888 Official Rule Book will tell
you everything you need to know
about building derby entry, such as:
= Materials you will need and mate
rials YOU are not allowed to use.
Cost of the car, which must not
exceed $40.
Specifications and dimensions for
wheels wheel tread, tires, wheelbase,
length, width height and weight.
Frame and body construction, steer
ing, brakes, attachments, drivers po-
sitior, race procedure and inspection
of entries.
Age Limitations.
I'm setting the age limits. national
Sponsors of the Soap Box Derby de-
cided that boy is not eligible for
competition if he has passed his 18th
birthday anniversary on the day OF
the local race.
There will be two divisions, accord
ing to ages, class A for boys 13 to Is
and class B for boys 9 to II, inclusive.
The champion of each class will COM
pete for the title. The date for the
local derby will be announced later.
There are three manual arts de-
partments included in the operations
OF boys who will build Soap Box Derby
racers" said Mr.. zearfoss, whose Of
fee is in Mckinley High School.
'They are bench wood working, metal
crafts and graphic arts and printing.
The last, of course, would apply to
the lettering and printing done on
the racers.
"Boys in the schools may feel per-
fectly free to bring parts OF their
cars to the workshops to cut, plane,
polish and bore, or they may even
bring down the whole car to assemble,
for, that matter" Mr.. zearfoss con-
tir1ued. Il assume, however, there
will be little assembling as the boys
viii want to keep the construction Of
their racers as much of a secret as
possible"
- The head of the manual arts de-
partment commended The Star
American Legion derby project espe-
ciaily for stimulating boys to apply
their manual training knowledge at
home.
"I appreciate more what the boy
does with what he has learned in
school rather than what he makes at
school and takes home after the
teacher touches 1t up," Mr.. zearfoss
said
s s@,s% "Y" Shop Is Open.
I'VE are urging our boy members
teenter the derby" Mr.. DeGast said,
pointing out that 900 boys hold men,
berShip in the "Y." Our wood
working shop will be open to them
for CONSTRUCTION of their Soap Box
Derby entries. The derby is fine
idea, because it comedies with our
purpose of developing all-around bet
ter hoylood and citizenship"
Mr.. Drake cited numerous handi-
craft. projects through which Scouts
may earn merit badges, including car
peutry, campcraft, machinery, metal
work, cement work, electrical and
foundry work, painting and repairing,
eathercraft-this will come in handy
upholstering derby racer, wood
carving, wood turning and wood work.
The derby will not only be good
experience for them but will enable
them to use the experience they
already have gained" Mr.. Drake de-
clated.
The Scout executive called the at
tenticn of scoutmasters and their