Evening star., 1938-07-28
WINNERS IN DERBY
AWARDED PRIZES.
Champion Norman Rocca,
ID, ShoWered With Honors
at Celebration,

at Celebration.
Washingtons Soap Box Derby cham
pion, Norman Rocca, IA. was SNOW
cred with prizes and honors last night
In the concluding feature of cele-
bration at Central High School for
three-score boys who drove their home
made cars in Saturdays rain to win
prizes in The Star American Legion
coaster racer event.
Dressed neatly in new double
breasted suit, the champion walked to
the stage to receive the NJ E. Coyle
Trophy, which goes to city derby win
ners throughout the United States.
The trophy is Norman's for keeps"
and to it he hopes to add the national
and intentional soap box cups and
trophies when he represents WASH
ington and The Star in the finals at
Akron, Ohio, on August IA. With
Norman at the prize ceremonies was
his mother. Mrs. Sam j. Parrish of
2237- Nichols avenue Sc, who will
accompany him to Akron
From their front row seats go boys
went to the stage as their names were
called by Zeb T. Hamilton, assistant
derby director. They were presented
with theater tickets by Derby Director
o. c. Holleran and then went to the
prize table to get their awards from
Col Lemuel Bolles, chairman of he
Derby Awards Committee.
Others Share in Honors.
Several other boys shared in the
main honors. They included:
Robert Banning. II, of los New York
avenue. Takoma Park Md. Glass B
champion and runner-up to Norman
for the city championship.
Billy Eacho, IA, OF 1900 Plymouth
street NV, runner-up to Norman for
the Glass A title.
Leroy j. Poole of 62l1 Eighth street
NV. who lost to Bob Banning in
the race for the Glass B crown and a
place in the city finals. but won an
other prize for running the fastest
heat in the derby.
James Wibar, IA. of 400l Twenty
first street NV, who won a bicycle
for the best designed car; Earle Stacy,
IS, of 1901 Brookville road, Silver
Spring, Md, who had the best up
holstered car in the derby: Bernard
N. Burnstine, 8, of 639 Franklin street
NE. youngest boy in the derby, who
won his first heat and tied with Joseph
Combs, II. of 1929 Jefferson street
NV. for the second fastest heat.
List Of Prizes.
Norman's prizes included a wrist
watch and a gold medal for the class
A title, a radio for winning the semi
final heat, baseball bat for the sec
ond heat and the medal for the first
heat When he gets to Akron, he will
be presented with a second watch,
bearing the Soap Box Derby emblem.
AS runner-up for the champion
ship, Bob Banning won bicycle. For
winning class B, his prize was a gold
wrist watch and gold medal, and he
also received the heat prizes already
mentioned.
The prize table on the high school
Ftage was heavily laden with awards
when the program was opened by Mr..
Holleran. but within 80 minutes it
was cleared Of all except the bronze
medals Of a few flrst-heat. winners
who did not attend.
To the prizes were added passes to
Loew's Palace Theater. presented by
Garter Barron. for the opening to-
morrow OF Love Finds Andy Hardy"
featuring Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone
and Judy Garland.
Director Given Watch.
Mr.. Holleran, who worked for two
months to perfect a smooth-running
derby organization was taken by sur
prise last night when B. NJ McKelway,
managing editor of The Star, intro
duced William j. Illch of Alexandria,
president of the Washington Chevrolet
Dealers Association. who gave the di-
rector gold wrist watch on behalf
OF the dealers in recognition of his
work IN organizing the derby.
III do my best to bring back to
Washington the national and inter-
national Soap Box Derby champion
Ships Norman told the audience of
boys, parents and brothers and sisters.
In his own modest way, the champion
has been confident of success ever
since he started making his racing car.
The winning racer is real home
made product, combination of
orange crates from the neighborhood
grocer. screws and bolts salvaged from
Junkyard, and can of linoleum
cement from Norman's own home.
The champion purchased some of his
material and did the work in the
kitchen.
Somewhat damaged by Saturdays
rain, the racer will undergo minor re-
pairs and general grooming for its
trip to Akron on August 6, we'll in
advance of the national derby.
The prize night program was top
ped off with ice cream and cake for
the entire audience and derby off,
cialS in the Central HIGH Garden