Evening star., 1938-08-13
DERBY CHAMPIONS
TRY COURSE TODAY
Preface Pace for Soap
Box Car Drivers QuickenS
as Finals Near.
BY ROBERT A. ERWIN,
Stan Correspondent OF The Star.

as FINALS Near.
BY ROBERT A. ERWIN,
Stan Correspondent OF The Star.
AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 13.-The ALL
American Soap Box Derby. billed as
the worlds greatest amateur racing
show. was living up to its name today
as ll3 boys from all parts Of the
country headed into the last day Of
their pre-derby schedule.
Norman Rocca. 14-year-o Anacos-
tia youth, who is carrying the hopes
Of Washington for the national and
international coaster racer champion
ships, already has proved he can stand
the pace that local derby winners are
travelling and enjoying, from the top
and ground floors Of the Maynower
Hotel. derby hub. to the famous Derby
Downs course, where the races will be
held tomorrow afternoon.
Quiet and modest as he Is, Norman
got q big kick out Of the whirlwind
of yesterdays derby activities. includ-
ing q visit to the race course, q swim
in q nearby lake. an evening dinner
with his scores Of champion friends
and An Akron- Charleston wv. Va)
Mid-Atlantic League night baseball
game last night He arrived by train
yesterday morning. accompanied by
his mother, Mrs Sam Parrish.
Trial Run Teday.
Today the pace quickens, starting
with the final registration Of local
derby winners, . meeting of all cham
pions at the Maynower. q trial safety
run in his tobacco gold and brown
car over the Derby Downs tracks,
topped Oh by . campfire, food and en-
tertainment ut the Akron Y. M. G. A.
camp this evening.
Each champion, ranging from small
lads In short trousers to youths In
their early teens, wore proudly his
derby shirt and hat and carried in his
pocket q detailed program Of derby
activities.
Tomorrow Is the big day for all the
champions, for Akron and for the
cities that sent them here to race for
the finest set Of trophies offered to
American boys and for the grand ma
tional prize Of . four-year State uni
versity scholarship.
Norman will have until 10 O'Clock
tomorrow to eat breakfast and prepare
for the big show. He will leave for
the race course at 1915 am and meet
with other winners at the top Of the
track at 1880 am. for final instruc-
tions. There will be . big parade on
the course at pm, followed by the
All-American Soap Box Derby finals
at o'clock. The Anal heat for the
American title Is expected to be run
at $50 o'clock or shortly thereafter,
followed in minutes by the race be-
tween the champions Of the United
States. Hawaii, the Canal Zone and
Canada for the international crown.
Space for Thousands Of Spectators.
At Derby Downs, q cup-shaped con-
crete course. with accommodations for
more than 100000 spectators. was re-
ceiving its finishing touches for to-
morrow's competition.
As for the champions themselves,
the derby was the first trip away
from home for many of them, their
first ride behind q motorcycle escort
with . band awaiting them at the
hotel and the climax of their reigns
As king since they won the local
derbies.
Herbert Muench, jr. Of st. Louis,
winner of the National and Interna-
tional Derbies in 1886. arrived late yes
terday to find himself center Of at
traction. Rutherford Buddy Stroop
Is here as champion from the Canal
Zone. One Of the most colorful cham
pions is 14-year-old. light-haired
Harry Hamilton of Sheridan, Wyo.,
who came by himself and found his
big, broad -brimmed Western hat the
envy of his competitors. Lynnford
Connor, II, Of Cumberland, Nd, Is
here As winner Of the derby at Keyser,
w. Va.
1897 Car on Exhibit.
The 1887 championship car, that Of
Bobby Ballard Of White Plains, N. Y,
is on exhibition along with this years
crop Of National Derby entries at .
nearby department store. Bobbys
younger brother, Dick, will race here
tomorrow Is this years champion
from White Plains.
Three ticket ofnces were working
overtime to sell more than $4,000
grandstand seats and standing room
for almost 100, 900 more. Early trains
arriving here today brought into
Akron the rear guard Of travelling
champions.
The annual Soap Box Derby ban
quet, to crown new champions and
award the trophies, will be held to-
morrow night at Akron's Naval Arm
ory. Norman. confident Of victory
even before Washington's recent rain
soaked derby, declared today he would
do my best to bring the national and
world championships back to Wash
ington next week"
The 1razlisns are very musical
peopla.