Evening star., 1938-06-24
STREAML|NEDCAR
IS REAL PROBLEM
Walter Pohutsky Studies Up
on Designs-Keeps Some
of Plans Secret.

OF rams SeCFct.
When Walter Pohutzky II, decided
to build a streamlined racer for WASH
ington's Soap Box Derby he was de-
termined to make his car conform to
actual streamlining principles.
Even before he had entered the
derby Walter had obtained from the
Library of Congress a table showing
the ratios Of curves and distances for
the construction Of 'teardrop"
streamlined figure. After that he
signed up and looked for . place to
work.
Walter, who will be a junior at East
ern High School next fall. lives at
504 Fourth street Sc, one Of six
children of John Pohutsky, machinist
in the Navy Yard, and Mrs. Pohutsky.
Walter lacked the money to buy some
of the parts for his racer which he
couldn't build and his home lacked the
facilities for building the kind of
racer he wanted to make.
Helped by Police Boys Club.
{ The Metropolitan Police Boys Clubs,
like other organizations in the city,
are sponsoring ambitious boys who
want to compete in the derby, but are
Handicapped for lack of funds. Walter
belongs to No. in the boys club. and
through that group he obtained
good set of wheels and axles. Through
r.. B. Harris, director Of No. of the
Police Boys Club, Walter was enabled
to do the actual work at the manual
arts room in the Polk School,
Walter first made full-size draw
Ing of his proposed racer, utilizing the
information he got from the library.
Then he was ready to go to work. All
the wood that has gone into the con-
struction Of his car so far has been
scrap wood, and he believes that his
only cost will be a small amount for
paint. Walter has couple of ideas
on construction that he won't reveal,
and he regards them as his own secret
methods.
He is the pitcher on the No. base
ball team in the boys club, and even
the knotty problems of sound racer
construction can't make him miss
baseball practice. He is out to win
the derby, though, but even If he
doesn't win, he'll have the satisfac-
tion Of having built real car.
To Broadcast Today.
He Is going to make his first radio
appearance today on the new series of
broadcasts over WJSV and that pros
pect makes him more nervous than
the thought of racing down the derby
course before thousands of spectators.
George Keneipp. manager OF the
keystone Automobile Club, will be the
main speaker on todays program at
pm. ard will discuss some of the safety
features required Of all derby entrants
by the rules. o. c. Holleran, director
Of the derby, will answer questions
fired at him by Walter.
John A. Remon, chairman OF the
board Of the Boys Club Of the metro
politan police, and vice president OF
the Chesapeake b Potomac Tele-
phone Co., spoke last night in the flrst
program in the new derby series. Mr..
Remon declared that the initiative and
training required for reaching q goal,
such as the building and racing of a
model car, would prove to be valuable
assets in the future. Mr.. Holleran
answered number of questions asked
by Warren Onveri. II, Of 1405 Morse
street NE, student at Eliot Junior
High School. Mr.. Holleran answered
mo" to a question asking If 1t was nee
essary to keep bills for material to
prove that the total cost was no more
than $40.
Value Governs Racer Parts.
In another question he brought out
that 1t would not be fair to use a part
in the building of racer actually cost
ing more than $40, even though a boy
might have received 1t as . gift, or
had bought it from friend for less
than its actual value. He pointed out
that every boy was meant to have the
same advantages and opportunities in
the building of q derby racer.
Tomorrow's derby radio program
will begin at lis pm. Lyle r.
O'Rourke, president Of the Junior
Board of Commerce, will be the
Speaker. Walter T. Parker, IT,, II, Of
G0l Concord avenue NV, Paul Junior
High student, will submit derby ques-
hons to Mr.. Holleran.
Meanwhile, roundup week" was
bringing a new host of boys in to the
midsummer event. Mr.. Holleran deSig-
hated this week for big roundup OF
boys eligible for the derby, concentrat-
Ing on those who planned or already
had started to build racing cars but
had neglected to register.
Every boy must be oficially regis
tered before he can participate in the
derby, and his car must pass inspec-
tion according to the standards Of the
tfficial rule book" Mr.. Holleran pointed