Evening star., 1939-04-14
Boy, 9, Prepares
To Race Again as
Youngest Derbyist
B. N. Burnstine, Jr.,
To Build StreumIine
Racer This Year

BY keeping one Jump ahead OF
the rules makers, Bernard N. Burn
slime, jr., 639 Franklin street NE,
may be the youngest boy in The
Star-American Legion Soap Box
Derby for the second year in sue
cession.
Bernard celebrated his 9th birth
day anniversary last June 9, thus
becoming eligible to race his own
coaster car in Washington's first
Derby. held on July %, 1898. De-
spite his youth, Bernard not only
won his first heat, but also tied with
Joseph Combs for the second fast
est time in the Derby.
Rules makers for the All-Ameri-
can Soap Box Derby put their heads
together during the winter months
ard changed many regulations for
the Derby. which is an annual event
in more than 100 American cities.
The age limits last year, 8 to Is
years, inclusive, were changed to
10 to Is.
This years Derby will be held
early in July. Bernard, who will
be 10 next June 9, will be eligible
again with about month to spare.
Thus, unless a boy a few days or
weeks younger than Bernard should
enter the race, he will be the young
est contender CT the Derby for two
years in row.
Workshop a Hobby.
For several years Bernard, who
goes to Brookland School, has
shared the hobby of his father, the
woodshop in the basement of their
home.
The boys Speedway Special, which
he entered in the 1888 event, was a
fast car that earned two prizes, but
this year Bernard said, I'll build
streamliner.
Leaving no stone unturned in the
path he hopes will lead to the
Washington Derby championship,
Bernard may even scrap the wheels
on this old racer and buy new ones.
He's losing no time getting down
to business and indicated, as he
registered for the Derby, that he
may even start tonight" on his
new model. On account of his age
he may have many years of Derby
competition ahead-unless, as he
pointed out, he should win the
title this year. Once boy wins a
city championship and represents
his home town in the national and
international Soap Box Derby finals
at Akron, Ohio, he is ineligible for
further competition.
Boys Must Register.
Washingtons second annual Soap
Box Derby, open to boys 10 to Is
years old, inclusive, will be run
early in July. Boys who wish to
compete for countless prizes and
for the local championship, which
carries with it a trip to Akron to
race for the biggest prize of all, a
four-year State university schol-
arship, should go to their nearest
Chevrolet motor car dealer to reg
lister. They must be accompanied by
parent or guardian, and both must
sign the entry blank and safety
pledge.
o. c. Holleran, director of the
Derby, urged boys of Washington
and nearby Maryland and Virginia
ito enter the Derby early this year
and have plenty of time for build
ing their cars"
The exact time and place for the
Derby will be announced later, Mr.
Holleran said.
The District Department of the
American Legion, as co-sponsor of
the Derby with The Star, again
will play very active part in ar
rangements for the events, in stim-
ulating interest among boys and in
actually staging the Derby in July
The Americanism Committee OF
the department will discuss Derby
plans at its next meeting Monday
at 8 pm. at District Legion head
quarters. Room 416, Denrike Build
ing. 1910 Vermont avenue NV.
Watch The Star for Derby news. }