Evening star., 1939-06-18
Soap Box Derby
Entry LIST Closes;
Over 800 in Runnino
Roce Course and PIons
For July 8 Soon
To Be Announced
BY ROBERT A. ERWIN

Dy nODLN1 n. ERWIN.
The entry list for Washington's
second annual Soap Box Derby
reached 900 last night as registra-
ton closed with a final rush at II
points in the District and nearby
Maryland and Virginia.
This figure. a record for the Cap
ital, will not stand for long because
yesterdays new entries have not yet
been tabulated. Out of this field OF
boys 10 to Is years old, inclusive,
1t is expected at least 400 will ac-
tually compete in the races on Sat-
urday, July 8, under joint sponsor
ship Of The Star and the American
Legion.
This ends the first stage of the
pre-Derby campaign" Derby Direc-
tor o. c. Holleran said last night.
During the next three weeks, I
urge every Derby candidate to read
The Stars Derby news every day for
important announcements, and to
watch for the mailman who will
bring letters carrying strict instruc-
tions for final inspection of racers
and details of transportation of
racers to and from the track.
Three weeks from tonight, Wash
ington will crown its. second Soap
Box Derby champion. and he will be
sent to Akron, Ohio, to represent the
Capital in the national and inter-
national finals in August. We hope
he will bring back the national title
for Washington and with it the four
year State university scholarship
that goes to the champion" Mr..
Holleran said.
Course to Be Announced.
The Derby race course will be an
nounced soon and. along with 1t
detailed plans for the all-day races
on July 8.
Virtually all the candidates are
working on or finishing up their
coaster racers, and Mr.. Holleran re-
minded them Of the safety pledge
they signed when they joined the
Derby The pledge reads: Il promise
not to run my Derby racer on the
streets or sidewalks in such manner
as to endanger my own safety or the
safety of others"
Within the next few days, we
will announce also plans for trial
runs in several parts of the CITY,"
Mr.. Holleran continued, "as we'll as
the annual inspection of racers
that is optional with boys them
selves. These trial runs will be
under regular police supervision,
thus giving the boys safe chance
to see what their cars will do There
is no reason, therefore. for boys to
take unnecessary and dangerous
chances by themselves or with
their friends"
In addition to fine list of prizes
for winners in the Washington area
Derby. every boy who actually races
July will be given an all-steel
safety helmet. painted white, and
a white sweatshirt bearing the names
of the American Legion and The
Star, both with the all-American
Soap Box Derby emblem. The he'll
met and the sweatshirts are gifts
the boys keep for their very own.
Derby Parade on Air.
The Soap Box Derby parade will
continue on the air tomorrow with
q broadcast over Station WMAL at
4:45 pm. There will be interviews
between E. L. Cooney and R. C.
Hartley. MacFarland Junior High
School woodshop teacher, and An
nouncer Ray Michael, and entertain
ment by chorus of 20 children
from Gage School, directed by Miss
Lillian Karn.
The Gage chorus previously has
sung for broadcasts of the National
Children's Frolic presented every
Saturday morning over N. B. c.
network from WMAL. 1t is from
the frolic, directed by c. L. Uncle
Bud) Ward and Mrs. Ward. that en-
tertainment talent is coming for the
current series of Derby broadcasts.
Two of the last-minute Derby
candidates are boys from st. JOS
eph's Home and School, They are
Joseph Mangum, IA, and Joseph
LErario.
Four more boys joined the Derby
yesterday from Greenbelt, Nd.
where hometown coaster race will
be run July 4 under rules of the
All-American Soap Box Derby. They
are James T. McCarl, H. Tommy
Cation, l3; Vernon Dawson, IL, and
Clayton S. McCarl, 10, all pupils at
Greenbelt Elementary School.
Other Late Entrants.
Other late entrants are Propopes
Calevas, l3, of I'll Eighth street
Sc. Hine Junior High; Bobby Lyles,
IL, Of 1917 Minnesota avenue Sc,
etfiHFHR HFHHHlN iHf#iHHl Observation-Disclosures.
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Z The New Small .