Evening star., 1939-07-06
Commissioner Hazen
To Start First -Four
Derby Racers
Cars Being Turned in
For Inspection Today;
Test Course Ready

District Commissioner Melvin c.
Hazen will be the man at the throt-
tie Saturday when Washington's
second Soap Box Derby gets officially
under way on the Massachusetts,
avenue course.
Mr.. o. c. Holleran. Derby direc-
tor, announced today Mr.. Hazen's
acceptance of the invitation to pull
the lever which will release the first
four Derby racers onto the 1900
foot course. The four youngsters in
the first heat will start down the
long slope at II am. The Derby
course is on Massachusetts avenue
NV, westward from Ward Circle.
Boys todaywere streaming in from
all sections of Washington and near
by Maryland and Virginia, aiming
toward the various Chevrolet
agencies throughout the area as the
compulsory inspection of the coast
er racers began.
Speedy miniature cars of every
conceivable design and condition
were being towed, pushed, carried
and dragged to the inspection to
determine whether the boys had
built according to the rules. The
last big hurdle before the running
of the race presented no fears for
many of the boys. but others wanted
the official approval stamped on
their work before they could breathe
a sigh of relief.
Bus Service Provided.
The finished racers were to be
turned in to the Chevrolet dealers
not later than S 80 pm today, where
they we're to be inspected and then
taken to the American University
gymnasium for the final checkup
tomorrow.
A special shuttle bus service over
Nebraska avenue between Tenley
Circle and Ward Circle will be op-
Grated on Saturday, the Capital
Transit Co. announced today. The
buses will be operated from o'clock
in the morning until late in the
afternoon.
Race officials announced today
that on Saturday Massachusetts,
avenue will be closed from Fordham
road to Ward Circle. They pointed
out, however, that Fordham road
would be open, and the business sec
ton west of Fordham road would
not be affected
Massachusetts avenue from Forty
sixth street to Ward Circle will be
closed to private car traffic from
am on throughout the day until
the finish of the race. Buses in
regular service will travel over the
Derby course until am.
Maj. Brown Inspects Course.
Mai. Ernest w. Brown, Traffic Di-
rector William A. Van DuZer and
police officials visited the Dreby
course yesterday and pronounced
everything in readiness for the race.
1t was announced that parents of
boys entered in the race would not
back of the starting line on Derby
day. The inclosed space, they en-
phasized, would be reserved for the
boys who are to race, their cars.
and Derby officials. Police requested
that spectators respect the private
property at the lower end of the
course, below the finish line.
Mr.. Holleran, speaking on the
Soap Box Derby Parade over Radio
Station WMAL yesterday, explained
the letter of instruction sent out to
all entrants. The Derby director
urged the boys to get their cars into
the dealers where they registered
before $50 pm. today.
A sample of the 1899 model Derby
racers to be seen at the course on
Saturday will be on exhibition to-.
night at the Owens Motor Co., 6323
Georgia avenue NV. A total of
126 boys registered through the au-
tomobile dealer for the Derby. The
exhibition program will begin at
8p.m.
A similar exhibition was held last
night at the Lustine- Nicholson Mo-
tor Co.. Hyattsville, Md, where II
boys registered for the race.
Watch The Star for Derby Nevs)