Evening star., 1940-07-15

New. Derby Champion.
Bill Jennings, Awoits
FinoIs at Akron
Only the awarding Of prizes re-
manned today to finish Washing-
toms 1910 Soap Box Derby in which
l5-year-old Bill Jennings emerged
Saturday as the new city cham
pion.
Well rested after driving through
six elimination heats to the cham
pionship, young Jennings today was
chiefly interested in the condition
Of "Stu1," the racer he built at
home for 1915.
The homemade coaster car was
taken for safe keeping by The
Star, where it will remain until it
is shipped to Akron, Ohio, for the
national finals next month. Under
the rules, the champion may make
no changes to the car before he
races it against other city cham
pions at Akron.
Yesterday, Bill spoke over Sta.
ton WMAL, along with Derby d.
rector Zeb T.. Hamilton. The new
champion told how 1t felt to win q
Soap Box Derby race.
Meeting Wednesday Night.
Heat winners at the races Sat-
urday will meet Wednesday night
at $3.50 O'Clock In the auditorium OF
the Natural History Building, Ma
tional Museum, to receive their
prizes.
The auditorium is In the building
that faces on Constitution avenue
at Tenth street NV. Representa-
tives Of The Evening Star and
American LAgion-sponsors Of the
Derby-win attend the meeting.
Seventy boys will receive medals
for winning their first elimination
heats, and the seventy other boys
who came in second In these heats
will receive red ribbons, bearing
gold-lettered legends.
Silver cups donated by thk Amer
lean Legion will be awarded to the
"A boys who advanced in the races
by surviving the second flight Of
eliminations. Blue ribbons will be
given to the runners-up In these
heats.
Many Prizes Waiting.
Winners and runners-up In the
seminal round will receive SO and
IS value in sports goods donated by
the Washington Chevrolet Dealers
Association. winners Of first, Sec
ond and third places in the two-class
championship races will receive
medals. In addition two bicycles
will be given to the boys who are
awarded second and third place in
the final city standings, and a radio
will be given to fourth-place winner.
Two wrist watches will be given
to the boys whose cars were judged
to be the best designed, and q
fountain pen and pencil set will be
awarded to the car with the best
upholstering job. The wrist
watches were donated by Sidney
Selinger Of Selinger's, on F street
NV. A complete ofilcial list Of the
prize winners will be published in
tomorrow's Evening Star.
I" Meanwhile. the Defnt ditessor N..
pressed the appreciation OF. the
American Legion and the Star of
the cooperation provided at the
third running Of the Derby by ma
ton21 and civic organizatisps,J +, y
"Hlunteer corps or b. q. c. boys
furnished invaluable assistance all
day long," Mr.. Hamilton said. Il
want to express to them my sincere
gratitude and appreciation for their
help"
Volunteer Workers Praised.
Yeoman service was performed by
groups Of Boy Scouts from South
east Washington, under the direc-
ton OF John Bullough. All through
the day these boys acted as runners
from one end of the Pennsylvania
avenue course to the other, and
helped to distribute programs and
perform other work.
Volunteer workers from the Dis
trict National Guard under the di-
rection Of Sergt. Barry erected tents
at the start and finish lines on Fri
day, and had the tents down and
out Of the way by 6 pm. Saturday.
Long after the spectators were
home, and most of the Derby off,
cials were relaxing, members Of the
Finish Line Committee, under the
Craftsmanship of Mack Clark, were
still at the course experimenting
the removal Of the miniature racers.
Every one connected in an official
capacity with the Derby showed q
willingness to cooperate. which
went far in making the race q sue
cess" Mr.. Hamilton said. Il am
grateful to them for their excellent
work"