Evening star., 1940-05-02
Soap Box Derby
To Be Run byMen
Who Are Ardent Fans
Districts 1899 Winner
Is interviewed in
Radio Program

A group of ardent Soap Box Derby
. fans, who talk of racing sites and
argue the merits Of streamlining
when they are not occupied with
District official and civil matters,
will handle the affairs of Washing
tons third coaster race for boys.
The 1910 Soap Box Derby General
Committee, which Is headed by o. C..
Holleran, Derby director for the
American Legion in 1898 and 1899,
includes Maj. Ernest w. Brown,
superintendent of Metropolitan
Police; Capt. H. G. Whitehurst, Dis
trict director of highways, and Will
liam A. Van Duzer, director Of the
Bureau of Vehicles and Traffic.
Also on the General Committee
are Inspector w. E. Holmes Of the
Metropolitan Police; B. M. Nickel
way, managing editor Of The Star;
Howard p. Bailey, assistant to the
managing editor of The Star; Bill
Coyle, radio director of The Star,
and William G. Illch of the Chevrolet
Motor Co.
Two Others to Help.
In addition, American Legion
naires William T. McCallum and
Ray Church will act as assistants to
Derby Director Zeb T. Hamilton.
Mr.. McCallum, vice chairman of the
Legion Americanism Commission,
was an assistant to Mr.. Holleran
last year. Mr.. Church became q
member of the commission to fill the
vacancy created by the retirement
of Joseph A. Walker, Americanism
chairman in 1899.
The Derby Is an event of interest
to these men. When Maj. Brown
makes plans for the police force for
July, he takes into consideration the
necessity for details of officers at
the site of the Derby course to handle
the huge crowds which always watch
the thrilling races.
And when it comes to choosing a
site for the Derby, Traffic Director
Van Duzer is on hand with informa-
ton on traffic volume and sug-
gestions for possible locations which
WILL IIlctI requirements.
The committee is active all during
the preparations for the race, and
when Derby day rolls around, every
one Of them can be found in the
grandstand at the finish line.
1889 Winner on Radio.
What the 1910 Derby champion
may expect when he gets to Akron
this summer to compete in the ma
tional finals was outlined in the first
Derby radio broadcast yesterday.
Carl Cederstrand, jr., Washington
champion last year, talked about his
big moments in Akron over Station
WMAL in an interview with Bill
Coyle. Norman Rocca, 1888 winner,
who was to appear with Carl on the
broadcast, had bad luck getting in
from his home in Oxon Hill, Md,
and did not arrive until the broad
cast was completed. Norman will
appear on later program.
Derby Director Hamilton and Mr..
Coyle discussed a few of the major
changes in the Derby rules during
the broadcast after Mr.. Hamilton
had extended invitations to WASH
ington boys to enter the Derby.
Mr.. Hamilton reviewed the races
run in the last two years, and con-
graduated Washingtons two Derby
champions.
Everyone connected with the
Derby since its inception is proud
OF the way the two Washington
champions conducted themselves in
victory and defeat. We want to use
both Of them this year in our Derby
organization for we know they will
prove an inspiration to all the bows
OF Washington" he said.
Open to Boys IL to Is.
The Soap Box Derby this year is
open to boys between the ages of
IL and Is years. One major change
IN this years rules places the age
minimum at II years, instead of 10,
which was the 1899 minimum.
To participate in the race, each
entrant must build a miniature
racing car within a prescribed cost
limit of $40. Wheels and axles may
be factory built, but must conform
to Derby regulations The rest of
the car may, and probably will be
built from everything under the sun,
including mothers ironing board, the
cloth off the kitchen table or dads
old work bench.
The rules will explain what limita-
tions there are to materials and
methods. Under the regulations, the
car and driver must not weigh more
than 250 pounds, and the racer must
conform with prescribed dimensions
Mr.. Hamilton announced earlier