Evening star., 1940-07-12
Soap Box Derby
Will Be Held
Tomorrow
200 Boys to Race
For D. 6. Title and
Trip to Akron Finals

Trip to Akron Finals
A new Soap Box Derby champion
will win his laurels tomorrow in
Washington's third running Of the
coaster race for boys.
Out of a fast field of approxi-
mately 200 boys between II and Is
years old one youngster will survive
successive elimination heats to be-
come Washington Derby champion
He will represent this city at the
national finals at Akron, Ohio, next
month.
But before a champion is chosen
there will have been scores of thrill
Ing races and many exciting mo-
ments Gaily painted homemade
racers will race downhill on Penn
sylvania avenue Sc. almost all to-
morrow afternoon as the elimina-
tions progress.
Some of the cars will be sleek,
streamiined affairs which seem to
glide along Others will be Just
plain soapbox racers. But every one
will be homemade job. And
every one will represent long hours
of work for its builder.
The Derby is to be held on that
section of Pennsylvania avenue Sc.
between Alabama and Branch ave-
nues. The wooden starting ramp
will be placed near the intersection
made by Texas avenue, and the
finish line will be close to Carpen-
ter street.
First Heat at IL AM.
The three boys comprising the
first heat of racers will roll off the
starting ramp at II am. Successive
heats will follow Immediately.
With crowds in excess of 10000
persons having viewed the two previ-
GUS Derby races in 1888 and 1939
police were making plans to handle
an even larger number tomorrow.
There will be no admission charge,
and spectators will watch the races
from positions at both sides of the
course. The Avenue will be roped
of, and the crowd will be required
to remain back of the ropes and
away from the crubstones.
Public transportation to the site
may be obtained by way of the
streetcar marked Seventeenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue Sc This
car starts in Georgetown and goes
east on Pennsylvania avenue NV
to the Sousa Bridge in Southeast
Washington. Persons desiring to go
to the Derby course may transfer
at Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue Sc. to bus marked Hill
crest, No. G 6. which will continue
on Pennsylvania avenue to Branch
avenue. Transit ofiicials said that
the regular service will be aug
mented tonorsaN,. TO handle the
Derby crowds. .@..Fr
Additional bus service to the
Derby site may be obtained by way
of buses of the Washington, Marl-
boro & Annapolis Motor Lines,
which start at Eleventh and Penn
sylvania avenue NV, and operate
along Pennsylvania avenue, through
Southeast Washington to nearby
Maryland.
To get to the Derby site take the
buses marked Seat Pleasant, Forest
vile, North Beach, or Silver Hill
Map Shows Derby Area.
The map accompanying this story
shows the Derby area, with the
streets which will be open for pub
lie parking and those that are closed
to traffic. Vehicles prohibited from
entering Pennsylvania avenue
which will be closed early tomor-
row morning-may detour via
Branch and Alabama avenues.
None but cars bearing official
stickers will be permitted to park
on the Park drive which approx
mately parallels the Derby course
Lunches will be furnished to the
boys at approximately II noon, at
the Ryland Methodist Church on
Branch avenue, block from Penn
sylvania avenue. Workers at the
church also will supply refreshments
to spectators who wish to buy them.
A special detail of 100 policemen,
under the supervision of Inspector
Maurice Collins, has been assigned
to handle the crowd. In addition
Capt. Hugh Groves of the eleventh
precinct will have details of his men
at the track
Police and American Legion Off
cials urged today that spectators
respect private property adjoining
the course. Details of c. c. c. boys
today were erecting lengths of snow
fence on the lawns paralleling the
track. First aid stations will be set
up at both ends of the course, and
details of nurses will be in constant
attendance. Public comfort stations
will be located at the bottom and
top of the hill.
Loudspeakers at Course.
The crowd will be kept informed
of the progress of the race by
public address system. William H.
Hargrave will be the chief an
nouncer.
In addition, the races will be
broadcast throughout the day. with
Bill Coyle, radio director of The
Star and a member of the Derby
General Committee, at the micro
phone.
The Derby first will be on the air
over Station WMAL from II to 1870
am. to give the results Of the first
few heats. At / pm. the broadcast
will be resumed to bring the radio
audience up to date on the proceed
ings. The program will last Is min
utes During the remainder of the
afternoon the Derby again will be on
the air from 2 to 2:15 pm; from
3:06 to $3.50, and around Ais to
4:30 to broadcast the city champion
ship race.
Meanwhile, the inspection OF the
miniature racers was continued at
Randle Heights School, near the
course, where the Inspection Com
mittee worked hard to insure the