Evening star., 1940-06-19
Manassas Boys Build
Mystery Racers for
Derby on July 13
FinoIIy Permit Photos
Of 'Scot-Cut' and
Blue Ridge Bullet

The Manassas Scat-Cat" and the
Blue Ridge Bullet" are two dark
horses in the 1910 Soap Box Derby,
and, like lot of dark horses, they
may run away from the rest of the
1ield on Derby Day.
The Manassas Scat-Cat" is the
pride and Joy Of Bo Lamar, jr., H.
year-old Derby newcomer from
Manassas, va, and the Blue Ridge
Bullet is going to carry the hopes
OF his friend, w. Fred Dowell, jr.,
13, in the third Washington coaster
race on July 13.
Both cars look speedy, and their
drivers, although new entrants, ap-
parently haven't missed . trick in
planning for fast and efficient run
ming. The boys have followed the
same general design in building
their racers but had to make diff
ferent allowances because of the
difference in their weights.
Finally Permit Photographs.
When they first were interviewed
the boys were doubtful about the
advisability of allowing photographs
to be made of their cars before the
race. When a photographer ar
rived in Manassas. in fact, both
racers were shrouded in bed sheets.
1t was only after considerable dis
cussion that they consented to un-
veil their mystery models.
Bo Williams, 10, one of their
numerous advisers and helpers, was
pretty upset for a while when he
found pictures being made of the
cars. He never became completely
treasured.
III betcha you're finding out a
lot OF tricks out here" he said.
The reporter promised to reveal
no construction secrets, and the in
terview proceeded amicably. What
was obvious, however, was the great
amount Of work the boys had put
into their Derby racers.
Bend Oak Planks to Fit.
Young Lamar. a red head with
his share of freckles, told of shap-
ing the sides of their cars by soak
Ing oak planks in hot water and
then bending them to fit.
They used my bath towels all
the time" Mrs. Lamar put in.
Whatever their method, the boys
got excellent results. as may be seen
In the accompanying photograph.
Lack Of an electric motor stumped
them for while when it came to
turning the wheels over to wear
IN" the bearings. They figured out
a substitute quickly, however,
They up-ended Fred's bicycle, and
while Fred turned the pedals Bo
held the Derby racer wheels against
the bicycle tires, and the bearings
got their pre-race workouts.
Bo, weighing only 83 pounds, can
build his racer up to the maximum
OF $50 pounds, so he is using oak
wood throughout But Fred weighs
130 pounds. so his racer can't weigh
more than 120 pounds. He has had
to go slowly with oak wood, and,
therefore has worked in quantities
Of light plywood.
Body Opens Up.
No midget, Fred also has made
unique arrangement for getting into
his racer. He has fixed a hinge on
the front of the racer so that the
front part of the body lifts like the
top OF piano. When Fred is in
place-down comes the top, and he
is in for the duration of the race.
Helping on the construction of
the racers are six other boys, all
members Of the Trinity Episcopal
Sunday School class. They're bet
ting heavily on the Manassas dark
horses.
Mack Clark, chairman of the
Derby Finish Line Committee. was
to talk on the regular Derby radio
program over Station WMAL at
4:15 pm. today. Also scheduled
were four Derby entrants who were
to be interviewed by Bill Coyle,
radio director of The Star and
member of the Derby Central Com
mittee.
The latest entrants in the third
washington coaster race are:
Leo Flaherty, IA, 8l5 Gist avenue,
Silver Spring, Nd; James Free
man, IA, 224 North Columbus street.
alexandria. Va; Andrew Mounce.
Is, 25l5 K street NV; Anthony
Musollno, 13, 300 Decatur street
NV; Robert Roland, 10, 822 Duke
street, Alexandria, Va, and Valen-
tine Smith, jr., II, 502 Duke street.
Alexandria, Va.
lWatch The Star for Derby News.