Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
D. {. Boy Wins
Derby Prize for
Best Brakes
Jennings Back With
Trophy; Detroiter
Takes Title
BY GEORGE HADDOCK.

Bill Jennings, Washington's Soap
Box Derby champion, returned
home today from Akron, Ohio,
proud possessor of trophy for the
best designed brakes in the seventh
annual All-American Soap Box
| Derby.
Thomas D. Fisher, 12-year-old
youngster from Detroit, nosed out
the city champions from Charleston,
w. Va, and Akron yesterday to win
the national derby title before
crowd of more than 10000 persons.
The Washington entry, driving
Stuff, his streamlined white speed
ster, won his first heat handily, but
was beaten in his second race by
George c. Bach, jr., of Philadelphia.
Somewhat downcast by his defeat,
Bill perked up when he returned to
headquarters and learned that he
had won prize with the brakes he
had so painstakingly constructed.
Bill, driving car No. 124, had his
taste of victory in the 14th heat of
the afternoon, when he beat Roger
Martin, ID, of Batavia, N. Y, by
nearly two lengths in the time of
1888 seconds over the 1000-foot
course. Roy Whiting, Is, of Oil City,
Pa, was third.
The Washington champions car
started slowly, but gained speed as
he came down the hill. AS he crossed
the finish line he was going ahead
fast and won easily over the white
1f hi
While 80 more first round heats
were run off, Bill oiled his wheels at
the pits at the top of the hill. Then
he was placed at the starting line
for his second run.
The racers started off evenly, and
as they sped down the hill the
coaster from Philadelphia began to
edge ahead. Directly behind the
leader came Warren H. Steurer, IA,
of New York City, with Bill trailing.
A few hundred feet from the finish
line Bill started to cut down the
Philadelphia cars lead. Slowly he
lessened the distance between them,
and as they flashed across the finish
line, the Washington champion was
less than half-length behind the
nose of the Pennsylvania car, with
young Steurer a length behind Bill.
Time of the heat was 26.77 seconds.
Bill Has No AIibis.
Bill took his elimination without
alibis, and joined the other defeated
| youngsters in the special cham
| pion's box, near the finish line, to
watch the remainder of the race.
The Philadelphia boys white racer
WAS eliminated in the third round
| by John Porter of North Platte,
Nebr, who later went on to win fifth
place in the Derby. and trophy
and bronze medal.
I am sorry lost" Bill said, after
the race, but Stuff Just wouldn't
go any faster"-"I am glad I won
| the trophy for my brakes, though"
Young Fisher. the new All-Amer-
lean Derby champion, raced his
all-black, streamlined racer down
the hill five times before he earned
the victors laurels. For his feat
the boy receives a $4,000 four-year
college scholarship donated by the
Chevrolet Motor Co., sponsors of
the youngsters classic with leading
newspapers all over the United
States.
Fisher Wins.
Popular choice was the Akron
racer, guided by George Smith, Is.
Young Smith, however, was nosed
out in the extremely close final by
Tom Fisher and Robert D. Londeree.
Is, of Charleston. For second prize
Londeree wins new Chevrolet
coach, trophy and medal.
Smith will receive a Derby midget
motorcar, a trophy and a medal.
Time of the final heat was 1858 Sec
ondS
Fisher, the national champion.
then raced Donald MCGOWAN, Is. of
Belleville, Ontario, and Teddy Stew
art, IA, of Colon, Panama Canal
Zone, in the international finals.
and won going away in the time of
1884 seconds.
The crowd began To pack the en-
frances to Derby Downs hours be-
fore the first heat was scheduled.
While music played from a public
address system, the crowd began to
fill the flag-bedecked grandstands
on both sides of the track. On the
green slope facing the course other
hundreds sought vantage points
under shade trees for protection
against the hot sun which beat
down relentlessly all afternoon.
Parade Precedes Race.
Promptly at lis the explosion of
thre aerial bombs heralded the
start of the parade, led by the Akron
Boy Scouts color guard. Altogether
81 units marched down the course,
featured by the Akron Colored Elks'
Band led by a corps of shagging
drum majorettes. =
As the massed thousands cheered,
whistled and stamped their feet,
the 100 Derby entrants from as
many cities paraded past the stands,
collected their city banners at the
bottom and marched back up the
hill again. A few minutes more
and the race was on, with the first
heat coming down the hill at ais
pm.
Bill and the other prize winners
received their awards at the cham
pions' banquet, held at the Akron
armory. In addition to his trophy
for the best designed brakes. Bill
received Waltham wrist watch, his
official racing garb, steel drivers
helmet and goggles and a fountain
pen and pencil set.
Third place in the Derby was won
by Gordon l.. Kiester, Is, of Pontiac,
Mich. Sixth place went to Ivan
Ruick Davis, jr., Is, of Kansas City.
Three sections of the temporary
bleachers above the finish line COL
lapsed, but no one was injured, and
after workmen had cleared the
lumber away, the spectators re-
sumed their places. Only Derby
accident of the day occurred well
met foa fpieh line r,ha,, Tod