Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-15
Pennsylvania Avenue
5. {. Again Picked
For Soapbox Derby
Southeast Race Course
To Be Available for
Trial Runs June 80

Washington's fourth annual Soap
Box Derby will be held on Penn
sylvania avenue SE.-the site of
the 1910 coaster race for boys
The announcement of the site of
the race was made yesterday on the
regular Derby radio program over
Station WRC at the same time that
the date of authorized trial runs
was disclosed.
The course will be available for
tryout spins down the hill from l to
pm. Monday, June 80. On that
date policemen will be detailed
by Maj. Ernest w. Brown, super
inCendent of police, and member
of the Derby general committee, to
divert and provide safe racing con-
ditions during the practice runs.
The general committee chose the
Pennsylvania avenue site for the
second consecutive year after last
years race proved so satisfactory
from the standpoint CT both con-
testants and spectators.
Reminded of Safety Pledge.
Derby Director Zeb T. Hamilton
today reminded Derby entrants of
the safety pledges they signed when
they entered the race.
Every Derby entrant signed a
safety pledge in which he promised
not to run his racer on the streets
or sidewalks in such a way as to
endanger his own safety or the
safety of Others" Mr. Hamilton said.
Don't take your racer out to the
course until time of the trial runs.
You'll be given an opportunity to
try out the track and in plenty of
time to make adjustments on your
car.
You may, of course, look the
Derby site over" Mr.. Hamilton said.
ITO get to it, go out Pennsylvania
avenue Sc. across the John Philip
Sousa Bridge over the Anacostia
River, past Minnesota avenue and
up the hill to Branch avenue"
The actual racecourSe will be
approximately between Texas av-
enue. about the middle of the hill,
and Carpenter street at the bottom.
Derby entrants were urged to
work hard on the completion of
their racers in order to take ad-
vantage of the trial-run period.
Race Only 4 Weeks Away.
TO make that trial run doesn't
mean that the racer has to have the
last bit of paint and polish on it."
Mr.. Hamilton pointed out. IF it
will operate mechanically like YOU
want it to on Derby Day. then it
will be fit for a trial spin. After
wards you can put the finishing
touches on it
The attention of Derby entrants
also was called to the fact that
the coaster race is now less than
four weeks aWay-With only three
weeks of actual building time re-
manning. 1t was pointed out that
all cars to be raced must be turned
in for final inspection one week
before Saturday, July II, the date
of the race.
Guests on yesterdays Derby
broadcast at 1890 pm. were Cor
don Hess, Is. of 300 Rugby avenue,
Bethesda, Md, and his friend, Rob-
ert Broadhurst, Is. Oil Del Ray
avenue, Bethesda. Gordon is enter
ing the race for the first time, while
Bob. a veteran of the 1899 and
1910 races, is just a few months
over the age limit.
226 Now Entered.
Entrance in the race is free, and
each boy who enters receives an
official 1941 Soap Box Derby rule
book, which includes many hints
on racer construction. Every boy
between II and Is years of age. in
elusive. who lives in Washington
or nearby Maryland or Virginia may
enter the Derby. To sign up, boy
and a parent or guardian should
go to the Chevrolet dealer nearest
his home, where he may register
and receive a rule book
The race is sponsored by The
Evening Star, with the cooperation
of the American Legion anu the
Chevrolet Motor Co. Winner of
the Washington Derby will be sent
to Akron, Ohio. where he will COM
pete on August II against other
city champions for the national
championships. First prize at Akron
is a four-year scholarship TO the
college of the winners choice.
The entry blanks of four more
boys brought the roster at Derby
headquarters at The Star to a to-
tai of 226 Latest entrants are
James Bruce, II, 1914 South Nine
tenth street, Arlington, Va;
Charles w. Fuller, II, 4576 Con-
duit road; John James Gallagher,
IL, 4206 Thirteenth street NV, and
Eduirn 2 Walter II 2122 EifrN-