Evening star., 1941-05-02
II Soap Box Derby
Veterans Sign Up
For 1941 Race
Newcomers Also Enter;
Hine Junior High Boys
Are Told of Rules

Eleven veterans of previous Soap
Box Derby races are among the
early entrants who have completed
their official registration for Wash
tngton's 1941 coaster race for boys
OF all the "old-timers" registered
thus far, Bernard BurnStine prob
ably is the one most soaked in the
lore of the Derby. For three years
he enjoyed the distinction of being
the youngest driver in the race.
This circumstance was due to sue
cessive changes in the Derby rule
affecting the minimum age limit.
In 1888, the year Norman Rocca
won on the New Hampshire avenue
course, Bernard had his ninth BIRTH
day anniversary in June, just in
the nick of time to slide under the
minimum age limit.
The following year the rulemakers,
In the interests of safety, raised the
minimum to 10 years, and again
Bernard Just squeezed by. He
thought he was safe then, but last
year the age limit was upped again,
and once more his birthday anniver-
sary came just in time. He will be
IL years old when he races in his
fourth Derby on July II.
Hine Pupils Hear Rules.
More than. 400 boys Of the Hine
Junior High School, Seventh and c
streets Sc, heard an explanation
of this years rules and saw the
1910 champions racer at an all-boy
assembly held at noon yesterday in
the school auditorium. The talk
was one Of a series given at nearly
all Of the junior high schools in
Washington and the nearby COM
rlunities.
Awards to be given to the win
ners at the local race, and the
grand prize of a four-year college
scholarship to go to the national
champion. were explained by George
Haddock of The Evening Star. which
sponsors the race here with the CO.
operation of the American Legion.
The Derby is open to boys OF IL to
IS years of age, inclusive, who are
required to build their own coaster
racers at a cost of not more than
$40. Restrictions of size and weight
and other official regulations are
contained in the 1e41 official rule
book, which is given upon registra-
ton.
To register, a boy and one of his
parents should go to the Chevrolet
dealer nearest their home and sign
the necessary registration blanks
and a safety pledge. The boy then
receives his copy of the rule book.
Veterans and Newcomers Sign.
Derby entrants already signed up
include Willis Poole, IA, 4810 North
Ninth street, Arlington, Va, vet
eran of the last two races; Robert
s. Jacobson. Is, 1911 Sixteenth street
NE, who first raced in 1899 and
registered but did not compete last
year, and Philip Cuny, 13, 1906
Brandywine street NV, who won a
medal for coming in first in his first
elimination heat last year, only to
be eliminated in the second round.
Five newcomers to the Derby
scene are Edwin Duvall, II, $50
North Danville street, Arlington,
Va: Richard N. Franklin, IA, 4807
North Sixteenth street, Arlington;
John w. Haldeman, II, 327 Upshur
street NV; Herman Luebbing, 10,
1924 Fifth street NV, who becomes
old enough for the Derby on May
IA. and William B. Mason, 13, 804
Tuckerman street NV.
Seven boys who raced for the
first time last year and have signed
UP again are Jack Bowman, Is,
$40 Tuckerman strict NV; Ronald
E. Deane, II, Sc @ street NE; Joseph
Miller. ID, IS Westmoreland avenue,
Takoma Park, Md; Jack Neal, Is,
544 North Piedmont street, Arling-
ton; George M. Provost, 13, 1910
Locust road NV; Eugene Pywell.
is, A Charming street NV, and
James Raymond, Is, S6l Van Buren
street NV.
/ruzx.L 1L. C41r tor nerbu Nome !