Evening star., 1941-07-11
Soap Box Derby
Boys Race for
Cup Tomorrow

All Details Complete,
Heats Assigned for
Coaster Classic
fSodp Bor Derby Heat List on
Page A-4.)
Tomorrow is the big day for more
than 200 Washington boys and all
their fans-the day Of the long
awaited Soap Box Derby.
Down a 1,OO0-foot course lined
with cheering spectators, the boys
will race their coaster cars toward
the District championship, q chance
to compete AZ Akron and scores Of
awards.
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee will send the
boys on their way. AS guest of
honor at the pre-race ceremonies,
he will review short parade, speak
briefly and pull lever releasing the
first trio of racers to be sent OF the
starting ramp.
To Begin With Parade.
Sponsored by The Star, in CO.
operation with the District of Co.
lumbia Department, American Le-
gion, the coaster car race for boys
from II to Is years will begin At
$50 am. with . band concert and
parade. The racing will continue
through the afternoon after 4 noon
tntermission.
Scene of the big event is Pennsyl-
vania avenue Sc. between Texas
avenue and Carpenter street.
American Legion committeeman
headed by Derby Director Zeb T.
Hamilton, are busy arranging the
cars by heats In the Randle High
lands School, in preparation for
transportation to the course tomor-
row morning. Their task is to group
the racers in threes, following the
heat assignments made last night
by the Registration Committee dur
ing meeting at Derby headquarters
IN The Star Building.
Special Race Scheduled.
The long program or races, ending
with the championship finals at
about S pm, will be judged by
Arthur J. Dutch" Bergman, former
Catholic University gridiron coach
and veteran chief judge of the local
Derby; Linn C. Drake, Boy Scout
executive of the National Capital
Area Council. and J. Elmer Zearfoss,
head Of the department of manual
arts in Divisions 1-9 of the public
schools.
Immediately before the finals the
third and fourth places in the city
standings will be determined by a
special race, scheduled for the first
time this year.
The work of setting up tents and
srandstands in the course area and
installing special telephone connec-
tions and the public address system
will begin late today and will be
completed early tomorrow morning.
BY 7 am. scores of officials will be
on hand to supervise final arrange
ments.
A large police detail, under COM
mand of Inspector Maurice Collins,
will stand by to divert traffic via
Branch and Alabama avenues. Out
bound tratic probably will begin
using the detour at about 8 am,
rs workmen tackle the job of as
sembling the ramp, which assures
an equal start for all three partici-
pants in each heat. Inbound trafnc
will be permitted to use Pennsyl-
vania avenue, between Branch and
Alabama avenues, until approxi-
mately am. in order that the
heavy morning flow will not be
impeded.
Parade Order Announced.
Competing boys will report at 8
AN. to the quartermaster tent to
receive their racing helmets and
jerseys, the souvenirs given to all
taking part. At $50 a m the Metro
politan Police Boys Club Band will
begin a concert slated to continue
until 1890, the hour set for forma-
tion Of the parade behind the start
ing line.
Mr.. Randolph is expected to ar
rive shortly before 10 am. and take
his place in the judges stand at
the finish line, where he will review
the column and greet those as
sembled for the event.
Mr.. Hamilton announced the fol-
lowing parade order: % The colors,
90 the three city champions. Nor
man Rocca Q938), Carl Cedarstrand
I939) and Bill Jennings 1940D;
80 the Police Boys Club Band, a.
all Derby contestants, 60 Boy
Scouts, 90 Sons of the Legion Drum
and Bugle Corps.
After Mr.. Randolph's remarks. the
band will strike up THE Star
Spangled Banner" and Boy Scouts
will raise flags along the course.
The column then will reverse. re-
turning to the crest of the hill,
with the West Virginia legislator
In line Immediately behind the
colors. Mr.. Randolph will leave for
4 speaking engagement in Berkeley
Springs, w. Va, Immediately after
the first heat has been run.
Intermission at Noon.
Then, at three-minute intervals,
the other 50 first-round heats will
be sent down the incline by Chief
Starter Haywood Saunders. First
round winners will match cars and
driving skill in the second round,
and so on, until the finals are
reached.
There will be an intermission
from noon until l pm, during
which entrants will be served lunch
without charge in the Ryland
Methodist Church on nearby Branch
avenue.
Winners of principal prizes will |
be summoned to the finish line
following the finals, and Washing
tons fourth Derby champ will re-
ceive the M. e. Coyle Trophy, gift |
Of ChAvrolot. hicvcla uivnp hv |