Evening star., 1941-03-30
Hobbies and
Lobbyists
By Edmond Henderer

IL is Dut rarely that a new hobby
appears on the spare-t time activity
scene, and the advent of one which
springs into popular favor in the
short space of two or three years is
probably unique. The avocation
which has this unusual distinction
is racing miniature automobiles
These must not be confused with
the midget race cars seen here some
time ago. The latter cars are small
editions of the standard speedSter
in which the driver rides. The first
mentioned cars are still timer edi-
tlons, about a foot long. which are
attached to the end of a wire cable
and caused to run in circle, with
the operator standing on the side
lines watching the performance of
his model.
This hobby is so new that few of
Its devotees have been at it very
long, and R. H. Spencer may be con-
sidered typical of the group in most
respects. Mr.. Spencer gave him.
self car for Christmas" and ioined
the Washington Miniature Race Car
Association about the same time.
This is good avocation for the per-
son who wishes to have a model
which will not require long to COM
plete. Mr. Spencer bought a body
kit and a motor. The assembling
was done on desk in his apartment
at 629 Quincy street NV, and he
ran the car on a track for the first
time on March Is. Despite its
newness, 1t ran at about "a miles
per hour, which is quite good and
puts it among the local leaders.
Mr.. Spencer had never had a
hobby before he started on his race
car. True, he had started model
power boat, but he had never car
Tied it to the point of installing a
motor. Then he started reading
about the miniature cars and con-
cluded that that was the proper
hobby for him. The performance
OF his cars seems to prove his point.
The present record for these cars
is more than 81 miles per hour. 1t
changes so often that it's difficult to
keep track of it. The highest speeds
are achieved by special jobs spon-
sOred by the manufacturers. The
cars that win in normal competition
make between so and 70 m.ph.,
and to Judge from Mr.. Spencers
case, that speed is within the reach
Of most any one with just stock
car and motor and little work.
The Miniature Race Car Associa-
ton is planning to construct a
standard track on which to hold it's
trials and races, and is at present
considering a site near Bethesda.
Acquisition of such a track will
settle the clubs only big problem,
since it now has considerable trouble
locating place to run each week.
The club has announced a change
in its meeting date. It's regular
meetings will be held on the first
Monday and third Thursday of each
month, the place to be announced
later Further information may be
obtained from the secretary, Albert
Gum, National 8786.
During the recent National Model
Railroad Association banquet one of
the diners, John Derr of Phila-
delphia, was observed putting some
lump sugar in his pocket. On being
joshed about it, Mr.. Derr explained
that 1t was for his sisters collection
Further questioning revealed a new
hobby, that of collecting lump sugar
with the name of hotel or cafe on
the wrapper. Are there any sugar
collectors in Washington? II might
be possible to arrange to trade some
with Miss Derr.
There will be a hobby show at
the Gage School, Second and V
streets NV, Tuesday. April 8, at 8
pm. lobbyists living in that neigh
borhood who wish to enter may call
Mrs. Ralph Jackson, Dupont 0839.
This Weeks Meetings.
Monday-Silver Spring Aeronants
Montgomery Blair High School, Sill
yer Spring, 7:45 pm.
MISUNDERSTANDING Power Boat
Club, room 201 Denrike Building
Vermont avenue and K street NV.
8 pm.
day-Metropolitan Society OF
Model Engineers, home of Richard
Graham. 6221 Twenty-third street