Evening star., 1941-04-30
Soap Box Derby SET
For July 4; Course
To Be Named Later
Director Urges Boys to
Start Building Racers
Now to Win Prizes

zeb T. Hamilton, 1941 Soap Box
Derby director, announced today
that Washington's fourth annua,
coaster race for boys will be held
Saturday, July IL.
The selection of the second Satur.
day in July for the District Derby
means that a period of 10 weeks
remains for those boys who have
not started already to finish their
homemade racers in time for the
event.
Ten weeks is more than enough
time for building Soap Box Derby
racer" Mr.. Hamilton said, "but !
advise every boy who wants chance
at those prizes to get started with
out unnecessary delay"
Mr.. Hamilton. Derby director last
year, and assistant Derby director
IN 1889, is representative of the
American Legion, which co-operates
with The Star in the sponsorship of
the Derby.
Many Prizes to Be Offered.
A long list of prizes will be award
ed to heat winners and the cham
plon of Washington on Derby Day
and every boy who shows up at the
race track with a properly inspected
car will receive an all-Steel racing
drivers helmet and a racing Jersey
The Washington champion will go
to Akron, Ohio, as the guest of The
Star, to compete in the national
finals for the grand prize-a four
year college scholarship with all ex-
penses paid.
The Soap Box Derby is a race for
boys who have built their own small
racers according to specifications
laid down in the 1941 official Derby
rule books. The cars must run only
by gravlty-and may not cost more
than $40 to build.
The race is open to boys of II to
Is years of age, inclusive, who live
IN Washington, or the nearby COM
munlties in Virginia and Maryland.
OF the more than $50 youngsters
who drove in last years event, nearly
so were from out of the District.
Parental Approval Necessary.
One-Bo Lamar. jr-came from
Manassas, Va, with a speedy racer
named the Scat Cat and printed
brilliant orange. Bo had a speedy
car, progressing to the semifnals,
where he was nosed out by Billy
Warner, who later was barely beaten
by Bill Jennings in the Washington
championship race.
To enter the Derby, a boy must
go with one of his parents to one
of the II Chevrolet dealers in WASH
lngton or nearby towns. There he
signs a registration blank and a
safety pledge, which also must be
signed by the parents. Then the en-
trant receives his 194l official Soap
Box Derby rule book, which tells
just exactly what may and what
may not be done in building a racer
Under the rules, boys who enter
the Derby are required to build
their own cars. although they must
accept advice and suggestions from
adults or shop teachers. They are
permitted to buy factory made
| wheels.
Broadcast Being Arranged.
At Derby headquarters in The Star
Building, meanwhile, plans are being
completed for the Soap Box Derby
radio broadcasts. Bill Coyle, radio
director of The Star, and the Derby
staff are preparing series which
is expected to start over the National
Broadcasting Co. Station WRC next
week
The progress will headline the
latest Derby news, give construction
hints, interpret the rules and broad
cast other items of interest to en-
trants.
Mr.. Hamilton said also that the
location for the 1941 Derby will be
announced at a later date.
watch The Star for Derby neDs)