The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-17
TENTH ANNUAL
Continued From Page One)

reported the incident 30 graph
cally to his managing editor that
the latter agreed to sponsor a
"soap box" race. The Dayton
Daily News thus became the "pi-
oneer'' Of the All-American SOAP
Box Derby.
Gains Approval
The Dayton race caused such
widespread interest that its DOS
sibility as a national promotion
was seen. Scott thought of Chew
rolet as a national sponsor, and
gained approval.
Scott and Chevrolet went to
work cary in 1884, and enrolled
the first "a newspapers as CO.
sponsors for the first Soap Box
Derby to be run on a national
scale. The first national finals
were held that year in Dayton.
Huge crowds turned out to watch
all the local races as well as the
Dayton finals, confirming the
sponsors belief that they had q
natural The first national win
ner was Robert Turner, of Nun
Gle, Ind, who still attends most
OF the Coap Box Derby finals.
In 1885, the Derby's second
year, there were 50 participating
cities. It was estimated that more
than $4,000 boys took part in the
local races, held during June and
July. The crowd which lined Tall
madge Hell in Akron, Ohio, to see
Maurice e. Bale, Jr., of Ander-
son, Indiana, flash across the fin
ish line as All-American champ
ion was well in excess Of those
at the finals this preceding year.
An International Soap Box Der
by was inaugurated in 1885 in
conjunction with the All-American
race. A Derby had been held in
South Africa during the month
Of January, and the South Afri-
can champion made the long trip
to Akron for the international
event. There were 116 cities In
the 1886 race, with more than 3d.
600 boys entering.
First At Akron
The year was especially notable
in Soap Box Derby annals be-
cause the finals were held on the
new, especially-constructed Derby
Downs" at Akron, a concrete
course designed and built with the
requirements Of this race In mind.
In the stands and on the banks
Of the cut adjoining this course,
throngs estimated by Akron police
at more than 100, 900 gathered to
watch.
Each successive year interest in
the Derby has mounted. Each
year improvements have been
made with an eye to lettering the
local races in crowd appeal and
excitement, with fairness in com.
petition and good sportsmanshir
on the part Of the contestants al.
ways uppermost in the minds Of
the sponsors.
Local race courses have been
improved each year. The specia.
plant at Derby Downs for the ii.
nails constantly has been bettered.
Each year more and more boys
have entered the races. Civic, ed.
ucational and industrial leaders in
the local communities and in Ak
ron have joined Chevrolet and the
sponsoring newspapers in running
the race
Four-Year Lapse
There was a four-year lapse .o1
the Derby during the war, anc
for the postwar revival of the
event in 1916, Derby Downs was
completely ref1rbished, improved
and beautified. The exterior anc
interior Of the grandstand were
reprinted and rebuilt; the track
was resurfaced in a non glarins
green; the course was lined with
cannas. The double-deck officials
bridge at the finish line was i'm
proved, a new arch was erected
at the top of the hill, and a new
starting ramp was installed.
For the tenth anniversary race
this yea-. added improvement:
and beautifying measures are
planned so that Derby Downs will
be-, as usual, the most efficien'
and most beautiful racing plan