Evening star., 1948-06-26

wheeled onto the especially designed
starting ramp, the contestants
paraded down the course. attired
in their smart racing helmets and
shirts.
The procession, traditional part
of every Derby. was headed by a
squadron of Metropolitan Police.
The Fort Stevens Drum and Bugle
Corps, the Elks Boys and Girls
Band of Silver Spring, the Drum
and Bugle Corps of the James Reese
Europe Post of the American Legion
and the Greenbelt Community Band
provided music for the line of march.
Gayly clad drum majorettes, the
massed colors of the Legion posts
in the District and the Legion's Ma
tional Guard of Honor added color
to the parade honoring the race
drivers
Included in the parade. which
was directed by Ernest Kennard,
were Derby officials and the COM
mander of the District Department
of the Legion, Owen c. Holleran.
Greeted by Denfeld.
At the finish line the contestants
were greeted by Admiral Denfeld,
chief of Naval Operations. After
his brief speech. the boys returned
to the starting line and their wait
ing cars.
Admiral Denfeld praised the
derby in his brief address for the
qualities of resourcefulness and
sportsmanship it develops in the
youthful participants.
If you had been around to see
the things I saw during the war. )"
he declared, you would realize it
was these young boys and the way
they were brought up-the way they
know how to take part in changing
conditions-that helped us to win
the war.
Il want to praise The Star, the
American Legion and the Chevrolet
Co. for sponsoring this event. he
added. And I hope the boy who
wins today will go on to Akron to
win the derby there"
The Derby scene was beehive
of activity as early as $50 am,
when workers assembled the starting
ramp and truckers arrived with load
after load of the midget cars.
The derby is open for boys be-
tween the ages of II and Is. They
are placed as Glass "A" entries if
they are 13, IA or Is, as Class "B"
if they are IL or IL. Derby rules,
however, permit youths to enter If
they have become 16 since June l,
or if they will be II by August IS,
officials explained
The boy-built cars had been stored
at the District National Guard
Armory after they were checked
against the rigid specifications Of
the All-American Soap Box Derby
Committee. Inspection Of the cars
was not concluded until late last
night, when drivers whose cars pre-
viously had been disqualified for
structural defects brought them
back for re-check.
| In ArmOry at Dawn.
| Members of the Transportation
Committee were at the Armory at
dawn, lining the cars up in the order
they were to race. The cars then
were trucked to the starting line.
Several small "car hoists," built
for the purpose by the Shell Oil Co.,
were at the head of the course.
Drivers used these to give their
wheels and axles last fabrication
before being called for their first
! heat.
| Preparation of the course and
adjacent area also was completed
early today, with the erection OF
first aid and refreshment tents.
Earlier, drinking fountains had been
installed and comfort stations set up.
| A grandstand for distinguished
guests provided limited seating, but
many of the spectators brought camp
stools, boxes and other temporary
seating.
| At the finish line, the Maritime