Evening star., 1950-07-08

in two classes-Class A for thos
13 to Is years old and Glass 3 TO
those II and IL. Seventy-thre,
boys were slated to race in Clas'
A and 81 in Glass B.
| To simplify this years racing
schedule. preliminary heats fol
Glass A all were run consecu.
lively, before starting Glass B rae,
ing. In previous races, class heat.
alternated.
The customary prerace activity
at Derby Downs began shortly
after dawn today as large trucks
bearing the colorful racers Of
every conceivable color and de.
sign, pulled into unloading areas
The racers, held at the Nationa
Guard Armory for the last three
, days, were placed in actual racing
, position by dozens of the Legion.
! naires on hand.
j Other trucks, bearing tons O!
fsoft drinks and sandwiches-te
be consumed by spectators dur
ing the days racing-also were
unloaded during the early hours
Of the day.
First-aid Tents Set Up.
Adding to the color, the District
Red Cross put up two flrst-aid
tents to be ready for any medical
attention needed during the day
Among the first spectators on
hand were many small children
relatives and friends of the con-
teStants-who were too young
themselves to be participating.
The large. green starting ramp
operating automatically to as
sure fair starts for all cars-was
in good working order long before
the first heats got under way.
Near the ramp were rows OF
small. yellow service ramps fur
nished by the Shell Oil Co.
| On each of them the racer pilots
gave their cars last-minute checks
and wheel fabrication jobs.
Chief referee for the big race is
j. Kip Edwards, well-known
Washington track official.
One of the big thrills for the
contestants and young spectators
will be the appearance later this
afternoon of Actor Jerry Colonna,
who acted as an honorary judge.
Get Winners Ribbons.
After each heat winners went
Immediately to the Office of Adel-
bert w. Lee to pick up winners
ribbons.
Special prizes also were to be
awarded to boys whose cars were
judged to be the best designed and
constructed. the best upholstered
and having the best brakes.
Winners in the three categories,
officials announced, were John
Moore, jr.. IL. of 303 Hume avenue,
Alexandria,. best designed: James
Lamar, IA, of 23O0 Good Hope road
Sc, best upholstered, and Allen
Parker. IL. of 1902 Cheverly ave-
nue.. Cheverly. Md. best brakes.
Float Eyed Enviously.
Many of the racer pilots took a
few minutes out to eye enviously
a float designed by Chevrolet for
the parade. atop which was the
racer in which Alfred E. Ashton
IA, of 1902 Thirty second street
Sc, won last years Washington
derby.
1n a special exhibition run
Alfred Ashton piloted his racer
to a win over Russell Sheets, q
top contender last year. Alfred's
time was 31.2 seconds, Oh second
slower than his best time last
year. The exhibition originally
was scheduled for later this
afternoon, but mechanics" at the
starting line quickly got into rae
ing shape Alfred's racer, which
has been featured in four pre-
Derby parades within the last two
weeks.
Some of the boys, like Bob
Rogers, 13, of 5512 Huntington
parkway. Bethesda, are Derby
veterans. Bob, class B champion
last year, will make his third an
nual run in a sleek aluminu mcar
called L-Jet.
Three cars are entered by con-
testants from the German Orphan
Home, 2300 Good Hope road Sc
They all bear the same identifying
color scheme-red with a white
devil imprinted on the front, and
bearing the initials of the home.
Two of the devil" cars will be
driven by the Lamar brothers
Robert, IL, and Jimmy. 10.
David Daljord, 13. of 1911 North
Nash street. Arlington, piloted ont
of the smallest cars at the course
"a silver job with orange up.
holstery.
Near the finish line, where elec.
trio eye clockers aided judges, of.
flcials had piled stacks of auto.
mobile tires, to form a cushion il
case any of the speedy racers wen
out of control at the end of thu
run.
so Policemen, on Hand.
More than SO policemen were or
hand. Traffic during the day wa.
being routed around the raceway
The start of the program wa.
described over WMAL, The Stal
station. by Dean Luce, assisted BY
bill Coyle, promotion manager ot
: The Star.
j Trackside broadcasts are sched.
uled on WMAL at 2:15 pm
and at approximately pm
when the Winner Of class A, fo
Z L Il ~