Evening star., 1950-08-11
D. {. Soap Box Champ
Grooming Racer for
National Finals Sunday
By Ted Mcdowell

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 11.-Thir-
teen-year-old Davis Wrinkle isn't
leaving anything to chance in his
fight to bring the national Soap
Box Derby Championship back
to Washington.
Getting set for the big race
Sunday, he groomed his sleek
racer into top shape today, fol-
lowing a nine-point typewriter
set OF instructions that would
rival an airplane's pre-fght check
list for completeness.
Young Davis and his mother.
Mrs. Opal Wrinkle, 4815 North
Sixteenth street, Arlington, ar
rived here by plane yesterday
from Washington. His father,
Noble E. Wrinkle, Rural Elec-
trification Administration re-
gional agent, and his sister.
Patricia Ann. Is, met them at the
Akron Airport. Mr.. Wrinkle and
Pat drove here for the big race.
Davis arrived amidst the blare
of brass band. He rode from
the airport to the city in a con-
vertible with police escort So
did 148 other Soap Box Derby
champions representing las Amer
lean cities. In addition, Alaska.
British Columbia and Germany
sent one boy each.
Staying at Derbytown.
The boys are staying at Derby
town, a 127-acre YMCA camp
site outside the city.
A softball tournament and a
water carnival at the camp site
| kept the boys busy last night.
Their main thought, however, was
centered on today's pre-race trial
runs down Derby Downs, the 975-
foot course on which the boys will
compete in their gravity-powered
cars.
They got up early this morn
ing, and at 9 o'clock they were
at Derby Downs preparing their
cars meticulously for Sundays
race. They won't see their cars
again until they climb in for
the finals. with a four-year COL
lege scholarship as top prize. The
derby is sponsored by various
newspapers and civic groups and
Chevrolet.
Before Davis left Washington,
he and his father prepared a list
of items he should check on his
racer
I'VE did this just in case he got
too nervous and forgot some
thing" explained Mr.. Wrinkle. Il
told him to check everything and
not let anyone rush him. even If
it took him three hours"
Set of Instructions.
And 1t did take Davis about
that long to run through this list:
l. Polish the body with sealer.
Clean the wheels good.
4 2. Use carbon-tet, a lot of it.
on wheels, bearings, spindles,
washers.
/ 8. Oil Spindles. wheels, washers:
put on wheels and fasten cotter
keys good.
4. Spin the wheels a long time
an hour would not be too long.
5. Then blow out wheels and
washers with air hose. Have the
wheels spinning when you blow
them and wipe off all oil from
outside of wheels.
6. You are now ready for the
trial run SO tell the man in charge
you are ready.
Three additional points told
how various portions of the car
could be removed, drilled, filed,
Clipped and ripped out if Davis
had gained too much weight since
the Washington race July 8. Boy
and car combined cannot exceed
$50 pounds.
In addition there are two other
detailed lists-one entitled Be
fore the first race Sunday" and
the other Before the second race
and before the third and all other
races"
Davis and his family hope the
all other races" will apply to the
championship heat after the
elimination heats.
The Woodrow Wilson Junior
High student mopped his brow
as he worked over his two-tone
green racer. you can't say T
haven't tried" He said.