Evening star., 1951-06-27
By Meredith S. Buel

/ Brightly colored Soap Box Derb.
racers. covesed with everything
from linoleum TO aluminium
sparkled under the lights at tn,
National Guard Armory last night
as pre-race inspection got undel
way.
An atmosphere OF gaiety spreae
through the Armory. as one b,
one the Derby pilots, accompanied
Iby families and friends, watched
their products OF months of hare
work pass the rigid inspection
TESTS.
But there was anxiety, too, a!
many Of the gravity powered car.
had to have minor adjustment.
made before they were passed.
Il don't know whether Bob viii
get by tonight or not, since there
was no one around to explain the
Rule Book instructions to him but
lme," said Mrs. Matte Faust short.
lly before her son passed inspec.
|tion.
At the time. her son Robert
Faust. II. was busy fixing q brake
cable on his linoleum-co
racer.
Determined to Pass.
tive been working three months
on this car, and I'm going to see
that it passes" Bob said. 81
started on one last year but never
finished it."
The youngsters brown and tan
linoleum covering was once used
on the floor of his home at 1905
Marlboro pike Sc.
II decided not to use any paint
over the linoleum because it's
colorful enough the way it is,"
Bob said.
The grandparents OF Jimmy
Potter. jr., u. Of 2409 Thirty
fourth streets Sc, are coming all
the way from West Palm Beach
Fla, just to see him race. the boy
mentioned while giving his car q
final pre-inspection check. They
are Mr.. and Mrs. G. A. Seller,
who formerly lived here,
Jimmie, who was rllnnerup for
the Glass b championship last
year. has q streamlined, red-up-
hclstered car. Extensive sandinp
and applying four coats Of glisten-
ing white paint to his racer put
callouses on both his hands dur
ing the four months he worked
on his car. his parents, MIR. and
MRS. James 8. Potter. ST.. pointed
out.
Two missing cotter pins for his
back wheels were all that was
needed to assure 12-year-old
Oliver J. P. Fischer. jr., that he'd
be flashing down the Derby speed
way on Saturday.
Nails Replaced.
The inspection crew gave me
the cotter pins to replace the nails
] had for my wheels" Oliver said.
The boy. who lives at 506 Sixty
ninth street, Seat Pleasant. Nd.
has covered his car entirely with
aluminium. Red stripes are painted
along the sides.
Bernard Hammett. IL. OF 1904
Twentieth street NE, was peering
at his racer, lying wheels up, when
asked what was wrong.
1t didn't pass the 3-inch road
clearance test" Bernard answered.
Two OF his uncles came with him.
and one had gone home to get 4
plane. "An ] have to do is shave
down an eighth Of an inch on one
edge and it'll pass all right" he
added.
The racers Of four boys from
the National Training School
passed inspection with fiying
colors.
Harold e. Hegstrom, the schools
superintendent. said the institu-
ton has entered boys in the race
every year since the end Of World
War II.
Il think the Derby has a mar
velous effect on them. as It teaches
the value Of keen competition and
nne craftsmanship, as well an
nandicraft work." he said.
Wants Birthday Victory.
One boy has a special reason for
wanting to win the local Derby
IT falls on his 14th birthday
Also" said Arthur Morrissette
$685. Bangor street Sc, as he
tightened his steering and brake
cables. I'D like to win it In 11:47
seconds. / was born at 11:47 q "a. /.
Last years record was 31.2 sec
ondS.
Among the items checked were
length. height, road clearance.