Evening star., 1951-08-12
NotabIes Are Expected
Among $4,000 for 4
Soapbox Derby Today.
By Meredith S. Buel
Stor Stuff Correspondent


AKRON, Ohio. Aug. 11.-More
than $4,000 persons including mo-
ton picture celebrities and top
Air Force dignitaries will be on
hand tomorrow for the fourteenth !
annual running of the ALL
American Soap Box Derby here
The big race will get under
way at 2 pm. (WaShington time) |
with a weather bureau promise of
fair day with temperatures in
the high 70's.
A pleasant day is in keeping
with the tradition of previous
national Derbies as rain has never
marred a single running of the
colorful event
The l41 city champions from
the United States, Canada, Alaska
and Germany have all passed in
Spection of their cars and are re- |
laxing tonight at Camp Derby
Town. waiting eagerly for the
starters gun to send the first
three racers along the Derby
Downs speedway
Sheets Breezes Through.
Don Sheets, Washington IS
year-old representative in the ma
tional championship race, breeZed
through inspection today and took
his solo trial run down the fast
975-foot track. The three-lane
course is about rs feet longer than
the one used in Washington on
Pennsylvania avenue Sc.
The tall, slender youth weighed
IN with his racer at 248 pounds,
only two pounds short of the to-
tai weight allowed for boy and
car. Don's inspection and trial
run were to have been completed
yesterday afternoon but when
called up for inspection toward
the end of the day, he was told to
make minor repairs to his steering
mechanism and return in the
morning.
Several other Derby champs
facing the same situation also
passed their inspection today and
made trial runs.
Eager to Meet Celebrities.
boy, I certainly feel much bet
ter now that l know I'm all set for
the race Don said on his return
from Derby Downs. Il was almost
too nervous to eat, up to now .
But l can't wait to wade into that
food tonight
Don was particularly anxious to
get back to camp today because
the special Derby celebrities have
arrived in town and spent the
afternoon visiting with the cham
pionS.
Andy Devine, star of Western
motion pictures, radio and tele-
vision. and Ronald Reagan. mo-
ton picture star, are two of the
guests. The third land fourth is
Ventriloquist Paul Winchell and
his dummy, Jerry Mahoney, popu-
lar radio, stage and television
team.
The "Oil Can Trophy" race in
which they will compete will have
a new twist this year with four
contestants riding in three cars.
Mr.. Winchell promises that he
and Jerry will ride double. 4
Special Event Slated.
This special match race will be
run at Derby Downs several min
uteS before the start of the Of
fetal derby. These racers are of
considerably larger dimensions
than the boy-built racers. They
are called the Golden Shark. a
eaily painted replica of the deadly
fish; the Black Jet, miniature
jet plane on wheels, and the Spiral
Bullet, shaped like an diversified
screw.
Wilbur Shaw, In ia apoliS
speedway racing champion. will .
wave the checkered flag at the I
finish line Jack Dempsey won
the 1850 oil Can Trophy" /
Seventeen bands, led by the .
United States Air Force Band, will .
play in the parade preceding the
derby. The 85-man Air Force
Band led by 1t. Cd1. George S.
Howard. director, will give a As +
minute concert at Derby Downs /
before the parade.
Special top-ranking Air Force
guests are Gen. Hoyt S. Vanden-
berg, chief of staff; Gen. Nathan
F. Twining, assistant chief of staff, /
and 1t. Gen. B. w. Chidlaw, COM /
manding general of the Air De- I
Tense Command. !
Gov. Frank J. Lausche of Ohio .
will lead 1900 marchers in the .
parade
Majorettes Catch Eye.
Akron is tingling with excite
ment on the eve of this gravity
powered car race for boys II
through Is. Crowds keep a con-
Stant vigilance in front of derby
headquarters at the Mayf1ower
Hotel seeking to catch a glimpse
The WedtheI