The Daily Alaska empire., 1951-07-23
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LeRoy West Wins Soap
 Box Derby
By PRESTON sANDBo

LeNOy Funky west, l5-year- old driver, barely nosed out class B winner Joe Garrett of Doug- las to become champ of Juneau's annual Soap Box Derby yester- day. He is the son of MT. and Mrs. LeRoy West, 419 West Twelfth Street.
 "Punky," sophomore in high school, went on to win the final race after rerunning his first heat when his opponent failed to get off the starting ramp.
 The champion wore an air of confidence when brought back to the judges stand to receive his trophy after the big race. James Lightbody, Rotary Club district governor from Vancouver, made the trophy presentation.
 Third Try
 This was the third year West raced for the coveted award. His car carried Number Seven, the number he drew for heat position.
 This year I'll win at Akron" West confidently said through d mouthful of watermelon when given his plaque award. He csr- ried his prize cradled in his left arm and a piece of melon in his right hand as he left the judges stand.
 Alaska entrants in the All-Am- erican Soap Box Derby held an- nualIy at Akron, have never got ten past their first heats, . race committee mefnber said.
 Street damned
 vsaill s..aokened GD a .sosvy ,lli.s.e by the time the races started and continued throughout the program. Twelfth Street was lined with spectators to watch the 24 racers in the three classes of competi- tion.
 Tommy Blanton, son of Dr. and Mrs. William Blanton, beat out John Pyle for top honors in class c competition for boys 9 to Il years old.
 Maybe you have a winner now" spectator told Dr. Blanton when Tommy won. Sandy, Tommy's brother, came all the way to the finals in l948 and 1949. Tommy carried the name of his brothers car on his own with another num- eral added: Hot Rod ". Paired off
 Fred Ross and Carl Beyer, who went down to the finals in the Class A race, were paired off for third place with Ross taking the race by inches. Third place hon. ors in Class B were won by Joe Abel over David McPhetres.
 Nine Class A and eight Class B drivers were lined up in their white T-shirts and red helmets in the rear of the ramp before the big race began.
 Awards will be given at the Ro- tary Club luncheon at the Bar anof Hotel tomorrow
 The local derby was under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club, the Connors Motor Company and the Daily Alaska Empire. Vests car goes to Akron as an official Empire car since all national en- tries must have the backing of daily newspaper.
 . Club Direction
 Rotary Club members carried the whole race off with efficiency under the general chairmanship of William Leivers. Ellis Reynolds directed hilltop operations with Neil Fritschman, William Eihs' Robert Akervick and Henry Green as members of his committee.
 On the finish line were pr. William Blanton and Dr. '. WI Gibson. Judges were Charles w.. Carter and Howard Stabler.
 At the foot of the hill to return cars and stop racers were Ted Hayder, E. L. Keithahn, hoDer' La Joie and o. F. Benecke. Truck drivers to return the cars to the starting line at the end or meats were Rod Darnell, Keith Wiides' Alex Young and EIdred Mallory
 In charge of concessions was Carson Lawrence. On communica- tions were Milt Furness and liar old Zenger, members Of the LioiiS club. Don Skuse and the Rev Samuel McPhetres were on the losers club. This club fed water melon, hot dogs and pop to neat losers.
 All boys who competed in the Derby are requested by the com mittee. to attend the luncheon The boys are to be in the ioboy of the hotel by no later than Ii''" am. tomorrow.