Evening star., 1951-08-13
BY Meredith S. Buel
Stor StoFf CORRESPONDENT

f1A1SoAN, otlIO, mug 4o'RA
rangy 15-year-old' Danville pa
boy, who never doubted for a
minute Id win first place" left
here today for New York as the
1851 champion of the All-Amer-
ican soap box derby.
Darwin Cooper flashed to. vic
tory in his jet-black racer yes
terday before 10000 enthusiastic
coaster fans at Derby Downs
scene of the 14th running of the
National Soap Box Derby.
Beats 140 Other Champions.
The new champion, who repre-
sented Williamsport, Pa, in the
finals because D2nVille has no
local derby race, won over l40
other champions representing the
United States, Canada, Alaska and
Germany.
Darwin won by a half length
over the runner-up, 12-year-old
Ray Marconi of Gary, Ind. Paul
Albright. also II, trailed Ray by
half length to take third place.
The winning time over the 1854
foot course was 27.97 seconds.
Starting today, the Wiliamsport
winner will spend three days in
New York as a guest of the Fire
stone Tire and Rubber Co. His
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. William
Cooper will accompany him on
the New York trip. A brother,
David, 6, and a sister, Patricia
10, did not attend the race.
Darwin will appear on the Voice
of FirestOne radio and television
program over NBC at $50 o'clock
tonight.
Air Force Band Plays.
The crowd roared approval
when a musical ovation was given
by the 85-man Air Force band to
lone of the contestants.
1t happened when Don Sheets
the Washington Derby champion
climbed into the cockpit in heat
27 Of the first elimination round.
The loudSpeaker blared out his
name and city and the famous
band followed up by blaring out
"a salute to the boy. The band
under the direction of 1t. Col
George S. Howard, few in from
Washington yesterday morning
and led II other bands in the big
pre-race parade.
The 15-year-old WaShington
winner won his first heat in a
breeze. He whipped over the fin
lSh line two lengths ahead of
Richard johnson, IA. of Tacoma,
Wash. Third was Tommie G,
Jordan, jr., II. of Darlington. S. c..
who was a length behind young
johnson. Don's time was 1855
3.6 seconds faster than his WIN
nlng time in the Washington
Derby.
NOsed Out In I'd Heat.
In the second heat he was
nosed out by John 8. Thornton.
l3. OF Kansas City. Mo, in the
last time of 28.l7 seconds. The
sleek. black racer. which won the
Washington championship under
the name Black Lightning,
couldn't quite pull up even as the
speedy Kansas City car crossed
the finish line.
The Thornton boy was elm
mated in the third round by Raw
Marconi, runner-up to the ma
tional champion.
After losing to young Thornton
the Washington derby pilot said
frankly; He had a better racer
than l did. It was faster and he
could get down lower in his car.
can't get down as low as some
OF these small fellows Don is
. feet II inches tall.
Prerace Program.
An elaborate prerace program
started the days festivities. First
was a concert at the track by the
Air Force band. Then followed a
half-hoL. parade with it's ls
bands and 1900 marchers. Celeb
rites who rode in convertibles in
the parade included Gen. Hoyt
S. Vandenberg, Air Force Chief Of
staff; Gov. Frank j. Lausche OF
Ohio: former national derby Win
ners, and the heroes Of the dav
the competing champions. each
carrying the flag of his home
city.
Also in the parade were the
contestants in the "oil can trophy
race which followed. This was
a contest in special racers between
Andy Devine and Ronald Reagan.
motion picture actors, and tele-
vision ventriloquist Paul Winchell
and his dummy, Jerry Mahoney
Paul and Jerry won. A special
slower than in previous years.
Three hours after it began the