Evening star., 1952-07-17
Bobby Rogers Shoots
For Title in Fifth
And Lost Chance
By Meredith S. Buel

sVs~sSSh" - DSSs
Three Soap Box Derby winners
of the Class b championship and
"a fourth who was runnerup for
that honor last year will be in the
thick of the fight for the coveted
coaster crown on Saturday.
1t is the fifth and last chance
for one of the boys to win the city
trophy. He is Bobby Rogers, Is,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert w.
Rogers of 5512 Huntington park
way, Bethesda. Md.
Bobby was runnerup in Class B
in 1948, won that class the next
year and came in third in Glass A
in 1850.
Lets don't talk about last
year." he said with laugh. In
1851 he won only his first heat.
This Derby veteran has a Jet
black racer with white painted
around his racing number-74. His
car is dubbed "Lojet." Billy. his
12-year-old brother, racing for the
second time, calls his black coaster
"Hjet."
Different Car Each Year.
Bobby, with an eye toward an
|aeronautical engineering career,
has built a different streamlined
car for each race. "This is the
very same type Of car as last
years." he points out. "In fact,
all is the same except my wheels
are in better running order"
During his last four races. he
has won II of 16 heats. IF win
this year, it's fine" he says. IF
not, it was fun all the way"
The 1850 Clas B champ was
Boyd Morrow, IA, son of Mrs.
Helen c. Morrow of 13 Riggs road
NE.
THAT was my first and best
year." he recalls. Last year I lost
my frSt neat"
Boyd says his so car is "gener-
ally a better built car than the
previous ones" His all-gray racer
is 79 inches long.
If don't win Saturday, I'll build
another car and hope win next
year." he adds.
In Class A This Year.
Last years Glass B winner was
Jimmie Potter, jr., son of Mr.. and
Mrs. James S. Potter of 2O49
Thirty-fourth street Sc. His glis-
tening white racer has bright
red stripe running from both sides
Of the cockpit to a point near the
nose. Jimmie, now 13. will run in
Class A this year.
II made this car 2 inches
smaller all. the way around" he
says. my streamlining was based
on aeronautics. I discussed aero
nautical engineering with group
of Soap Box Derby friends before
building"
This will be Jimmie's third race ]
He bought a new set of wheels
this year and says he has been
working them i'm for three
months. Asked if he thought he'd
win Saturday, he remarked: "I'llI
do the best I can"
Chance for Crown.
The 81 runnerup to the Class
B champion was Dickie Combs,
son Of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles E..
Combs, 1929 Jefferson street NV
Just IL this year, he still has a
chance for the Class B crown.
Dickie's fire-engine red racer
hasn't been changed much. He
kept the same body but put a.
sharp point on the previously
rounded nose. His most impor-
tant change, he says, is a raised
piece Of wood resembling q fin
which sweeps back from the rear
Of the cockpit to the tail.
I'm sure this will help knock
down the wind resistance" he
adds.
The youngster isn't too worried
about winning the title this year.
I'D like to win, sure" he says.
But I know I have three more
years to try If ] don't make it
this time"
Be sure and take In Washing
tons biggest summer race-the
Soap Box Derby. It costs moth
ing. The 11th running Of the
fast-paced event viii be held