The Akron Beacon Journal from Akron, Ohio • Page 12

Yd) erica Shows- Courage At Bowels Today I1H Derby, In Sixth Year, Has Enjoyed Amazing Growth In Popularity Drew 100,000 To Downs Last Year; 117 Drivers Will Flash Over Course Sunday; Rules Keep Competition Fair Derby Centers Attention Of Nation On Capacities Of Its Future Manhood Sportsmanship, Inventiveness, Mechanical Skill, Physical Bravery All Tested In Greatest Amateur Racing Event i IF THE PEOPLE of the United States should set aside one day of all the year to honor American youth, no day would more appropriate than the annual date of the All-Americah Soap Box Derby. Derby day is youth's day as no other. At no time is attention centered nationally on Young America as when the champions send their Derby cars flashing down Derby Downs. Adults watch those speeding cars with a sudden realization that they are seeing a preview of future American sportsmanship, honesty, daring, mechanical skill and ingenuity. The thrill of the race comes in knowing that what those boys are doing on the hill has its roots in American seamanship and its head in the clouds with the Yankee Clipper.

Inventive genius, mechanical TIE growth of the Soap Box Derby has been so tremendous, both locally and nationally, that its six-year history reads as though written by the Wizard of Oz. To understand the ever-increasing popularity of the Derby it is necessary to know what the Derby is; how it run and what it means to the boys who drive in it and the thousands who watch it. Derby, primarily, is a race for boys 10 to 15. It is spon sored jointly by the Chevrolet division of General Motors and America's leading newspapers. fViavmlot maintain jiirwrvisiori local races held during July and over the broad general program, August.

the paper at each sponsoring point conducts its own race under na I -of. -ft If' o-ria 1 1 That year the national finals came to Akron where they have remained ever since. A crowd tional rules and sends its cham pion to the all-American Derby big the this afternoon to start the race, there will be lumps in here. skill, speed all these have meant much to America since the first clipper ships sailed across the sea and the first motor car and the of 100,000 saw Maurice E. Bale, of Anderson, beat all comers to emerge as Ail-American cham Derby racers are gravity-pow ered cars, built by the boys them pion.

selves. Rules set certain restrictions, however, on weight and di mension, and specify certain types The next year, 1936, saw inauguration of the International Soap Box Derby in conjunction with the ail-American. A Derby had been held in South Africa in January of wheels and brakes. Tut Boys On Equal Footing The main purposes of these re strictions are to assure safety for and the South African champ made the long trip to Akron to compete in -a special match race drivers and onlookers and to place throats of many spectators. Up- that hill then goes America's finest, clean, 'sturdy youth, mentally and physically and morally fit, ready to match skill and speed against each other for the -love of the game.

Teach Sportsmanship Those same boys will teach the crowd an object lesson in sportsmanship when they, come across the finish line. If they lose, there's no whining, no alibi, no excuse. The Soap Box Derby does not deserve the title of "the world's first airplane came into being. The future of America hinges on its youth and the skill that youth can bring to industry and business, The Soap Box Derby combines these two vital elements of America's tomorrow. Sportsmanship a Derby contestant must have before he even begins to build a racer with his own hands because he is, thus, willing to compete with others on a give and take basis.

Honesty the Derby contestant must have again or his car will never reach the starting line. The all boys in the race on an equal footing, regardless of family stand against the American champion. There were 116 cities represent ing. ed in the 1936 national finals No car may cost more than 510 which were won by Herbert U. to build, and no adult may as nist in its construction, except by Muench, of St.

Louis, with the record shatterine speed of 28.2 giving advice. Professionally built seconds. cars, and entries involving weld ins. metal lathe work, or other is ound out before the race. Held On New Downs That year was especially not processes beyond the average boy's capacities, are disqualified able by reason of the fact that the national and international fin als were held for the first time on the new, specially built Derby Downs at Akron airport.

greatest amateur racing event merely from the standpoint of its being a great sports spectacle and pageant. There is a significance behind the Derby in its true reflection of the power and the future of Ameri- can youth. Therein lies its. real greatness. The Downs, champions saw that year, was a 30-foot wide strip or Daring is one word for the quality that helps a boy race down a Derby Course, eyes ahead, hands steady on the wheeL Confidence is another word for the same quality.

Encourages Inventiveness That Soap Box racing builds and encourages inventive skill and workmanship is self-evident to the thousands who watch it all over the United States, in Canada, and in Panama. is every kind and design of car in those races, for every boy has a different idea of how to concrete runway down one of the airport hills, designed with the requirements of the Derby in mind. In preparation for the 1937 ail- American won by Bobby Ballard, before the race. All Derbies, whether local, national or international, spring from an idea of Myron E. Scott, now called "Soap Box Scotty," a newspaper photographer of Dayton, O.

Early in 1933 while out on an assignment for his paper, Scott came across, a group of small boys scooting down a Dayton hill in home-made miniature cars. Scott stopped and took a few pictures of the boys for this was "human interest art" of the type that all newspapers want and try to get. Gave Him His Idea On his way back to the office, Scott's imagination was fired by the enthusiasm of the boys for their miniature automobile racing. He conceived, then, the- idea of a sponsored race for the boys. Scott's own enthusiasm for his idea enabled him to get the story across to his managing editor with, the result that the latter agreed build the winning car.

He Is al Derby Tangles Go To 'Aspirin Pill' Grout of White Plains, N. numerous improvements were made on the Downs. Again in 1938 for the race won by Robert Berger, of Omaha, Neb. more improvements lowed free play of his imagination within bounds of the rules. were made.

I In the race today as in the others held this year there are Changes Listed These improvements consisted of cars long and bullet shaped, short Who'll Join This Group As 1939V All-American Soap Box Derby Champ? enlarging seating capacity, im and built like a teardrop; cars that have tail fins and cars that The first Ail-American Soap Box Derby champion was crowned Omaha district race sponsored by the Omaha World-Herald. proving press i accommodations, construction of a steel bridge do not. Seek Least across the track for judges, of The "aspirin pill" committee is the way officials of today's Soap Box Derby describe the liaison committee because its 'members relieve officials of "so many headaches." 'Heading this committee is W. Seiberling, chairman of the ficials, radio announcers and com Some are built on the theory mentators, and installation of photo-finish and electric timing that the less width to a car in the front, the less wind resistance and greater speed; others are outward manifestations of a theory that at Dayton, in 1934. He was Robert Turner, center, above, champion of Muncie, sponsored by the Muncie Star.

Maurice E. Bale; won the All-American race at Akron in 1935. Maurice, left, above, was sponsored by the Anderson, Herald, The All-American and International champion in 1936 was Herbert Muench, right, above, of St. Louis. He was sponsored by St.

Louis Star-Times. The 1937 champion was 12-year-old Robert Ballard of White Plains, N. left, below, sponsored by the White Plains Reporter. He also won the International championship. In 1938, the National and International titles were won by Robert Berger of Omaha, right, below, who represented the Other 1938 National finals winners were: Second place Dick Ballard, White Plains, N.

third place Stanford Hartshorn, jr Gardner, fourth place Bob Finley, New York, N. fifth place Lamar Atlanta, sixth place Harold Wes-singer, Columbia, S. C. The 1938 International finals winners were: First place, Robert Berger, Omaha, United States; second place Buddy Stroop, Panama Canal Zone; third place Bob Wilson, Canada-Other 1938 National prize winners: Best designed ear-Thomas Sitler, Ellwood City, best upholstered car Milton Taylor, 'San Francisco, best designed brakes George Abel, New Haven, Conn; winner of fastest heat Stanford Hartshorn, Gardner, Mass. Civic, educational and industrial Airport Exhibition Co.

He is aided the air flows around rounded by Herb Maxon, Goodrich fronts. Service Director William F. Owt of the races are coming' i to sponsor "a Soap Box Derby" for the boys of Dayton. Several weeks later, under Scott's direction, the first Derby was run off as a Dayton Daily New promotion." The event roused interest, not only in Dayton, but surrounding territory. It was a Peters, Council President Robert M.

Sanderson. W. S. Wilson. Fire leaders of Akron are cooperating with Chevrolet and the Beacon Journal to make this year's event the greatest in Derby history.

Last year's crowd of more than 100,000 persons should be exceeded this year because more cities than I definite theories on streamlining and air The air is all that holds the cars back They are stone Tire Rubber Paul Sheeks, Firestone Tire Rubber powered by gravity. James Justice, national youth, When the champions, behind administration district supervisor. ever will be represented. Champs On Deck weight, dimensions, workmanship and design, by the national technical committee. martial music and gaily uniformed and R.

H. Cheetham of the Ohio i course and to allay his natural nervousness on the eve of the big race. In the interests of both fairness marching units, move up the hill Bell Telephone Co. champion may compete for more than one year. In 1937 and since a different system has been used.

This year, for the third time, each boy made a trial run down the long Derby course yesterday afternoon to get the "feel" of the and recreation, and scrupulous care of their cars. Prior to 1936 the champions had no opportunity to become familiar with the Derby course prior to the actual race, for the rules stipulated, and still provide, that no city Local races throughout the sponsor city list were run off in June and July, preliminary to the finals. This year 114 drivers will represent 176 cities because in many sections, cities have doubled and saf ety, every entry will be rigidly inspected before this year's race as always, with respect to up and held district tournaments. This is necessary because the total number of entrants in the national is limited to 120 boys. There will be four entrants in the internation al race, one the IT.

S. champ, three from other countries. These champions have arrived in TODAY belonas Akron during the past week by rail, bus, air, and private automo "hit." The popularity of the first Derby convinced Scott of the feasibility of expanding it to a courv-try-wide scale with champions of local Derbies competing for the national title. Enlisted Newspapers Scott took his plan to Chevrolet officials who were interested at once. Together Scott and the motor officials went to work, early in 1934, enlisting the cooperation of newspapers throughout the United States in a countrywide Soap Box Derby.

There was a good response from the papers contacted. Some 34 papers undertook to sponsor races in their cities that first year and in August the national finals were held in Dayton. In that same year the Beacon Journal sponsored the first Akron district Derby which was held on Tallmadge hill. Huge crowds turned out for the event. At the national finals, a crowd estimated at 75,000 watched Robert Turner, of Muncie, flash across the finish line a champion of champions.

Came Here In 1935 In 1935, the Derby's second year, there were 52 participating cities. It was estimated that more than 50,000 boys built-and raced Derby cars throughout the country in the bile while their precious little speedsters have been shipped in bv rail in specially constructed crates. The Mayflower hotel has been YOUNG AMI1I reserved, almost from lobby to to roof, to' accommodate the Cham pions, their newspaper men es corts. their parents, the officials required to handle the giant race program, bands and delegations I from other cities and foreign lands. Their Time Scheduled Officials have scheduled the en tire time the champions will spend in Akron before and after the race in such a wav that they will be assured of regular, nourishing meals, ample rest, plenty of fun -v DERBY Today the spotlight falls on the eager, hopeful boys at Derby boys who are the future leaders of America.

Already they have proved their ability and their creative intelligence. Let us give them the credit they deserve, and every possible advantage to help them develop into sturdy manhood. The Nickles Baking Company is proud to share this responsibility to the Youth of Akron, by supplying thousands of families with nourishing Butter-Nut Bread. Irradiated with sunshine this rich creamy Bread has a flavor that children really enjoy. Try a loaf tomorrow.

All flnSRICRfl Akron's Finest' no Funni sesihg institution WISHES EVERY BOY The Best of Luck. r. a .1 r. i. I I i' 1 GUALIPIOIIS THE AIL YVr proud" of every one of you fine boys who are taking part in this great sportine event We're proud, too; that we are a part of this great city that has made the rational and International Races possible.

Our chests swell with civic pride when we think what these races mean to you and even more so when we realize what It means to America to have splendid young men like you growing up to be citixena of this great free country. -vT The Akron Furniture Company, as an institution that has always been closely allied with every civic movement for the betterment of this community, takes special pride in wishing each and every one of you "The Best of Luck" and may the best The boys wh'o'take pari in today's national and international races are proven champions. By tbeir courage, manliness, integrity and sportsmanship they have set an example for all of us to follow. We congratulate them all andf wish them the best of luck. i YOUR ADVERTISING Properly Laid Out and IlluttrmUd, Will Win Morm Cuitomert in thm Rare for Butlnet Richie A err trite iN A nigra vers DAK INC COMPANY From Our Oven FRESH to Your Door THIRD FLOOR BEACON JOURNAL BLDG..