The Paducah Sun from Paducah, Kentucky • 23

Features JMne 3, 1962 Section Pages 1,00 To Derby Week Paducah Derby Is Trip Is Waiting Winner s. Xaaa. I July 22 metal and aluminum are prohibited as body covering for racers. These regulations are for the protection of the boys, and, again, to assure that all have an equal chance. -V fir i Major Rules Same yit i the 6ame a in previous years Official wheel and axle sets, -4 available from Chevrolet, must i be used.

Cost of the wheel and xjt axle sets as well as cost of semblies" and paint is not included in the $20 limit which a youngster may spend on materials for his racer, Fred Burch Jr. By WELDON GRLMSLEY Sun-Democrat Staff Writer MORE than 30 boys are expected to race here July 22 for a chance at fame and-adventure at Akron, Ohio, In the second annual Paducah Soap Box Derby. The winner here will go to Akron for the big race which will determine the international Soap Box Derby winner. It is anticipated that the grandstands, bleachers and standing room 'along, the Akron-track will be packed for the Silver Anniversary All-Ameri-. can race, meaning that 75,000 or more spectators will 'be hand to' see the Paducah' win-' nen pit his racing skill against" other boys his age from all over the nation and' free world.

The Paducah race, sponsored jointly by the Optimist Club and Paducah Junior Chamber of Commerce, was re-newed last year and was a success. This year participation is expected to increase. Prizes will be awarded local winners, with, of course, the top prize' being the trip- to Akron. During derby week he will be entertained on a scale befitting his championship status. He will stay at Derbytown, a 205-acre boys' camp in the hills and woods near Akron.

A round of sports, tryout of the famous P.T.109... a- JL mm te. The weight limit for boy and car is 250 pounds. If weight is to be added to, bring the total up to the 250-pound total, the additional amount must be of woodpnly and built solidly' into the body or chas- SiS. Man Former Paducah v.

DERBY GETS UNDERWAY Huge crowds annually pack Derby Downs in Akron for running of the All-American soap box derby. A parade precedes the actual races. Writes Hit Song 1 WW this banquet. Five special awards, in addition to $30,000 in college scholar :1 1 Locally, representatives of the sponsoring are meeting regularly with race drivers to assist and advise in the build- ships and trophies to the 7 "i ing of racers. top nine place winners, will 1 be presented at the ban- 9 Awards will go to boys whose cars are the best designed, best upholstered, best constructed, have the best brakes and run the fastest.

$500 Given Here 'r The champion at Akron will Last year Tommy Quimby represented Paducah at the "Big Race." Thesoap box derby is offering good opportunities for youngsters in this area, and now is reaching a critical point if it is to continue successful. Need Entries More entries are needed this year to build the derby over its success of a year ago. The important thing, however, is that it must grow even more next year for that year, the third year, there must be at least 50 entries under derby ruels if the program is to be continued. If that many entries, or about receive a $7,500 scholarship, (' with a $5,000 scholarship for the second place winner; $4,000, third; $3,500, fourth; $3,000, fifth; $2,500, sixth; $2,000, seventh; $1,500, eighth, and $1,000, ninth. The local champion will receive a championship trophy in addition to a $500 bond and the Akron trophy.

Safety and fair play, essential 1 Derby Downs Tracing slope, planned recreation, good food and a chance for last minute adjustments on his racer will be arranged. Upon arrival in Akron, he will whisk down main street with a police escort to an official welcome, the cheers of the crowd and a band serenade. Week Planned -f After registering at derby headquarters, he wilK be taken to Derbytown to meet fellow champs. Highlight of the big weekend is the race itself. For the Paducah champ, the important moment will come when he makes his first bid for victory.

The derby festivities will be climaxed at the "Banquet of Champions" when all the, participating boys and guests who attend are honored at a dinner attended by civic leaders, race officials, industrial and business executives, parents, friends, press representatives and Chevrolet officials, Derby sponsors. All prizes and trophies are awarded champions at that many, can be secured this i year it would be a big boost for derby supporters. official rules. CELEBRITIES TAKE PART Celebrities such as, from Boys 11 through 15 years old the left, Martin Miiner, George Maharis, Eddy. Arnold ro a over West Kentucky and Peter Brown, take part in the annual Akron Derby my Week program.

They also race in the Oil-Can Derby. for the July 22 race. Trial races must build the car and all parts shafts must be reasonably level, will be held a week earlier, for it. with no drilling or gouging to Steering assemblies require meet required measurements. Boys interested in enter- special attention.

No hinged or Official rules specify eye- ing competition have been collapsible steering wheels are bolts of at least 316 inch di- both the Jaycees allowed, and telescoping steer- ameter wire, pulleys or metal 3 The derby regulations are designed to protect the boys and give each an equal start in competition. The rule requiring each car be built by the boy who drives it is re-emphasized. Each youngster and his parent will be asked to sign a certificate to that effect prior to the final local inspection. command. The PT 109 was gone but Kennedy lived to fight again." The chorus reads "Smoke and fire upon the sea, everywhere they looked was the enemy.

The heathen gods of old Japan thought they had the best of a mighty good man. Smoke and fire apon the sea, every where they looked was the enemy. But J. F.K. and his crew lived on, which proves its hard to get the best of a man named John." Jimmy Dean, who scored tremendous hits with his recordings of "Big Bad John," followed by "Dear Ivan," a friendly sort of monologue addressed to the Russian common man," has recorded "PT 109." The song was recorded one rainy, cold night last December, but there was a long wait while Columbia Records gingerly felt out the President's reaction to the song.

President Hears Song Finally, in February, Columbia President Goddard Lieberson attended a gathering at the White House and played the record for President and Mrs. Kennedy. There has never been any direct statement of what the Kennedy's reaction was. but the record was released in March, so apparently it was favorable. "We couldn't quote him on his reaction," a Columbia official said, "because we couldn't put the President of the United States in the position of promoting the sale of a record." There was indication, however, that Mrs.

Kennedy was highly pleased. But if the White House reaction is not known for sure, there is no doubt about that of the American record listener. The story of the song goes, back to last November when a group of music people, including Burch, were being entertained by a friend who was telling the story of Kennedy's war experience. It now is an old story that was told that night, but the teller wasT)ringing new excitement to this telling. His company sat spellbound.

Finally one man suggested "This would make a good song, a good ballad." As Burch recalled it, he thought "Well, why not? I'll just go along with it. Why be difficult?" So the song was born. "Marijohn Wilkin and I already had a melody which we were trying to find the words for," Burch said. "This seemed just the thing for i They got together later and finished out the words of their tune. Marijohn and Fred have worked together on many songs, and he has worked with others, including Jerry, Crutchfield of West Kentucky.

Newsweek magazine has described 'PT 109" as a "folksy tune," a chorus that can be twisted to, some lines of solemn recitation and a sockeroo finish." A FORMER Paducah man is the author of a song which now is catching on with disc jockeys and record buyers across the country, a song which gives a poetic account of President John F. Kennedy's narrow war time escape from death. The lyrics of "PT 109" were written by Fred Burch son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Burch of Paducah and a graduate of Tilghman High School, now an up-and-coming song writer from Nashville, Tenn.

Music for the song, written somewhat in the pattern of "The Battle of New Orleans," was composed by Marijohn Wilkin, also of Nashville. This is one of the latest in a growing chain of successes for Burch. Other songs for which he has furnished the lyrics include "Big, Big World," recorded by Johnny Burnctte; "Tragedy," recorded by Brenda Lee and the Fleetwoods; "In His Eyes," recorded by Dee Don; "Ramblin' Rose" and "Hideaway Heart," recorded by Webb Pierce, and "Goodbye Mary Ann," "The Outsider." "I Kinda Think He Docs," "My Ace in the Hole," "The Yankee Trader," and "Blue Roller Rink." Over a million copies of "Tragedy" have been sold, and many of the other songs have at one time or the other been high on hit parade charts around the nation. At the age of 30, Burch has had a background of studies at Universities of Kentucky, Wisconsin. Mexico and Hawaii, work as a photographer for the U.

S. Navy and now as song writer for the Cedarwood Publishing Co. Recorded By Jimmy Dean A student of journalism, Burch has shown much imagination in his songs. This is shown in PT 109. a -i "In forty three they put to sea, thirteen men and Kennedy, aboard the PT109 to fight the brazen enemy.

And off the isle of Olasana in the strait beyond Naru, a Jap destroyer in the night cut the 109 in two. "And on the coast of Kolombanga looking through his telescope, Australian Evans saw the battle, for the crew had little hope. Two were dead and some were Wounded, all were clinging to the bow, fighting fire and fighting water, trying to save themselves somehow. "McMahon. the Irishman, was burned so badly he couldn't swim.

"Leave me here, go on," he "if you don't well all be dead." The P.T. skipper 'wouldn't leave a man to die alone at sea, and with a strap between his teeth he towed the Irishman through the sea. wHe led his men through waters dark, rocky' reefs and hungry sharks, he braved the enemy's bayonets, a thirty eight hung 'round his neck. Four more days and four more nights a rescue boat pulled into PT 109 was gone but Kennedy and his crew lived on. "Now who would guess, who could possibly know, that same man named Kennedy would be the leader of the nation, be the one to take Advice and suggestions may ing shafts are prohibited.

Floor- tubing for guiding steering ca- vmu iu uu be given the, boy, but he alone boards under the steering bles and brake cables. Sheet as soon as is possible. 7 -tt ft i v'-iiii END OF THE DERBY Climaxing Derby Week in Akron is the annual awards banquet where a total of $30,000 in college scholarships and other awards are presented top race drivers in the derby. All drivers attend the banquet." TOMMY QUIMBY etihbn Wivjids vAnd 'Calm Combine For Exciting MegM WIND is an important factor to operating a sailing boat, but sometimes you can get too much of a good thing, especially, if a lot of boats are involved. This was the picture last weekend when heavy winds battered sailboats, turning many over in Kentucky during the annual Governor's Cub Regatta of Kenlake Harbor.

In all 15. boats were flipped in heavy water during the wind whipped race. Of the 15 boats which turned over, nine were righted and finished the race. Accompanying this account are two pictures of boats battling the wind. One view shows crewmen wrestling with their ship to keep it upright in the water, and the other shows a general view of the wind blown event.

1 Oddly, the smallest boats the Penquins and Rhodes Bantams were the only ones which did not turn over In the heavy winds. Bud Nelson of Toledo, Ohio, sailed his lightning through winds as high as 40 miles an hour to win the ninth annual running of the, Regatta. -There Were 6 contestants in all. the race, motor powered boats sped. from one overturned boat to another to offer aid.

Some racers accepted help while Others battled to right their crafts' and continue the race. It all made for a race which tcill long be remem- bered by sailboat 'racing fans'. They'll remember the calm of the. day before the winds when' vessels sailed across blue waters in a picturesque spectacle, and of danger and eicitement in the winds in some cases in the water. A Sharp Turn jCaughf In Wind.