06/22/55
As usual the main event was preceded by the Derby Parade with Woodrwo Wilson Junior High School Band keeping the cadence.
Today was race day in Roanoke, and thousands of persons lined--------(start film)--------Salem Turnpike at 24th street for the annual Roanoke Soap Box Derby. (show film)
parade As usual the main event was preceded by the Derby Parade with Woodrwo Wilson Junior High School Band keeping the cadence.
queens And the queens of the derby Jenny Thompson, and and Barbara Updyke passed the reviewing stand in brand new convertibles.
drivers The drivers lined up before the stand to hear Mayor Woody open the ceremonies.
track Just prior to the big race, the new Oil Can Derby was run for the first time, with cars from three radio stations competing. Coleman "Leadfoot" Austin of WROV came in a winner by several lengths, with Irving Sharp of WDBJ coming in second. The WSLS entry, driven by Davy Crockett Hughes was a close third....well, pretty close. He said later, "I Wuz robbed".
oil can derby
race scenes When serious things got underway, 72 cars were primed for the 12th running of the annual event. Class B groups---aged 10 through 12---competed first, with Roger Simpson in car 16 coming in the victor, with the fastest time for the new track.....29.3 seconds. The 12-year old Simpson and his racer weighed 150 pounds.
misc The Class A competition---aged 13 through 15---was won by 14-year old Randy Saunders, whose weight totaled 243 pounds.
Derby Director John Kelley paid tribute to the fine driving of all the race contestants. There were no injuries, and no accidents. The crowd was the biggest bottleneck, with the loudspeaker pleading from time to time that the crowd stand back behind the edge of the track. The two winners were awarded bicycles for their efforts today. Sponsors for the event are the Times-World Corporation, Johnson-McReynolds Chevrolet Corporation, and the Roanoke Optimist Club.
Optimist Club members acted as officials for the event.
The final heat between Simpson and Saunders was the climax of the afternoon, as described on the scene by Joe Moffatt.
(SOUND UP FOR HEAT)
Winner At the end....as is tradition with all race winners....Young Simpson was flanked by the derby queens. He'll journey to Akron, Ohio for the National Soap Box derby in August to compete with winners from all over the nation. And Roanoke will be cheering him on in the big one, winner or loser.
