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Like the average American boy of 15, Ralph Schnur hasn’t rid’ den many trains.
“Only once before . . . and that was to Lakeland,” the freckle- I faced
Florida Soap Box Derby champion beams.
But today, Ralph starts a 2.500-mile round trip jaunt to Akron, Ohio,
for the International Soap Box Derby to be raced Sunday with a field of
over 150 sectional champions.
Yes sir, he’s going by train. The streamliner
‘Always did want to ride it, and dad’s going with me. We’re going to
stop in Washington.” [It is Ralph’s first trip out of the State and he’s
jubilant over the Derby]. “Excited! Am I excited? I should say, but
Mother is almost as thrilled as I am.”
Dad and Mother are Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Schnur of 1050 37th Street, and
Mr. Schnur is including his trip to the Derby classic with business in
Ohio…
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“It still doesn’t seem
possible,” the St. James eleventh grade student happily emotes.
“Everybody asks me questions and that’s about all I’ve done—answer
them—since I won here last Saturday.”
Ralph beat out a field of 53 con-tenders for the Central Florida title,
sponsored by the Orlando Daily Newspapers, Holler Chevrolet Company” and
the American Legion, to earn his right in the Akron finals.
“But how will you feel with your dad looking on?” the interview
continued.
“Oh that’ll be swell. I’ll have to make a good showing for him.”
And what would young Mr. Schnur mean by a good showing? Well, the winner
gets a four-year scholarship to Carnegie Tech and there must be a
winner. And that is the cherished hope Ralph secrets unto himself as he
and his Dad leave today for Akron.
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