Ralph Schnur, a 15-year-old freckle faced kid who until a week ago never built anything “worth while.” yesterday raced his way to the Central Florida Soap Box Derby championship over a field of 53 contestants over the rolling East Concord Avenue course.
His brilliant red Coca-Cola jalopy romped home first in five heats to capture the class A ranking, and he beat out Jimmie Porter of 1301 Delaney Drive from the class B ranks to win the Florida crown and a place in the International Derby at Akron, Ohio, next Saturday.
Schnur zoomed over the finish line at Mills Street over’ a length in front of Porter who took run- ner-up honors for the first annual event.
Calvin Collins, a ranking favorite from the start, placed second in class A with Prentice Chieves third. Second to Porter in class B was Richard Courtney, a strong pre-race’ favorite, and Paul Hay-ward was third.
Schnur’s car had given way in the construction awards to other racers, but in the races he had but one close call all afternoon, that against Collins for the right to meet Porter who had advanced to the finals earlier in the after-noon. The crowd that packed the course on all sides and overflowed to the campus of Hillcrest School was divided in its favorites. But after Schnur took his first four heats the streamlined crimson comet became almost an unanimous choice to triumph.
As Schnur whirred across ahead of Porter, the friends of the tousle- haired St. James 11th grader almost mobbed him with congratulations, and Porter joined in with his best wishes for Schnur at Akron. It will be the first time the 112-pound Schnur has been out of Florida and he’s a happy boy in-deed. He was born in Orlando and wants to be an athlete when he grows bigger.
CARRIED HORSESHOE
The superstitious champion carried a big horseshoe nailed to the rear of his racer, but the title was decided on speed and not good fortune. Many tended to feel the number one lane was the fastest, but before the final heat was run. Schnur had won in all three slots.
The derby wasn’t his first effort at building cars. “But every other time I built something it turned out to be just a box with four wheels,” and he patted the racer for carrying him thru. “It is the best thing that ever happened for me.”
Schnur is the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Schnur of 1050 37th Street, Orlando. He is from the Grand Avenue playground of which Frank Grundler is director. Commenting on the finals, which were decided on a two out of three basis, Grundler said “I was worried a little, but only over the possibility of a third race being necessary. Ralph is one of the finest boys on the playground and has been a patient worker on his cars.” The champion will leave about the middle of the week for Akron where sectional champions from all over the country, Canada and possibly other countries will compete for the four-year Carnegie Tech scholarship and other prizes worth thousands of dollars.
The Boys Work Committee of the Orlando Jaycees, headed by Roy Smith, distributed over 30 awards to the Central Florida contestants which included boys from Daytona, Umatilla and other neighboring cities.
Officials of the derby were unanimous in expressing their thanks to Smith and his aides after the races had been run off.
Edwin Boon took first place for the best constructed car in class A with Henry Chiusano, 711 West Columbia, second, and Vernon Jackson, 1371/2 East Par, third. In class B, William Dyer won place first, John Corkhill, 501 East
|
|
Miller, second, and Allen Hutchinson, 111 West Princeton, third.
Best looking class A car prize went to James Osborn, 210 Glen-wood, sponsored by Gibbs Service Station; Robert Schutt, 1509 Woodward, copped class B honors. Allen Hutchinson, 111 West Central, was second to Schutt and John Corkhill, riding in Corky, was third. Schnur and Robert McMillan, 1003 West Central, were runners-up for best looking car awards in class A. Corkhill took a third award for structural merit as he placed second for best constructed brakes. Jimmy Porter won top honors and Bobby Phillips, 1325 West Princeton, was third. For the best upholstered car, Schnur was number one and Robert Reehl, second.
BROWNING WINS AWARD
Ralph Browning, University of Florida track luminary who is directing the Princeton playground, was awarded the Holler Chevrolet Company radio for placing the most entries. Twenty boys from his park competed. Complete entries for the derby finals were:
CLASS A
James Seimer, 510 Virginia Drive; Kenneth McCall, Conway Road; J. D. Littlefield, 1700 East Harding; Douglass Ball, 817 West Central Avenue; Carl Farris, Cocoa, Box 1309; Lee Drury, 1513 Pinecrest; Jimmy Odum, 532 Columbia; James Osborn, 210 Glen wood; Bill Morgan, 17 East Mu riel; Joe Lewis, 1512 East Harding Avenue; Glenn Thomas, 530 Sunset Drive; Robert Brooks, 30 Gatlin Avenue; Robert McMillan, 1003 West Central Avenue; Robert Reehl, 216 East Miller; Lawrence Grice, Windermere, Fla.; Calvin Collins, East Lake Street, Umatilla, Fla.; Wayne Hook, 727 West Stetson; Tommy Hagood, 1206 East Kaley Avenue; Prentice Chieves, 1712 Delaney Street; Vernon Jackson, 1371/2 East Park Avenue; Harry Queen, 505 Greely; James Broome, Illiana Avenue; William Reehl, 216 East Miller Avenue; Ralph Stalmaker, 130 Palm Drive, Haines City; Edwin Boon, 1351 Westchester; Norman Hughes, R. R. No. 4; Ingram Willox, Crystal Lake Drive; : Jack Allen Jr., Trowell Avenue, Umatilla, Fla.; Shirley Davis, 910 West Princeton; Bob Siemer, 510 Virginia Drive; Ralph Schnur, 1050—37th Street; Henry Chiusano, 711 West Columbia; Lyman Bowman, Box 202, Pine Castle; Vinton Murphy, 1710 South Chestnut; John McDonald, 1120 Bellaire Avenue.
CLASS B
Buddy Parrish, 1801 Bumby; Joe
Richards, 2519 Harrison Street; Richard Noble, 1941 Adams Street;
John Corkhill, 501 East Miller
Street; Jimmy Milligan, 116 America Street;
Hillis Bandy, South Dixie Highway; Jimmy Porter, 1301 Delaney Street; Bob Phillips, 1325 West Princeton; Robert Shutt, 1509 Woodward Avenue; Richard Courtney, 3333 Pelham Road; William Dyer, 416 Sheridan; Gardner Sherman, Orange Wood; Allen Hutchinson, 111 West Princeton; Gilbert McCree, 1229 18th Street; Paul Howard, 1706 Michigan Avenue; James Fuller,
|