The Daily Alaska Empire

Justin Ripley of Sitka swept down the track yesterday afternoon to win first place in the Juneau Soap Box Derby by one length defeating Sandy Blanton, of Juneau, winner of Class "B." Justin, the first Sitka boy to win Juneau's Soap Box classic, will travel to Akron, Ohio, to compete in the National Soap Box Derby, next month. Justin, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Loyd Ripley, was sponsored by the Arts and Crafts Store of Sitka, owned by Claire Swenson. He was the only one of the five Sitka entries to place in the race.

Over 1,500 spectators lined both sides of Twelfth Street to see the boys go racing down the track. The derby is sponsored annually by the Daily Alaska Empire and the Juneau Rotary Club. Safety first is always stressed in the race and this year the Rotary Club constructed kickboards along the sides of the track to protect the spectators.

McClellan In Near Win

Lowell McClellan, of Douglas, came in for a near win in the Derby.

Running in Class "A," he vanquished three opponents from the field, only to crackup when he was slated to race Ripley for first place.

McClellan's car had faulty brakes and, after he jammed his brakes just past the finish line, he lost control of his car. In order to avoid hitting any of the spectators, he ran his car into a telephone pole. The plucky boy, suffered cuts on his legs and arms and his car was a total wreck.

The accident was reported immediately over the public address system and the car was rushed up to the repair pit at the starting post to determine if anything could be done.

The crowd waited breathlessly for the decision and when it was announced that McClellan wouldn't be able to enter the finals, everyone clapped and cheered for the plucky racer. McClellan was awarded second place and Ripley gained first place by default. McClellan was sponsored by the Cottage Food Store of Juneau.

Jay Osterman, younger brother of Dale Osterman who was winner in 1946, nosed out Jerry Wade to be winner of third place. Other winners in Class "A" were Mason Beach and Jerry Cropley.

Class "B" Races

Sandy Blanton flashed ahead of Keith Overton by two feet to win first place in the Class "B" race.

Blanton was driving the "Hot-Rod" and was sponsored by his father, Dr. W. P. Blanton. Overton placed second in the race and Jack Gould Jr., flashed ahead of Don Able Jr., to win third place.

Other race winners were Billy Gaines and Rickie Smith.

Class "C" Races

Jerry McNeven, sponsored by the War Surplus Store, crossed the finish line just one length ahead of Sam McPhetres, Jr., to become the champion of Class "C." Class "C," includes the younger boys, who are not eligible for the Akron trip. Racers in this class are allowed all the help they need in making their cars. In the other two classes, the cars must be made by the boys themselves.

Novelty Races

Just having fun, two former winners of the Derby and several Rotarians staged novelty races. In the "Atomic" race, Herb Hillerman crossed the finish line ahead of Jack Burford, only to have a bunch of firecrackers on his car blow up and give him a hot seat. Carson Lawrence sitting atop a bed flashed across the finish line in a blaze of glory and Bill Hixson in a rowboat ploughed across ten minutes later.

Prizes for the winners of each heat, for the best constructed and designed car, and for the top winners in each class will be presented at the Rotary lunch on Tuesday noon.

The loser of each heat was royally treated to a huge piece of watermelon, hot dogs and pop by the Rotary.

Indicative of the good sportsmanship that was displayed in the Derby was the fact that all the kids who had watermelon kept on smiling as they watched their opponents race again.