Soap Box Derby Charleston, WV Champion (1940)

Last crawled date: 4 years, 6 months ago

Don't let this modern design fool you. This impressive Soap Box Derby racer debuted in 1940, just six years into the official sport. Builder Robert Londeree piloted it to capture the Soap Box Derby City Championship in Charleston, WV that year, which qualified him for the All-American National Championship in Akron. There he took an impressive 2nd place in a field of 130 entrants. What sets this car apart - and why I built this model - was just how advanced the design was for the time, with particular attention to the ubiquitous windscreen that young Robert viewed through while tucking himself snugly behind the it. Wind screens of various designs were already appearing at races since 1934, but this is the most attractive fairing I've seen to date, more aircraft than automobile. The body was small and tight, a winning characteristic that is used exclusively today. The driver sat crouch-forward, as was the custom, with air dams along the cockpit apron protecting the shoulders and arms. Another unique feature was the design of the wheels, which deviated from Soap Box Derby issue, using something that was more familiar at Bonneville in the 1950s. Construction details on the car and its history are inconclusive, and only two photos were used in my research. Painted yellow, the car is equipped with matching 12' wheels, and is fitted with an early design drag brake and rudimentary steering, although since I have no photos of the interior and its inner workings, they are a guess. The livery shows the driver's sponsor, The Charleston Gazette. #AASBD #Akron #All_American #Bill_Wrigley #boîte_à_savon #caisse_à_savon #Charleston #gravity_racer #seifenkiste #Soap_Box_Derby #ソープボックス