Soap Box Derbies

Linwood Johnson Wins Roanoke, Va., Soap Box Derby

6/23/1954

Roanoke, Va., boys compete in the annual soap box derby sponsored by the Roanoke Optimist Club. Competitors march along the street and run down ramps into the race area. One boy affixes a rabbit's foot to his soap box car. Spectators watch as the cars roll down the raceway. Optimist Club members congratulate derby champion Linwood Johnson, and a derby official presents him with a plaque.

Star City Soap Box Derby in Walrond Park in Roanoke County, Va.

6/29/1968

The Star City Soap Box Derby is held at Walrond Park in Roanoke County, Va. Two soap box racers race down a hill, speeding toward the finish line, where crowds of people await anxiously. Rodney Waldron wins the derby and is crowned champion with a large wreath of red, blue, and white flowers. Waldron will continue to compete at the All-American Soap Box Derby national competition held in Akron, Oh.

Anchor Script

Anchor script text: 6/29/68 BW (ROD WALDRON WINS DERBY) LIVE THE ANNUAL...ROANOKE, SOAP-BOX DERBY...WAS WON, TODAY---BY, ROD WALDRON, OF BEDFORD. (X) COLOR-FILM SIL. DERBY THE COMPETITION---HELD AT, THE ROANOKE-DRAG-STRIP---IS OPEN...TO ALL BOYS---FROM THE AGES...OF, 11-THROUGH-15. THE TOTAL-COST...OF EACH-RACER...CANNOT EXCEED...30-DOLLARS---PLUS, 15-DOLLARS...FOR WHEELS. EACH-BOY---WHO ENTERS...THE LOCAL-DERBY---RECEIVES, A TROPHY.....AND, ALL, HEAT-WINNERS...RECEIVE, PRIZES. WALDRON---FOR HIS EFFORTS, TODAY---WON A, 500-DOLLAR SAVINGS-BOND...A SPECIAL-TROPHY---AND, AN...ALL-EXPENSE-PAID, 4-DAY PLANE-TRIP...TO AKRON-OHIO---FOR THE, ALL-AMERICAN FINALS...ON AUGUST-24th. THE WINNER, OF THAT...COMPETITION---RECEIVES, A 4-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP---TO ANY, COLLEGE...OR UNIVERSITY...IN THE COUNTRY. WALDRON, WAS THE "CLASS-B" CHAMPION---IN THE 11-AND-12 YEAR-OLD COMPETITION......AND, IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP-FINALS---HE BEAT, THE "CLASS-A" WINNER---MIKE BAYS. (X) LIVE