the least possible
- tance. The 8 months Curtis
“put into building his car
fe Jim.
June 29, 1977
Not exactly a soap box
"Curtis Palmer, age 10, of
23 W. Market St., Mariet-
ta, recently spent 8 months
reparing to roll down a
ill.
That’s not as silly as it
sounds: Curtis is going to
participate in the Soap Box
~ Derby at York on July
16th. Derby cars don’t have
engines, but are designed
"to roll down an incline with
resis-
were intended to minimize
© that resistance, thereby
‘winning him the Derby.
ee ‘Curtis is a natural
mechanic,” says his father
‘““‘He_ likes to grab
’
wrenches and do things.’
“Jim, who used to build and
‘race his own motorized
autos, advised Curtis on
a the assembly procedure
© and design, but Curtis did
all the actual work himself.
Starting with a kit from
the Derby organization
(consisting of axles, steer-
ing gear, and brake ca-
bles), Curtis carefully
framed out, fastened, and
sanded his pine boards and
plywood until they assumed
the correct aerodynamic
form. Extra attention to
detail is evident throughout
his vehicle. He even var-
nished the inside, as well
as applying three coats of
enamel, by hand, to the
outside.
Because of the many
strict rules which govern
the event, there are only a
few areas in which to
innovate. The mechanical
parts are identical on each
car, and the wheels, the
biggest influence on speed,
are assigned at random at
the track. Body materials
and overall dimensions are
fixed, so air resistance
becomes the biggest factor
in building
Curtis Palmer in his Soap Box Derby racer
‘‘The competition is fer-
ocious,’’ according to Jim.
Before a race, Curtis tapes
all the tiny slots in the
body where axles and
cables pass through it. He
even turns the screws so
that the slots are aligned
fore-and-aft, in hopes of
cutting air drag.
So far Curtis has won
five of the seven races he
has entered his car in. On
the 16th, at York, he will
again roll down a 1000 foot
track, reaching about 40
m.p.h. at the end. He told
us that he gets quite a
sensation of speed toward
the end of a run.
The car doesn’t have
ordinary brakes, but is
fitted with a drag shoe.
When Curtis pushes his
brake pedal, a wooden
block nestled into the
underbody is jammed onto
the pavement. It’s covered
with rubber, and stops the
220-pound car quickly.
220 pounds is the most
the car is allowed to weigh.
All Derby racers bolt scrap
metal into their cars to
reach this figure. Everyone
agrees that heavier cars go
faster, but where to put the
weights is disputed. Curtis
has all his weight over the
rear axle.
Jim and Curtis are look-
ing for a sponsor. A
sponsor pays certain fees
for the car and in return
gets his or her name
placed on the vehicle. Any
one who is interested
should drop in on Jim at 23
W. Market.
The value of all things, even our own
‘time and life, depends on the use we
make of them.
Advance planning eliminates doubt
and uncertainly it is a symbol of true
consideration for your family.
our help, your family is assured that
your personal wishes are met in every
respect.
Personalized Service Within The
Means Of Every Family.
With
Richard D. Smedley
FUNERAL HOME
29 NORTH GAY STREET, MARIETTA
426-3614
SUSQUEHANNA TIMES—Page 11
June 29—July 8
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