This color film, produced by General Motors’ Photographic Division for Chevrolet, showcases the 1952 All-American Soapbox Derby held in Akron, Ohio. Beginning in and around Saratoga Springs, New York, we meet the community leaders who promote the local Derby and a few of the participants. The action then moves to Akron, where the whole town has Derby Fever! The heats commence at Derby Downs and 11-year-old Joe Lunn of Columbus, Georgia, crashes his car and looks to be out of the running. But after a quick repair, Lunn goes on to win the championship. He and all the other racers are then feted at a banquet attended by politicians, businessmen, and movie stars.

The All-American Soap Box Derby is a youth soapbox car racing program which that has existed in the United States since 1933. During the Derby’s heyday in the 1950’s and 1960’s, as many as 70,000 people gathered to cheer hundreds of youthful racer/builders. Soapbox cars competing in this event are unpowered, relying completely upon gravity to move.

06:06 TITLE CARD over parade in Saratoga Springs; marching bands, spectators 00:32 starting line sign: “Saratoga County Soap Box Derby” 00:35 Spectators, participants at Derby 00:56 Racers at starting line 01:17 County Judge Richard J. Sherman 01:33 The Saratogian newspaper, Frank MacHugh 01:04 Derby organizers visit Knights of Columbus 246, Veterans Memorial Home, Masonic Temple, Elk’s Club, Congregation Gates of Heaven, Greenfield Grange 807 03:24 New Worden Hotel, sign: “Headquarters Saratoga County Soap Box Derby” 03:38 Committee meeting 03:58 MacHugh reviews clippings 04:22 Derby awards in downtown store window; Williams Chevrolet 04:52 Boys attend soapbox car clinic 05:22 Boys construct their cars 05:40 Finished car loaded onto pickup truck 06:04 Cars are transported to derby; Mechanicville, Corinth signs 06:38 Racers and their cars in line 07:29 Parade in Salem, Oregon 07:36 Cars are launched down racetrack 07:52 Soapbox Derby in San Diego 08:07 1952 Soapbox Federal Championship (Seifenkiste Bundesmeisterschaft), Duisburg, West Germany; winner is crowned with wreath 08:44 Saratoga Springs Derby; cars inspected 08:55 Judge Sherman launches first heat; cars travel down Union Avenue, heats continue, cars cross finish line 09:33 Qualifiers Thomas Whalen, Carl Smith Jr. mount their cars for final heat; Smith wins 10:05 Post-race banquet; flags and banners of local civic/religious organizations, prizes awarded 10:40 Akron downtown, banner: “15th All-American Soap Box Derby, August 10th”, signs on bus, store windows, around town 10:57 Mayflower Hotel 11:04 Local Derby winner deplanes at Akron airport, rides with motorcycle escort to Mayflower Hotel; Eastern Airlines Douglas DC-3, Chevrolet Deluxe convertible 11:51 Mayflower Hotel lobby with banner, large replica trophy 12:01 Mother presented with orchid 12:14 Local YMCA camp where Derby participants stay 12:26 Boys swim, boat, cook barbecue on a spit 13:11 Boys presented with wristwatches 13:30 Scientific demonstrations 14:17 Test Run Day; racers polish, inspect cars 14:40 Weigh in, test run on the track 14:58 Race Day: spectators enter Derby Downs 15:24 Pre-race parade; USMC Color Guard, U.S. Navy Band, racers carrying hometown flags 17:00 National Anthem 17:35 James Stewart, Edgar Bergen, Joe E. Brown “Oil Can Derby” 18:32 Racers and cars moved into place at starting line, heats begin 19:22 Finish line bridge interior 20:21 Crowd looks concerned; Joe Lunn’s damaged car carried to pit area 20:21 Heats continue 20:54 Smith from Saratoga Springs 21:00 Joe Lunn with patched up car, racing, winning 21:35 Final heat, Lunn wins 22:27 Lunn and car carried to awards platform 22:51 Lunn presented with flowers, championship trophy 23:27 Banquet of Champions speakers, prizes presented 24:39 Joe Lunn lifted onto speakers platform, presented with trophy and certificate 25:22 THE END

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