“Days to Remember” (1965) is a color, promotional film for Chevrolet that highlights the Soap Box Derby races sponsored by Chevrolet. The film features footage from Soap Box Derby events across the United States and culminates with the 28th All-American Soap Box Derby race at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio starring 252 soap box derby champions from 11-13 years old from the United States, West Germany, Okinawa, Venezuela, Canada, and Philippines.

Downtown Waterbury, Connecticut: manufacturing plant, Silas Bronson Library, Welton Horse Fountain (0:43). Young boys line up off of I-84 at Loehmann Chevrolet Dealership to register for derby (1:09). Insignia for Boys Clubs of America (2:06). Sign for Y.M.C.A. (2:09). Young boys in Phys Ed: relay races, basketball practice (2:13). Little League game (2:23). Community leaders of Waterbury, Waterbury Mayor (Joseph F. McNelis, Jr.), police officials, publisher of newspaper etc. (2:29). Close-up promo poster for Soap Box Derby (3:02). Father and sons work on building their soap box car in front of their home (3:16). Garage owner sits with young boy and goes over technical questions, call centers set up (3:19). Montage scenes derby inspectors answering questions on phone, in person (3:44). Close-up press announcement typed along typewriter (3:57). Boys pile into back of Anaconda American Brass Chevy Pick-Up alongside their soap box car (4:03). Magazine covers, newspaper announcements about derby: Republican Magazine etc. (4:16). Soap box cars displayed in shop windows around Waterbury (4:24). Crowds cheer, kids jump in excitement, Soap Box Derby racers ride in perhaps Chevy Impala SS Convertibles Soap Box Derby Parade route (4:37). Spectators at track on race day (5:06). Police chief, mayor open race by riding track in oil can cars (5:30). Crowd cheers as first of soap box cars drive along track (5:43). Sheboygan, Wisconsin Soap Box Derby Parade, scenes from race day: crowds cheering, boys line up for photo at end of race (6:18). Watertown, South Dakota race day: young winner of race emotional as he is embraced by mother at finish line (7:13). Derby racers pose in front of Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska (8:00). Scotts Bluff Soap Box Derby race day (8:10). Soap Box Derby in Sacramento, California – competitors from other cities meet on track and race (8:36). Footage from derby’s “final heat” in Waterbury, winner waves to crowd from perhaps Chevy Impala SS Convertible, given trophy (9:12). All-American Soap Box Derby race track Akron, Ohio (9:49). Derby Downs sign (9:55). Waterbury winner waves to crowd as he is driven down Main Street in Akron for All-American Soap Box Derby Parade, marching bands, other derby winners celebrated (9:58). Aerial view of Derby Town cabin lodgings, derby competitors get to know each other while sitting on grass, exchanging patches for helmets (10:43). Recreational activities at Derby Town: boys jump from dock into lake, horseback riding in forest, canoeing, petting zoo, tortoise racing (11:06). Derby champions given watch by general manager of derby, scene of all competitors sitting around camp fire (11:48). Topside at Derby Downs: racers inspect their vehicles, warm up for race, safety inspections (11:57). Trial run down the track (12:20). Akron Soap Box Derby Parade (12:43). Entertainment stars featured in parade: Emmett Kelly Jr., Glenn Ford, Frankie Avalon, Fess Parker (12:55). Derby champions, officials sit for lunch in covered tent (13:44). Race day parade, marching bands, bag pipers baton whirlers, dancers perform along race track (14:25). Celebrities stand at starting line for race-opener oil can derby, aerial view of oil can cars speeding along track (15:21). Crowd stands in anticipation, champions line up in cars at starting line (16:08). POV footage from derby car as it speeds down track (17:15). Final race: final three derby cars speed down track (18:21). Winner from Santa Ana, California waves from soap box car, accepts flowers and poses for press (18:51). Dimly lit banquet hall, champions gather with parents and officials for the banquet celebration, crowd cheers for race winner (19:12).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com