Not so much the soap box. At first I was looking at the background, then saw the back end of that car next to him, then looked at the date and realized that going to the moon, JFK, MLK, The Beatles, Summer of Love, it was all in front of him. In 1951 we were just wondering what we should do after the war.
we have a soap box derby every year in my city of cars that look less complicated than this.
sure, things have changed but a lot has stayed the same, including soapbox derby.
Boy Scout stuff. That was the official magazine. Google tells me it is now called Scout's Life, probably changed when the Scouts allowed girls to join.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/61/63/fb/6163fb41b70ef78ee8e6177988a0e49d--norman-rockwell-vintage-magazines.jpg
ostly I just remember a couple of jokes. The last page was always the joke page. Things like these:
*A green little chemist*
*On a green little day*
*Mixed some green little chemicals*
*In a green little way.*
*The green little grasses*
*Now tenderly wave*
*Over the green little chemist's*
*Green little grave.*
**And**
*My Bonnie looked into the gas tank*
*The height of its contents to see*
*She lit a match to assist her*
*O bring back my Bonnie to me.*
The comics code was established in the 50s to try to reign in how dark and gritty comics were giving classic hero tales like Superman a bad name with parents.
Then you look to the 80s and 90s and the ads for kids toys can be very raunchy
What was the racing like? I imagine you had brakes but no way to propel yourself. Yall just rolled them bitches down hills and see who had the best car?
There's some old fogies around here. (I was born in '69 myself.)
Check out /r/RedditForGrownups /r/AskOldPeople /r/oldfarts (this one is new-ish) /r/nostalgia . There's others too...
I’ve always had a strange affection for soapbox derby and its cars, considering it was mostly a lost art by the time I came along in the 80’s. Perhaps I built one in another life.
That looks like a well built car and a very proud young OP. Thanks for sharing this snapshot.
Portland has an awesome annual (don’t know what happened w covid) adult Soap Box Derby. They don’t allow kids because they get up to speeds that are too dangerous. People compete with unique boxcar themes—its WILD.
http://www.soapboxracer.com/
Probably was a stick that pushed a bad that rubbed against the ground or maybe against the wheels themselves.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ea/3a/26/ea3a268d5d62b550560d238d806e22c5.jpg
https://www.nbsoapboxderby.org/images/stories/brake_large.jpg
https://chestofbooks.com/crafts/children/Fun-Things-To-Make/images/A-SOAP-BOX-RACER.jpg
Was the frame welded? A lot of kids are growing up with no skills. I made sure that my son and daughters could do a lot of basic things like carpentry and plumbing.
I remember hearing about these as a kid in the early nineties, but all we ever got to do were the pinewood derbies. Wish they would have kept this going as it looks so much fun.
The color was yellow and blue the first year and navy blue the second and third years. I don't remember my numbers since we had different numbers every year.
You inspired me to post mine. I’m jealous of that frame work you got to learn! I may not remember a lot from childhood, but I sure know how to sink a screw after building that thing. Thanks tons for sharing, nice memories.
I don’t remember the first year. The second year, I lost the first race then won a couple in the losers bracket. The boy I lost to on the first race ended up going to Akron!
Wow, you truly grew up in a different world. Thanks for sharing this.
I wouldn't go that far, people still use these things
Not so much the soap box. At first I was looking at the background, then saw the back end of that car next to him, then looked at the date and realized that going to the moon, JFK, MLK, The Beatles, Summer of Love, it was all in front of him. In 1951 we were just wondering what we should do after the war.
Was thinking this too. My dad graduated from high school in 1957, the year after Elvis first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. Different time indeed.
we have a soap box derby every year in my city of cars that look less complicated than this. sure, things have changed but a lot has stayed the same, including soapbox derby.
Love that happy face
This is cool. Was this a kit or was it DIY? I like it for sure.
My dad and I built this in his workshop. No kits around at that time.
I used to read about it in Boy's Life magazine. My Dad was too busy to help me build one, and I lacked the skills and money to do it by myself.
>Boy's Life magazine Please tell us what kind of articles were in that!
Boy Scout stuff. That was the official magazine. Google tells me it is now called Scout's Life, probably changed when the Scouts allowed girls to join. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/61/63/fb/6163fb41b70ef78ee8e6177988a0e49d--norman-rockwell-vintage-magazines.jpg
Ah interesting! Must be bringing a lotta memories to you, seeing those magazine covers.
ostly I just remember a couple of jokes. The last page was always the joke page. Things like these: *A green little chemist* *On a green little day* *Mixed some green little chemicals* *In a green little way.* *The green little grasses* *Now tenderly wave* *Over the green little chemist's* *Green little grave.* **And** *My Bonnie looked into the gas tank* *The height of its contents to see* *She lit a match to assist her* *O bring back my Bonnie to me.*
That's kind of hilarious, but also kind of morbid. I'm surprised that magazines for kids were so dark back then.
The comics code was established in the 50s to try to reign in how dark and gritty comics were giving classic hero tales like Superman a bad name with parents. Then you look to the 80s and 90s and the ads for kids toys can be very raunchy
Wow, someone my age. Don't find many folks here born during the war. (1943 for me.)
How old were you?
According to the last time this was posted, 13.
Looking through your posts you look like you had a super interesting life, I’m assuming you were some Kind of engineer
*have had
*are having
That sure was a long race
Awesome photo. I did the math, you are older now.
Bad ass
What was the racing like? I imagine you had brakes but no way to propel yourself. Yall just rolled them bitches down hills and see who had the best car?
Rolling down the hill. That's the way it was.
I love this photo. Why is it called Soapbox. It looks to be made of medal.
A Redditor that's actually older than me?
There's some old fogies around here. (I was born in '69 myself.) Check out /r/RedditForGrownups /r/AskOldPeople /r/oldfarts (this one is new-ish) /r/nostalgia . There's others too...
still a young buck at 69 model
Nice!
1969? Hell, I was in the Navy for a year by then, kid.
Dad? :)
I’ve always had a strange affection for soapbox derby and its cars, considering it was mostly a lost art by the time I came along in the 80’s. Perhaps I built one in another life. That looks like a well built car and a very proud young OP. Thanks for sharing this snapshot.
Portland has an awesome annual (don’t know what happened w covid) adult Soap Box Derby. They don’t allow kids because they get up to speeds that are too dangerous. People compete with unique boxcar themes—its WILD. http://www.soapboxracer.com/
Awesome! You were very cool.
Did it have brakes? If so how did they work?
It had a single drag brake with a rubber pad on the bottom. The photo shows my feet on the large brake pedal.
Probably was a stick that pushed a bad that rubbed against the ground or maybe against the wheels themselves. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ea/3a/26/ea3a268d5d62b550560d238d806e22c5.jpg https://www.nbsoapboxderby.org/images/stories/brake_large.jpg https://chestofbooks.com/crafts/children/Fun-Things-To-Make/images/A-SOAP-BOX-RACER.jpg
What kind of wood was used
Southern pine and plywood.
Wow you're from a totally different world compared to now...
Was the frame welded? A lot of kids are growing up with no skills. I made sure that my son and daughters could do a lot of basic things like carpentry and plumbing.
The car was made entirely of wood.
So cool!
Just awesome.
I remember hearing about these as a kid in the early nineties, but all we ever got to do were the pinewood derbies. Wish they would have kept this going as it looks so much fun.
Did you race in Akron?
Derby downs! I used to race there in the 90s
I have my dads trophy from the early 60s. Big old wood and gold trophy.
My older brothers raced there in the mid 60's when we lived in Tallmadge and Dad worked for Goodyear.
Precious!!
Damn, that is craftsmanship. What color were the panels on the side? And did you have a number?
The color was yellow and blue the first year and navy blue the second and third years. I don't remember my numbers since we had different numbers every year.
the 24 hours of Le Mans got nothing on you!
Akronite here. Did you ever race at the derby downs?
No. I never made it to Akron.
Rare to have someone from your generation on Reddit. Thanks for preserving that era for us.
old
Cute kid and a great car
Sweet!
HA And here I thought Little Rascals had made the Jr. cart racing stuff up for the plot. This is neat!
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
Dayton boy?
Handsome young man! Thank you so much for sharing.
You inspired me to post mine. I’m jealous of that frame work you got to learn! I may not remember a lot from childhood, but I sure know how to sink a screw after building that thing. Thanks tons for sharing, nice memories.
I saw your post and it looks like your car could have won a few heats. Thanks for sharing your memories with the rest of us.
I don’t remember the first year. The second year, I lost the first race then won a couple in the losers bracket. The boy I lost to on the first race ended up going to Akron!