Valparaiso champ Jeff Bach scores a one-sided victory over El Paso, Texas, racer in opening round of 1973 All-American Derby in Akron, Ohio.
These images and accompanying story by Rollie Bernhart originally appeared on the front page of The Vidette-Messenger on August 20, 1973.
AKRON, Ohio - Valparaiso derby champ Jeff Bach knocked on the door of opportunity twice at the 36th running of the All-American Soap Box Derby and was denied chances to dip into the educational scholarship pot by inches.
The 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bach of North Meridian Road, won three heats to enter the “Sweet Sixteen" semifinals. But he was turned back by six inches by the Cleveland entry driven by 13-year-old Margaret Zoller, for a spot in the final eight which would have meant scholarships ranging from $3,500 to $7,500.
The Cleveland miss eventually wound up in sixth place and a $3,000 in scholarship awards.
In double elimination competition for ninth place and $1,000 in scholarship funds, Bach's grey racer broke on top, was in the lead to the 800-foot mark, then appeared to hang and lose to Columbus, Ga., which went on to beat his competition for the spot in the money. The margin wasn't more than two inches, if it could be measured at all.
On the way to his three victories, the Valparaiso 75-pounder, who will be an eighth-grader this year, defeated entries from El Paso, Texas, Salem, Ore., and Little Rock, Ark. Bach's best time was a 27.71-second effort against the distaff driver from Cleveland in the fourth round.
An indication of what was to come insofar as determination of a champ for the 1974 running of the gravity car grand prix down the 950-foot track at Akron's Derby Downs, came in the upper bracket of the
138-car event when Boulder, Colo., streaked the distance in 27.48 seconds, which not only turned out to be the fastest time of the day, but also turned out the national champion. James Gronen, 14, beat Bret Harborough, 11, Elk Grove, Calif., for the title, duplicating the championship won by the Boulder entry last year.
The 36th running of the derby also forewarned the boys that the girls - 17 were entering - weren't going to take back seats in this type of competition. In addition to the Cleveland miss taking sixth place, 11-year-old Diane Mills, Putnam County, N.Y., copped third place and turned back stiff male competition all through the day which was marred only by a 10-minute downpour just before the races got under way.
Other winners for the scholarship awards were: Ossining, N.Y., fourth; San Jose, Calif., fifth; Anderson, Ind., seventh, and Winston-Salem, N.C., eighth.
In the entertainment feature of the pre-race activities, Knickerbocker basketball star Jerry Lucas won Marathon Oil Company's Oil Can Trophy amble down the hill over Astronaut James Lovell and comedian Marty Allen. Allen complained that his mop of hair caught too much wind and kept him from winning.
For Valparaiso, it was the second time in two years that its city champ has won three heats and just missed getting into the championship round.. by a matter of inches. It was that close Saturday for Jeff Bach.
Jeff Bach shows helmet given to him as souvenir by champ from Venezuela who was his cabin mate at Derbytown. From left are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bach, sisters Debbie and Julie, and Derby Director Chuck Conover.