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Transportation
Transportation
Among the museum’s collection are some great examples of early transportation. On display are wagons, carriages, sleighs, and early automobiles. There is also an antique fire truck and even a barnstorming bi-plane. These items have been very popular with museum visitors and are always fun to see.
Soap Box Derby
This soap box car participated in the 35th national championship in 1972, and was built and piloted by Clint Buckley of Winchester. He won the the Jaycee Soap Box Derby in Jacksonville to qualify for the race. His sister, Anita Buckley, was the first girl to race in the Jacksonville event in 1974.
Today, Soap Box races are held all over the world and the Soap Box Derby Championship welcomes almost 500 contestants. Soap box car racing was a popular pastime for American youth. The cars were usually made from scrap materials such as crates and baby buggy wheels, and only needed a steep hill and a skilled driver to race. In 1933, a photographer from the Dayton Daily News in Ohio organized a formal soap box race. 362 racers competed in a competition that attracted over 40,000 spectators. After the success of this event, newspapers all over the country began sponsoring soap box derbies. The first All-American Soap Box Derby was held in Dayton in 1934, with 34 cities sending their local champions to the event. In 1936, the Works Progress Administration, a depression-era work program, converted a ski-run in Akron, Ohio into Derby Downs, the permanent home for the All-American Soap Box Derby.
Model T Ford Pickup
Wooden bodies were often fitted to Model “T” chassis to accommodate a variety of commercial uses. This lovely pick up truck features a roof over the bed for added protection. Many owners chose to upgrade their “Tin Lizzie” with various aftermarket mechanical devices. This example sports folding jump seats in the rear bed, supplemental coil springs at the front axle, a distributer for a better spark, and a water pump for more effective cooling. The cab can be closed off from the elements by a collection of five side curtains that snap into place.