Historic Derby Car Unveiling

Join the WCHS on Saturday, March 1, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM, for an unveiling of a recently restored 1939 soap box derby car!

The derby car, an artifact in the WCHS Collection, was originally built in 1939 by Hagerstown resident, Lewis Spessard. Spessard raced the derby car in the Hagerstown Soap Box Derby, sponsored by the Herald Mail and Elks Lodge, later racing the derby car in Akron, Ohio, for the All-American Soap Box Derby in August 1939.

The unveiling will feature speaker Ed Mentzer, who restored the derby car in 2024, as he shares his restoration process and the history of the derby car. Light refreshments will be served, and doors open at 12:30 PM.

This restoration was generously sponsored and made possible by Jerry Spessard, relative of Lewis Spessard. All ticket proceeds directly support the WCHS collection.

"Spessard Winning Soap Box Derby Crown," from The Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD, July 27, 1939, showing Lewis Spessard passing the finish line in his soap box derby car, which has been restored and will be unveiled at this special event.

Host or Publisher Washington County Historical Society