How To Build A Soapbox Racer, Blueprints, Construction Details, Helps And Hints

BALLARD, BOBBY ["THE INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION"]

Publication: Whitman Publishing Company, 1938, Racine, Wisconsin

First edition. 8vo. Original pictorial color, stiff wrappers, 46 [2] pp., illustrated, blueprints. As a 12-year-old, Bobby Ballard, featured in many of the illustrations, became the international champion in the Soap Box Derby in 1937. "The skills Bob learned from the Soap Box Derby led to a decades-long professional career in engineering. His studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts, were interrupted in 1944 by World War II. He served in the United States Navy as an electronics and communications specialist until his discharge in 1946. Ballard then returned to Worcester where he earned degrees in both electrical and mechanical engineering. "After joining General Motors’ styling department, he earned his first patent for a “rain switch” that activated automatically to raise the top of a parked convertible. He also was awarded a patent in 1951 for the first electrically heated seats in vehicles. At GM’s Harrison Radiator Division, Ballard earned patents for early use of robotics on assembly lines. "He received engineering-related patents while employed by such companies as Whirlpool, Black & Decker and Ingersoll Rand. He later became a consultant. Bob spent his last 40 years as a resident of St. Louis" (from Ballad's obituary as it appears at soapboxderby.org). Text uniformly toned with minor wear to the spine ends and cover extremities, else a very good copy.

Inventory Number: 49312