Old Town chief wins 1958 derby

Editor’s note: This story ran in the June 23, 1958, edition of the Bangor Daily News.

BREWER – “I demand a recount,” shouted state Sen. Allan Woodcock Jr. of Bangor when beaten by Police Chief Robert Lee of Old Town in the special Tin Can Derby attraction.

The event pitted Woodcock, a two-time champion of the derby, against police chiefs from Old Town, Brewer, Bangor, Hampden, Fort Fairfield and Millinocket. The races were held as part of the annual Bangor Daily News-Chevrolet Soap Box Derby.

Woodcock finished second in the championship heat, more than three car lengths behind Chief Lee. Chief Willoughby of Brewer was a close third.

Derby officials and judges rejected Woodcock’s protest that the chiefs had an unfair weight advantage and also refused his demand for an inspection of the outsized Derby racers.

“He’s just sore because he was beaten by a better driver,” retorted Chief Lee. “Why, I could have strapped a pair of roller skates to a cracker box and beaten him in a fair race.”

Chief Lee won his right to compete in the finals in a close race against Chief John B. Toole of Bangor and Chief Leo Rafferty of Fort Fairfield.

Chief Willoughby entered the finals by defeating Chief Richard Johnson of Hampden and Chief Lloyd Rideout of Millinocket.

Chief Lee and the runners-up were presented with suitable trophies.

“Politics,” charged Woodcock when the judges rejected his protests. “There’s something crooked going on here. Everybody knows that I was the best driver in the race. Who ever heard of a policeman who could drive a car?”

Replied the winner, “He’s just sore because he met a better man. If he still thinks he’s so good next year, I’ll give him another chance to show what he’s got. Maybe I’ll even give him a head start.”

“I’ll be back next year, all right,” said the carrot-top senator. “But in the meantime, I think I’ll demand a Senate investigation of the whole thing.”