Memory Lane: June 29, 1972

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From the June 29, 1972 edition of The Wayne Herald:

Lessmann Family Finishes One, Two

Six inches is a mighty short distance, especially if you are in a race and beat your opponent by that amount.

That's all it took for Terry Lessmann to win the right to represent northeast Nebraska at the 35th All American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio on August 16.

Terry, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Lessmann, Route 2, streaked down the 1,000-foot course at Norfolk Sunday in his shark-nosed
racer, sponsored by the Wayne Herald and West Gate Pharmacy of Norfolk.

As a result, he won a $500 Savings Bond and all-expense-paid trip for him and his family to Akron.

But if you ask Terry, he'll tell you that the race was a lot closer than six inches. In fact, you might say the victory was all in the family.

Terry was competing against his younger sister, Lori, during the day and ended up running against her again in the finals.

Both faced off in the deciding race to see who would continue on in the winners' bracket. Terry took that race, but again, only by inches.

Second place was still okay for Lori. "At least next year I won't have to race him. Then I know he will be cheering for me- that's
more than he did this year," Lori said.