Original subtitles

♪

- DEAR BOBBY, YOUR AUNT GAYLE AND I

WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR BUS WHEN IT ARRIVES NEXT WEEK.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN TOUGH SINCE THE ACCIDENT,

BUT YOUR FOLKS WOULD HAVE WANTED YOU

TO COME LIVE WITH US.

EVEN THOUGH YOUR FATHER AND I

DIDN'T SEE EACH OTHER FOR MANY YEARS,

YOUR AUNT AND I ARE LOOKING FORWARD

TO YOUR BEING HERE.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE TRIP.

SINCERELY, UNCLE JEFF.

[birds chirping]

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

- IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT OF OPENNESS.

- GAYLE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF

A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY.

- HIS PARENTS DIED.

- HE NEEDS HIS PARENTS.

- I MEAN, I KNOW YOU AND YOUR BROTHER

DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE,

BUT BOBBY'S OUR NEPHEW, AND NONE OF THIS IS HIS FAULT.

IT'S UP TO US TO HELP HIM UNDERSTAND THAT.

WHATEVER HAPPENS, WE'LL GET THROUGH IT.

- ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

HERE HE IS.

- THANKS A LOT.

- THERE HE IS.

- BOBBY?

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

- IT WAS... GOOD.

- OK, GOOD.

- HEY. HI... BOBBY.

- HI.

- WELL, WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET GOING.

WE HAVE A LONG DRIVE.

- ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

- DO YOU WANT ME TO CARRY THAT BAG?

- NO, I'M FINE.

- SO, I'M GAYLE.

YOU KNOW, THEY TOLD YOU.

AND THAT'S YOUR UNCLE JEFF, AND--

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU.

♪

YOU'LL LIKE EAGLE ROCK, BOBBY.

IT'S A GREAT TOWN.

- THAT'S MY HARDWARE STORE.

YOUR GRANDFATHER BUILT THAT BACK IN 1925.

I WAS THINKING MAYBE YOU COULD HELP ME OUT THERE.

I HEAR HE'S RUNNING A JUNKYARD OUT OF HIS HOUSE NOW.

- WHO IS THAT? - JIM KLECAN.

IT'D BE A GOOD IDEA IF YOU STAYED AWAY FROM HIM.

- [yelling]

- WHY?

- YOU JUST HAVE TO TRUST ME.

IT'S-- IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.

AND THERE'S TOMMY AND HIS DAD.

- WELL, THIS IS HOME.

YOU HUNGRY?

I COULD MAKE YOU A GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH.

- NO, THANKS.

- THIS IS YOUR AUNT'S SEWING ROOM, BUT, UH,

SHE DECORATED IT FOR YOU.

WELL, DINNER'S AT 6:00, AND WE'RE HAVING MEATLOAF.

NOT EXACTLY YOUR AUNT'S FINEST HOUR IN THE KITCHEN.

ACTUALLY, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR US, IT MIGHT BE

YOUR AUNT'S FINEST HOUR IN THE KITCHEN, SO...

JUST... PRETEND LIKE IT TASTES GOOD, OK?

- OK.

- BOBBY, I--

I'LL SEE YOU DOWNSTAIRS.

[sighing]

[dog barking]

- DO YOU LIKE IT?

- IT'S VERY GOOD.

- SO, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HELPING ME

AROUND THE STORE AFTER SCHOOL?

- ACTUALLY, MY DAD SAYS THE HARDWARE STORE

KILLS THE IMAGINATION.

- I SEE.

WELL, DID YOUR DAD ALSO TELL YOU

THAT THE HARDWARE STORE PAID FOR HIS IMAGINATION?

- JEFF!

- [sighing]

- RELIEF EFFORTS CONTINUE IN GUATEMALA AND HONDURAS

IN THE WAKE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

THAT STRUCK THE REGION ON FEBRUARY 4TH.

- I'M SORRY, UNCLE JEFF.

- RED CROSS WORKERS HAVE SET UP...

- I DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT YOUR FEELINGS.

- I KNOW THAT, BOBBY.

- AND I'LL HELP YOU OUT IN THE SHOP...

IF YOU STILL WANT ME TO.

- THE U.N. IS SET TO ENACT A MULTINATIONAL PLAN...

- THAT'D BE GREAT.

WHY DON'T YOU COME BY AFTER SCHOOL TOMORROW, AND I'LL, UH--

I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO.

- ALL RIGHT.

[stutters]

THANKS FOR TAKING ME IN.

- YOU'RE WELCOME, BOBBY.

- ...DESPITE RECENT SECURITY MEASURES...

- LISTEN, UH...

CHARLIE'S ANGELS IS ABOUT TO START.

WHY DON'T YOU, UH... WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT, HUH?

[newscaster continues report]

[kids talking] - SO, DID YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK?

- YOU'LL WANT TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

YOU CAN TELL THE OTHER KIDS WHERE YOU WENT TO SCHOOL

AND WHERE YOU GREW UP.

AND IF YOU NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM,

JUST RAISE YOUR HAND AND ASK YOUR TEACHER POLITELY.

- AUNT GAYLE, UM-- I SHOULD GO IN BY MYSELF.

- YOUR FIRST DAY CAN BE KIND OF SCARY.

- I'M OK.

- ARE YOU SURE?

- YES. ARE YOU OK?

- I THINK SO. [laughing]

- WELL, I'LL SEE YOU AFTER SCHOOL.

- OK.

[kids talking]

- GOOD MORNING.

I'D LIKE EVERYBODY TO WELCOME BOBBY GRAHAM.

HE JUST MOVED HERE FROM SAN DIEGO.

- HELLO. - HEY, MAN.

- HELLO, BOBBY. - HI, BOBBY.

[kids laughing]

- NO MORE SPIT BALLS, TOMMY.

OK, CLASS, I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO TAKE OUT A PIECE OF PAPER.

all: [groaning]

- NOW, I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU ADMIRE

THAT HAS AFFECTED YOUR LIFE IN SOME WAY.

- WELL, YOU'RE MY HERO, MS. NELSON.

DOESN'T THAT COUNT?

all: [laughing]

- WELL, THAT'S VERY NICE OF YOU TO SAY, TOMMY.

AND, LUCKY FOR YOU, YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY

TO WRITE ALL ABOUT ME.

NOW, I WANT ALL OF YOU TO WRITE AN IN-CLASS ESSAY

ABOUT SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

ON YOUR LIFE.

- THERE'S NO WAY LOUIS WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH YOU

SINCE YOU CHANGED THE FRONT.

HE DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE.

all: [laughing]

- WHAT? ARE YOU GONNA CRY?

OH, LOOK, WITTLE BABY'S GONNA CRY.

all: WHOA! - YOU OK?

- TOMMY, ARE YOU OK? - YEAH, I'M FINE.

HE PUNCHES LIKE A GIRL.

- BOTH OF YOU, IN MY OFFICE, NOW.

- YOU'RE DEAD.

[kids talking in the distance]

[phone ringing]

- I'LL GRAB IT.

GRAHAM HARDWARE STORE.

THIS IS MR. GRAHAM.

WHAT, O-OUR BOBBY?

HE DID WHAT?

- TOMMY, I DON'T WANT YOU IN THIS OFFICE AGAIN.

I SWEAR I'VE HAD ENOUGH. - I WON'T DO IT AGAIN.

NOW, YOU'VE BEEN HERE THREE TIMES THIS WEEK ALONE.

- I KNOW.

- AND I'M GONNA CALL YOUR FATHER AND I'M GOING TO SEE

THAT YOU NEVER RACE AGAIN IF YOU DON'T BEHAVE YOURSELF.

- I'M SORRY, SIR. ANYTHING ELSE?

- I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS.

I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS, BUT YOU'RE LEAVING ME NO CHOICE.

- ALL RIGHT, SIR. - YOUNG MAN, LOOK AT ME.

- I KNOW. I WON'T DO IT AGAIN.

- ARE YOU HEARING ME? - YES.

- I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU BACK IN HERE AGAIN.

- OK.

- BOBBY, YOU'RE NEXT.

- WATCH YOUR BACK.

- ALL RIGHT, TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.

- IT WASN'T MY FAULT. TOMMY MADE FUN OF ME.

- HE MAKES FUN OF YOU,

AND THEN YOU LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR ACTIONS?

BOBBY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS.

YOU CAN'T MAKE IT THROUGH ONE SCHOOL DAY WITHOUT FIGHTING.

IS THIS-- IS THIS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM YOU?

- NO, SIR.

- ALL RIGHT, LOOK.

YOU'RE GROUNDED FOR A WEEK.

YOU GO TO SCHOOL, YOU WORK IN THE STORE,

AND YOU COME STRAIGHT HOME. NO TV.

JUST-- GO TO YOUR ROOM.

[footsteps going upstairs]

- CAN I AT LEAST TAKE HIM SOME DINNER?

- HE HAS TO LEARN, GAYLE. - LEARN WHAT?

THAT WE'LL STOP FEEDING HIM EVERY TIME WE'RE MAD AT HIM?

JEFF, HE JUST LOST HIS PARENTS. HE'S 12 YEARS OLD.

HE'S NOT PERFECT.

HE'S GONNA MAKE MISTAKES, AND SO ARE WE.

- I HATE IT HERE.

THEY DON'T EVEN WANT ME.

YOU CAN'T HEAR ME, CAN YOU?

[birds chirping]

[kids yelling]

[dog barking]

- HEY! HEY!

GOOD DOG.

[barking continues]

- YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN JIMMY'S FACE WHEN TOMMY BEAT HIM.

- BEAT HIM? I FLATTENED HIM.

- [laughs] YEAH.

- WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? - NOTHING.

- YOU BETTER NOT BE,

OR I'LL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

- LIKE YOU DID YESTERDAY?

[bell rings]

- REMEMBER, TODAY'S THE DEADLINE FOR THE CHALLENGE PROBLEM.

all: [talking]

- BOBBY?

CAN I SEE YOU FOR A MINUTE?

YOU DIDN'T HAND IN YOUR ESSAY YESTERDAY.

DID YOU FORGET? - I DIDN'T DO IT.

- WHAT ABOUT TODAY'S HOMEWORK?

- I DIDN'T DO THAT EITHER.

- BOBBY, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN YOUR RECORDS,

AND I KNOW YOU WERE A STRAIGHT-A STUDENT

IN SAN DIEGO.

ARE YOU UNHAPPY HERE?

- EAGLE ROCK'S FINE.

SORRY ABOUT THE HOMEWORK.

- IT'S OK.

YOU CAN GO NOW, BUT IF YOU EVER NEED TO TALK, I'M HERE.

- THANKS, MS. NELSON. - OK.

[birds chirping]

- READY, SET, GO! - GO!

- COME ON. YOU HAVE TO BEAT HIM.

- GO, GO, GO!

BEAT HIM! GET THERE QUICKLY!

COME ON!

- GREAT JOB, TOMMY. - YEAH, THAT WAS AWESOME.

- JULY 16TH, BOYS.

I'LL SEND YOU A POSTCARD FROM THE ALL-AMERICAN.

- YEAH! - THERE YOU ARE, YOU LITTLE...

- THAT'S THE CRAZY GUY.

- DAD SAYS HE'S DANGEROUS.

- MY DAD SAID HE WAS KICKED OUT OF THE ARMY 'CAUSE HE'S CRAZY.

- PEOPLE SAY THAT HE HAS A COLLECTION OF SKULLS.

KEEPS THEM LOCKED AWAY IN A TRUNK.

- WELL, I SAW HIM CARRYING A DEAD BODY INTO HIS HOUSE.

HE DOES EXPERIMENTS ON THEM.

THAT'S WHY HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO THE GRAVEYARD.

- WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE, RUNT? YOU DON'T HAVE A RACER.

- WHO IS THAT?

- DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING? THAT'S JIM KLECAN.

- THE SOAPBOX DERBY CHAMPION?

- MAYBE 30 YEARS AGO. NOW HE'S JUST LOONEY.

- SO, HOW DID WE DO?

- I WON.

- [laughs] OF COURSE WE WON.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW BY HOW MUCH.

COME ON. YOU CAN TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT ON THE WAY HOME.

LET'S GET THIS THING IN THE TRUCK.

[sawing]

[metal clanking, banging]

[car not starting]

[engine stuttering]

[dog whining]

- I DON'T THINK HE'S GONNA START.

HASN'T STARTED IN 30 YEARS. WHY SHOULD HE START NOW?

HEY. [chuckles]

GOOD IDEA.

HA!

[trying to start engine]

- WALK HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET!

[general chatter]

- YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE 20 MINUTES AGO, BOBBY.

- I HAD TO STAY LATE TO TALK TO MY TEACHER.

- IS THERE ANOTHER PROBLEM?

- NO, I JUST NEEDED HELP WITH MY HOMEWORK.

- ALL RIGHT, WELL,

I NEED YOU TO START THE INVENTORY IN THE STOREROOM.

- UNCLE JEFF.

I WAS WONDERING.

MY DAD AND I WERE GONNA BUILD A SOAPBOX RACER

FOR THE ALL-AMERICAN DERBY.

I THOUGHT YOU COULD HELP.

- BOBBY, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SOAPBOX RACING.

- NEITHER DID I AT FIRST.

I COULD TEACH YOU. - WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE IT ON A SOAPBOX CAR.

- DID YOU CHECK THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT?

- UH...

- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHECKLIST, TOMMY?

- I KNOW, I KNOW.

I GUESS I JUST FORGOT ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT.

- A CHAMPION DOESN'T FORGET THE DETAILS.

AND WINNING IS ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS, SON.

YOU DO WANT TO WIN, DON'T YOU?

- YES.

- WHAT WAS THAT?

- YES, I WANT TO WIN.

- GOOD. THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.

♪

- YOU ALWAYS SAID...

YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE,

YOU DO IT YOURSELF.

- WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT BOBBY.

- I AGREE.

- HE WANTS TO BUILD A SOAPBOX RACER.

- SO, WHAT'S WRONG WITH BUILDING A SOAPBOX RACER?

I MEAN, YOU AND YOUR BROTHER RACED, DIDN'T YOU?

- WELL, MY BROTHER DID,

AND HE WASTED YEARS OF HIS LIFE WITH THAT KIND OF STUFF.

- SOME TOWNS HAVE FOOTBALL, OURS HAS SOAPBOX RACING.

IT'S JUST A PHASE, JEFF.

DR. SHLEMLEY SAYS IT'S ACTUALLY VERY COMMON

FOR BOYS HIS AGE TO DEVELOP AN INFATUATION

WITH COMPETITIVE SPORTS.

"DON'T BE ALARMED IF YOUR ADOLESCENT GRAVITATES

"TOWARD SOLITARY ACTIVITIES.

"IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO LEARN

"TO COMPLETE A TASK ON THEIR OWN,

AS IT IS FOR THEM TO WORK IN A TEAM ENVIRONMENT."

- GAYLE, THOSE BOOKS ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU

HOW TO FIX BOBBY.

- I DIDN'T KNOW BOBBY WAS BROKEN.

MORNING, BOBBY.

PANCAKES?

- UH, I'M NOT REALLY HUNGRY. THANKS.

I'LL JUST HAVE SOME ORANGE JUICE.

- OK.

- WHERE'S UNCLE JEFF?

- THE STORE IS OPEN FROM 8:00 TO NOON ON SATURDAYS.

HE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD COME IN WITH HIM THIS MORNING,

BUT I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD GET TO SLEEP IN.

YOU KNOW, YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS

ARE WELCOME TO COME HERE ANYTIME.

IN FACT, YOU COULD COME FOR LUNCH, IF YOU'D LIKE.

- THANKS, AUNT GAYLE.

- SURE YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY?

- I'M SURE.

[wrench turning]

[dog snarling]

[tapping]

[dog whining, snarling]

- STOP.

[sighing]

WHO ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU WANT?

- ARE YOU JIM KLECAN?

- ALL DEPENDS ON WHO'S ASKING.

- YOU ARE THE '50 AND '51

ALL-AMERICAN SOAPBOX DERBY CHAMPION.

- WHAT ARE YOU? THE PRESIDENT OF MY FAN CLUB OR SOMETHING?

- MY NAME IS BOBBY GRAHAM,

AND I WAS HOPING THAT YOU COULD LOOK OVER

THE DESIGN FOR MY NEW RACER.

- I DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

- ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS A FAVOR.

- WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO YOU A FAVOR?

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE. - PLEASE?

- I SAID NO. GET OUT. YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

[dog barking]

KIDS.

- HAVE YOU SEEN BOBBY?

- YEAH, HE WENT TO BED EARLY. HE SAID HE WAS TIRED.

- HMM.

- YEAH, HOLD YOUR--

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

- I HAVE A NEW DESIGN FOR A RACER.

I WAS HOPING YOU'D LOOK IT OVER. - DON'T YOU HEAR TOO GOOD?

I TOLD YOU I DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE. GO AWAY.

- I'LL-- I'LL DO SOME WORK AROUND YOUR HOUSE.

- LOOK! IF YOUR FATHER ISN'T INTO THIS SORT OF THING,

IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM. GO AWAY.

- HE WAS.

HE DIED BEFORE WE GOT A CHANCE TO BUILD THE RACER.

- [sighs] IS THAT YOUR DESIGN?

- YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE ROUGH.

- HMM. I'LL LOOK AT IT. COME BACK TOMORROW.

- THANKS, MR. KLECAN!

- YEAH, CLOSE THE GATE!

[keys rattling]

- HI, UNCLE JEFF. - HEY, BOBBY.

- DO YOU NEED ME TO RESTOCK THE SHELVES?

- UH-- YEAH, THAT-- THAT'D BE GREAT.

- SURE THING.

- THANKS.

- REGGIE JACKSON STEPS INTO THE BATTER'S BOX.

HE'S GOT KELLY IN SCORING POSITION...

JOHNSON CHECKS FIRST BASE.

HERE'S THE WINDUP, AND THE PITCH.

AND REGGIE JACKSON GETS A HOME RUN!

- [laughs] [crowd cheering]

- IT'S A LONG, WIDE DRIVE THROUGH CENTER FIELD.

IT'S A PERFECT RUN.

all: [talking]

- BOBBY, HEY! - HI.

- YOU DID WELL ON TODAY'S GEOGRAPHY QUIZ.

- THANKS.

- AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR WORK

ON LAST WEEK'S CHALLENGE PROBLEM.

WHERE DID YOU LEARN TO DO ALGEBRA?

- MY DAD WAS INTO ALL KINDS OF MATH AND PHYSICS.

- YOUR DAD SOUNDS LIKE A SMART MAN.

- HE WAS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKED UP TO HIM.

- MM.

- MS. NELSON,

DO YOU KNOW JIM KLECAN?

- NOT WELL, BUT, YES,

HE WAS A LOCAL HERO WHEN I WAS A KID.

- HE'S NOT... DANGEROUS OR ANYTHING, IS HE?

- [laughs] WELL, I'VE HEARD THE STORIES ABOUT HIM,

AND, NO, HE DOESN'T DO EXPERIMENTS ON DEAD BODIES

OR HAVE A COLLECTION OF SKULLS, NO.

- THEN, WHY DO PEOPLE SAY THOSE THINGS?

- WHEN JIM CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM, HE--

HE WAS DIFFERENT.

HE WAS QUIETER, DARKER... THE EXPERIENCE CHANGED HIM.

DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?

- YEAH.

- HEY, I'LL SPEAK TO YOU LATER, OK?

- THANKS, MS. NELSON. - NO PROBLEM.

- UNCLE JEFF. - YEAH, BOBBY.

- I KNOW I'M SUPPOSED TO HELP OUT

AT THE STORE AFTER SCHOOL,

BUT I WAS KIND OF HOPING I COULD GO OUT FOR BASEBALL.

MY COACH SAYS THERE'S A FEW OPEN SPOTS ON THE TEAM.

- YEAH. THAT-- THAT'S FINE. YOU, UH--

YOU NEED A MITT OR SOME CLEATS OR SOMETHING?

- UH... MAYBE. I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

- ALL RIGHT.

- THANKS, UNCLE JEFF.

- YOU'RE WELCOME, BOBBY.

- CLOSE THE DOOR!

ALL THE WAY!

- IS IT ANY GOOD?

- WELL, YOUR BASIC IDEA IS SOLID,

BUT YOUR FOLLOW-THROUGH IS ALL WRONG.

THIS THING'S NEVER GONNA HOLD TOGETHER

GOING DOWN A REGULATION SLOPE.

YOU GOT TO STREAMLINE THE BODY.

YOUR WHEELBASE IS TOO NARROW.

YOU GO DOWN A HILL FAST, AND THIS THING

IS GONNA TURN RIGHT OVER ON TOP OF YOU.

DON'T GET ALL TEARY-EYED ON ME, KID.

I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU.

- I THOUGHT YOU SAID THE BASIC DESIGN WAS SOLID.

- NO, I DID NOT. I SAID THE BASIC IDEA IS SOLID.

NOW, RACING CARS ISN'T JUST ABOUT FANCY-LOOKING CARS.

IT'S ABOUT PHYSICS. GET OUT.

- YOU MEAN, THE LAW OF CONSERVATION OF ENERGY?

FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH KINETIC ENERGY

THE RACER WILL STILL HAVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL?

- YES.

I SUPPOSE YOU ALSO KNOW

THAT EVEN THE FASTEST RACE CAR DRIVER IN THE WORLD

CANNOT WIN A RACE UNLESS HIS CAR IS SPECIFICALLY BUILT FOR SPEED,

AND THAT'S THE EASY PART.

THE HARD PART IS DESIGNING SAID CAR FOR SPEED.

- I ALREADY KNOW THE CAR HAS TO GO FASTER

THAN THE OTHER CARS. - OH, YOU DO?

- WHAT I DON'T KNOW IS HOW TO DESIGN ONE THAT WILL.

- WELL, YOU LOOK AT NATURE!

YOU LOOK AT NATURE, AND YOU FIND THINGS

THAT ARE NATURALLY ALREADY DESIGNED FOR SPEED,

AND YOU COPY THEM. - THAT'S IT?

- NOW, DON'T YOU COME BACK AND BOTHER ME

UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEW TO SHOW ME.

YOU ASKED ME FOR MY ADVICE, AND I GAVE IT TO YOU.

NOW, DON'T COME BACK UNLESS YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

- THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

- CLOSE THE DOOR!

[door sliding]

ALL THE WAY.

[door closes]

[dog barking]

♪

- BEST THINGS IN NATURE.

THINGS NATURALLY DESIGNED FOR SPEED.

[chatter]

- BOBBY, CAN YOU COVER THE REGISTER?

WE'VE GOT SOME CUSTOMERS.

- COME ON. WE DON'T HAVE ALL DAY, KID.

I NEED THIS, AND I WANT FOUR 6-FOOT ONE BY SIXES, OK?

TOMMY, YOU WAIT 'TIL YOU SEE MY NEW IDEAS.

WE'RE GOING TO BUILD US A NEW RACER FROM SCRATCH.

COMPLETELY THROW OUT THE OLD DESIGN.

YEP, TOMMY, MY BOY,

THIS RACER IS THE ONE THAT'S GONNA WIN US THE ALL-AMERICAN.

[metal hitting floor]

AH, JEEZ.

- BUT, DAD, THE OLD RACER'S FINE.

- DO YOU THINK YOU CAN WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH "FINE"?

HUH?

- NO, SIR.

- RIGHT. COME ON, GET IN THE TRUCK.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO

IF WE'RE GONNA TEST THIS PUPPY OUT ON SATURDAY.

COME ON, KID. THEY BETTER ALL BE THERE.

- SORRY.

- IS THAT EVERYTHING?

- YES, SIR.

THERE YOU GO.

- WE'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY! - [woman answering]

[car door closing]

- HMM.

BETTER.

YOU STILL NEED TO WORK ON YOUR DESCENT VELOCITY.

- WELL, I CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL I CHOOSE WHEELS, CAN I?

- NO, YOU CANNOT DO THAT... UNTIL YOU CHOOSE WHEELS.

[laughing] THAT'S GOOD.

UH, YOU COULD WORK WITH THIS.

FIRST THING YOU NEED TO DO IS BUILD YOURSELF

A SMALL SCALE MODEL, AND TEST IT OUT.

ONCE YOU'RE HAPPY WITH IT, BRING IT BACK TO ME,

AND WE'LL START TALKING ABOUT SUPPLIES.

- THANKS, MR. KLECAN.

I'LL CLOSE THE DOOR.

ALL THE WAY.

[door sliding]

- KID IS NEVER GOING TO LEAVE ME ALONE.

- DINNER'S ALMOST READY.

- HEY, HOW ARE TRYOUTS COMING ALONG?

- OH, BASEBALL?

IT'S GOOD.

I THINK I HAVE A DECENT SHOT AT MAKING THE TEAM.

- GREAT.

YOU KNOW, UH, I USED TO PLAY A LITTLE BALL.

IF, UM, IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE AT ALL,

WE COULD TOSS THE BALL AROUND AFTER DINNER.

- THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

- HOPE YOU LIKE TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE.

I PUT POTATO CHIPS ON TOP.

- TOMMY. - YEAH, DAD?

- COME HERE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

- ALL RIGHT. THAT'S REALLY COOL.

- TAKE A LOOK AT THE DESIGN THAT'S GONNA WIN US

THE NATIONAL TITLE. [chuckles]

- YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE NOSE.

- MAYBE IF WE JUST-- - YOU KNOW, SON...

I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP,

BUT DAD'S GOT IT ALL UNDER CONTROL.

- OK.

♪

- BOBBY, TIME TO GET UP.

all: [talking]

- YOU GUYS SHOULD SEE MY NEW RACER.

IT'S SO COOL.

ME AND MY DAD ARE BUILDING IT NOW.

SHOULD BE READY TO TEST BY THIS WEEKEND.

- THAT'S GROOVY, MAN. - OH, YEAH.

YOU SHOULD COME SEE IT LATER.

OH, MAN. IT'S GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY COOL.

- ORIGINALLY, I WAS WORRIED THAT BY WIDENING THE WHEEL BASE,

I WOULD SHIFT THE CENTER OF GRAVITY TOO MUCH.

BUT, THEN, I REALIZED

THAT IT DISTRIBUTES THE WEIGHT BETTER.

SO, THE CAR PRACTICALLY RUNS LIKE IT'S ON RAILS.

- HERE. YOU GOT YOUR DESIGN.

NOW IT'S TIME TO START TALKING MATERIALS.

- I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY. HOW AM I GONNA GET 'EM?

- YOU DON'T NEED ANY MONEY, KID. YOU USE YOUR EYES.

I GOT LOTS OF MATERIALS OUT BACK.

THE REST YOU CAN PROBABLY FIND JUST LYING AROUND SOMEWHERE.

YOU'D BE SURPRISED WHAT YOU COULD FIND, IF YOU LOOK.

WE'LL START MAKING YOUR MATERIALS LIST.

- I'M HUNGRY. ARE YOU HUNGRY? - YEAH.

- LET'S GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

- HEY, SWEETHEART. - HEY.

- OH... - BOBBY'S NOT HOME YET.

- WELL, IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

- WELL, THE BOOK SAID KIDS NEED LIMITS.

WITHOUT STRUCTURE, THEY CAN GET IN ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE.

- WELL, HE'S-- HE'S TAKEN AN INTEREST IN ACTIVITIES,

HE'S MAKING FRIENDS.

ISN'T THAT WHAT WE WANT?

- [sighing] I GUESS SO.

- HEY! TAKE IT EASY, KID.

YOU DON'T WANT TO CHOKE TO DEATH WHILE YOU'RE IN MY HOUSE.

- THESE ARE REALLY GOOD.

- DIDN'T YOUR PARENTS EVER TEACH YOU

NOT TO TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL?

DID YOU SAY YOUR NAME WAS BOBBY GRAHAM?

- YEAH.

- HOW LONG AGO DID YOUR PARENTS DIE, BOBBY?

- ALMOST TWO MONTHS.

- THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

I LOST MY PARENTS, TOO.

NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, NOT LIKE YOU DID.

MY MOM DIED WHEN I WAS-- I WAS REALLY SMALL.

I HARDLY REMEMBER HER AT ALL, BUT MY...

MY FATHER PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS IN VIETNAM.

BY THE TIME THEY GOT THE WORD TO ME,

I'D ALREADY MISSED THE FUNERAL.

- WERE YOU AND YOUR FATHER CLOSE?

- [swallows loudly]

MY DAD AND I WERE JUST LIKE THAT.

HE WAS THE GREATEST GUY IN THE WORLD. HE COULD--

HE COULD FIX A CAR, HE COULD BUILD A HOUSE.

HE MADE A MEAN STEAK.

[chuckles]

I GUESS THAT'S WHY I BECAME A HANDYMAN.

HE SAID, "SON, YOU'RE THE JACK OF ALL TRADES,

MASTER OF NONE."

[chuckles]

[dog barking]

BOBBY, YOUR-- [clears throat]

YOUR DAD...

HE WAS A HECK OF A GUY, TOO,

BUT I GUESS YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT.

- YOU KNEW MY FATHER? - YES.

I KNEW YOUR FATHER. I KNEW YOUR UNCLE.

IN FACT, YOUR, UH, YOUR DAD AND I

USED TO RACE TOGETHER WHEN-- WHEN WE WERE KIDS.

- BUT HE NEVER WENT TO NATIONALS.

- HE ALMOST WENT TO NATIONALS,

BUT AT QUALIFYING, HE GOT BEAT, BY ME.

[laughs]

YOU KNOW, YOU ACTUALLY REMIND ME A LOT OF HIM.

- REALLY? - REALLY.

I'LL BET HE WAS VERY PROUD OF YOU, BOBBY.

NOW, EAT YOUR SANDWICH.

WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO. WE'RE BURNING DAYLIGHT.

- ISN'T THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP?

- WELL, OF COURSE THERE IS. YOU CAN WIN THE RACE.

- I MEANT HELP BUILD THE CAR.

- [sighs]

YOU WANT THIS DONE RIGHT, DON'T YOU?

NOW, COME ON. I'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO

IF WE'RE GONNA GET YOU BACK ON THAT HILL BY TOMORROW.

BE A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDING, TOMMY.

I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN.

- PUT THAT PIECE OF WOOD RIGHT HERE.

IN ORDER TO WIN A DERBY,

YOU'VE GOT TO BE EXTREMELY GOOD AT THREE THINGS.

FIRST, BUILDING A FAST RACE CAR.

- WELL, OBVIOUSLY.

- SECOND AND THIRD, YOU HAVE TO DRIVE WELL,

AND COMPLETELY WITHOUT FEAR.

BEING GOOD AT TWO OUT OF THREE OF THESE THINGS

WILL NOT MAKE YOU A CHAMPION.

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN, DRIVE WITHOUT FEAR?

- PLEASE TELL ME YOU'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN A CAR BEFORE...

WHILE IT'S BARRELING DOWN A HILL.

YOUNG MAN, IF YOU PANIC,

YOU CAN DO SERIOUS INJURY TO YOURSELF

AND ANYONE ELSE ON THAT HILL.

IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO BE

IN 100% CONTROL OF YOUR CAR AND YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND? - YES, MR. KLECAN.

- STOP CALLING ME MR. KLECAN.

I'M NOT MY FATHER, AND I'M NOT YOUR TEACHER.

CALL ME JIM. - YES, JIM.

- GOOD. NOW THAT WE GOT THAT STRAIGHTENED OUT,

IN ORDER TO BUILD THIS RACE CAR OF YOURS,

YOU HAVE TO BE FAMILIAR WITH TOOLS.

THIS IS A MITER BOX.

IT'S MADE FOR CUTTING PRECISION 90- AND 45-DEGREE ANGLES.

FIGURE IT OUT.

HEY, LET'S CALL IT A DAY, AND GO GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT.

WE CAN PICK IT BACK UP FROM HERE TOMORROW.

- BUT THE RACE IS IN A MONTH!

- YEAH, WHICH STILL GIVES US PLENTY OF TIME...

[machine powering down] TO FINISH THE CAR. NOW, COME ON.

PATIENCE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AN INGREDIENT

TO BECOMING A CHAMPION AS HARD WORK IS.

YOU WANT TO KNOW ANOTHER IMPORTANT INGREDIENT

TO BECOMING A CHAMPION?

- SURE. - [whispering] IT'S A SECRET.

LEARNING TO MAKE A FINE MESS OF CHILI.

- [chuckles] - I'M NOT KIDDING.

BEFORE EVERY RACE, MY DAD AND I

WOULD MAKE WHAT HE CALLED A FINE MESS OF CHILI.

IT BECAME OUR DERBY TRADITION.

TAKE THE GLASSES OFF.

IF WE DIDN'T MAKE A FINE MESS OF CHILI,

I DID NOT WIN THE RACE.

- I SUDDENLY HAVE A CRAVING FOR CHILI.

- [laughing]

MY DAD ALWAYS SAID THE SECRET TO GREAT CHILI

IS NOT BRUISING THE PEPPERS WHEN YOU CUT 'EM.

- I GUESS YOUR DAD WAS A REAL GOOD COOK.

- OH, WELL, HE KNEW HIS WAY AROUND A GRILL,

I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

BUT ANYWHERE ELSE, HE WAS USELESS.

HE COULDN'T MAKE A BOLOGNA SANDWICH

WITHOUT BURNING IT.

- MY AUNT GAYLE CAN'T COOK ANYTHING, EITHER

LAST WEEK, SHE SERVED US RAW CHICKEN

AND GOT US ALL SICK.

MY MOM WAS A REAL GOOD COOK, THOUGH.

SHE COULD COOK ALL KINDS OF FANCY THINGS.

MY DAD USED TO SAY THAT HE WOULD'VE STARVED TO DEATH

IF HE HADN'T MARRIED HER.

- YEAH, WELL, I'M GONNA STARVE TO DEATH

IF WE DON'T FINISH THIS CHILI.

EXACTLY THE RIGHT AMOUNT. HOW'D YOU KNOW THAT?

- ARE YOU FEELING ALL RIGHT?

YOU'VE HARDLY TOUCHED YOUR DINNER.

- I THINK I ATE TOO MUCH AT LUNCH TODAY.

- YOU WERE AT PRACTICE PRETTY LATE TONIGHT.

WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET TO SEE A GAME?

- OH, SOON.

I HAVEN'T REALLY LOOKED AT THE SCHEDULE.

- WELL, WITH ALL THE PRACTICING YOU'VE BEEN DOING,

YOUR TEAM SHOULD BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE THIS SEASON.

- YEAH. OUR COACH SAYS THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE

AT THE STATE FINALS

IF WE KEEP UP THE HARD WORK.

- WOW. - [chuckles]

WELL, LISTEN, UH-- MY OFFER STILL STANDS.

IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, I, UH, I CAN DIG UP MY OLD MITT.

- IS THIS YOUR DAD?

- YEAH, AND THE HANDSOME LAD THERE IN THE CAR IS ME.

IT WAS MY FIRST WIN.

- WHAT DOES "MIA" AND "KIA" MEAN?

- MISSING IN ACTION, KILLED IN ACTION.

- WHAT WAS IT LIKE OVER THERE?

- IT WAS HARD.

- WERE YOU SCARED?

- YES.

- DO YOU STILL THINK ABOUT IT?

- EVERY DAY.

REMEMBER THE RULES. ABSOLUTELY NO FENDERS.

NO SKIRTS WILL BE PERMITTED AT ANY TIME.

- AND ABSOLUTELY NO DEVICE THAT CAN BE USED AS A STARTER.

- YOU ARE CORRECT, SIR.

- CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHAT THE PREPOSITION IS

IN THIS SENTENCE?

- ALL RIGHT, ON YOUR MARK... - CHECK.

- GET SET...

- CHECK.

- GO!

[laughs]

WELL, HEY, THAT WASN'T BAD FOR A FIRST RUN.

LOOKS GOOD.

SOUNDS SMOOTH.

LET'S TAKE A LITTLE BREAK.

GOT SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU.

- ALL RIGHT.

- I KEEP THIS...

OLD SCRAPBOOK AROUND FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE.

HERE.

ALL OF THE CARS IN THIS BOOK

ARE ALL-AMERICAN RACE CARS.

VERY, VERY FAST.

BUT ONLY ONE OF THEM TOOK HOME THE TOP PRIZE THAT YEAR,

AND THAT'D BE THE ONE TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE FIRST.

NOW, CAN YOU TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT CAR

AND ALL THE OTHER ONES IN THIS BOOK?

- NO, WHAT?

- IT'S THE DRIVER HIMSELF.

- YOU SEE, THIS DRIVER KEPT HIS EYES STRAIGHT AT ALL TIMES.

HE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE CROWD

AND NEVER EVEN GAVE A SINGLE THOUGHT

TO THE RACE CAR DRIVERS AROUND HIM.

HE KNEW HE WAS GONNA CROSS THAT FINISH LINE FIRST.

THAT'S WHAT MADE HIM A CHAMPION.

- WHO IS IT?

- WELL, LET'S SEE, WHO... [gasps]

SON OF A GUN! IT'S ME!

[laughs]

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO SEE WHY A RACER LOSES,

AS IT IS TO SEE WHY HE WINS.

NOW, HERE WE GO. LET'S WATCH THE START.

HOW THEY START IS WHAT SEPARATES A GOOD DRIVER FROM A CHAMPION.

- YOU'RE UNSTOPPABLE IN THAT CAR.

- JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?

- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, DAD?

- THAT OTHER CAR ALMOST BEAT YOU.

- BUT I WON.

- BUT YOU ALMOST LOST.

MAYBE I FORGOT TO TEACH YOU SOMETHING

ABOUT BEING A CHAMPION.

NO ONE REMEMBERS WHO CAME IN SECOND PLACE.

NOW, YOU'RE A CHAMPION, TOMMY. START THINKING LIKE ONE.

- I'LL DO BETTER NEXT TIME, DAD.

- I KNOW YOU WILL, SON.

NOW, COME ON. LET'S GO HOME.

GET THIS THING AND PUT IT IN THE TRUCK.

- INSULTING THAT CHILD WILL NOT MAKE HIM A WINNER.

- WELL, TOMMY DID WIN. HE HAS THE BEST RACER OUT THERE.

- NO, NO, NO, NO.

HE MIGHT HAVE THE FANCIEST CAR, BUT HE'S NOT THE BEST DRIVER.

HIS FATHER KNOWS THAT.

REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU

ABOUT BLOCKING OUT THE REST OF THE WORLD?

WELL, DENNIS BILLINGS IS THE SOURCE

OF HIS OWN SON'S GREATEST WEAKNESS.

HE JUST HASN'T REALIZED IT YET.

- I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

- HE'S MAKING HIM SELF-CONSCIOUS.

HE'S MAKING HIM THINK ABOUT

ALL THE OTHER RACERS ON THE COURSE.

- SO, HE PAYS ATTENTION TO EVERYONE ELSE AROUND HIM

AND DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION TO HIS OWN DRIVING?

- YES.

- ARE YOU ALL SET? - YES.

YOU MUST BE BOBBY'S AUNT AND UNCLE.

I'M HIS TEACHER, MS. NELSON.

- OH! - OH, YEAH. YEAH.

I'M JEFF. THIS IS MY WIFE, GAYLE.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

- VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.

- BOBBY SPEAKS VERY HIGHLY OF YOU.

OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I--I-- THE FEELING IS MUTUAL.

I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH HIS WORK

AND ATTITUDE HAVE IMPROVED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HIS PROGRESS.

- YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT HE'S KEEPING UP

WITH HIS SCHOOLWORK.

AND DON'T GET ME WRONG,

I THINK THAT BASEBALL'S A GREAT SPORT FOR A BOY,

BUT, LATELY, HE'S, UH,

HE'S PRACTICALLY BEEN LIVING ON THAT FIELD.

- OH, WELL, THERE'S NO NEED TO WORRY.

HIS GRADES HAVE NEVER BEEN BETTER.

- OH, GOOD. [laughing]

[bell ringing]

all: [talking]

- BOBBY?

CAN I SEE YOU FOR A LITTLE?

- TEACHER'S PET.

- DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG, MS. NELSON?

- YES, YOU DID.

I MET YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE A FEW DAYS AGO,

AND THEY TOLD ME HOW MUCH YOU ENJOYED

PLAYING ON THE BASEBALL TEAM.

I KNOW YOU DON'T PLAY BASEBALL AFTER SCHOOL, BOBBY.

- CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?

- WELL, THAT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE SECRET IS.

I CAN'T KEEP A CONFIDENCE IF I THINK

IT'S JEOPARDIZING YOUR SAFETY.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS

UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHAT THE SECRET IS.

- JIM KLECAN IS HELPING ME BUILD A RACER

FOR THE ALL-AMERICAN SOAPBOX DERBY.

- SO, THAT'S WHY YOU WERE ASKING ME

ALL THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT JIM.

SO, WHY KEEP THAT A SECRET?

- BECAUSE MY UNCLE DOESN'T ALLOW RACING.

HE THINKS IT'S JUST A BIG WASTE OF TIME.

HE'D RATHER I BE SORTING NAILS AND WASHERS

IN THE HARDWARE STORE.

HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WINNING THE DERBY

OPENS ALL KINDS OF DOORS.

THERE'S EVEN A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP.

- IT'S NOT MY PLACE TO TELL YOUR AUNT OR UNCLE

THAT YOU LIED.

IT'S YOURS.

- [knocking on door]

- COME ON IN!

CLOSE THE DOOR ALL THE WAY.

BOBBY.

- HI.

- I NOTICE YOU BROUGHT A-- YOU BROUGHT A VISITOR WITH YOU.

- YEAH. THIS IS MY TEACHER, MS. NELSON.

- OH, NO. PLEASE, CALL ME JACKIE.

I DO HAVE A FIRST NAME, YOU KNOW. [laughing]

- HI, I'M JIM. - I KNOW. JIM KLECAN. I KNOW.

UM... BOBBY, DO YOU MIND IF JIM AND I

HAVE A WORD ALONE TOGETHER?

- SURE.

- HEY, LOOK, I--

I MADE SOME NOTES ON YOUR BLUEPRINTS FOR YOU.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THEM OUT TO THE SHOP? - ALL RIGHT.

- I'LL MEET YOU THERE IN A FEW MINUTES.

- I KNOW ABOUT THE DOOR.

[door sliding closed]

- SO, YOU DON'T APPROVE OF ME WORKING WITH BOBBY?

- WHAT?

WHERE DID YOU GET AN IDEA LIKE THAT?

- I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT ME.

- I CERTAINLY DID NOT COME HERE

TO DISCOURAGE YOU FROM WORKING WITH BOBBY.

- THEN, WHY DID YOU COME HERE?

- LOOK, BOBBY'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT THESE LAST FEW MONTHS,

AND WHAT HE REALLY NEEDS RIGHT NOW

IS CONSISTENCY AND STABILITY,

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE

THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA LET HIM DOWN.

- I WON'T LET HIM DOWN.

NOW, WHILE YOU ARE WORKING ON THE BREAK PEDAL,

I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE BODY OF THE CAR.

NOW, THE BODY OF THE CAR HAS GOT TO BE SMALL ENOUGH

TO CONFINE THE DRIVER'S HEAD,

AND YET, AT THE SAME TIME, BE WIDE ENOUGH

TO GIVE THE DRIVER FULL RANGE OF MOTION

FOR HIS HEAD AND HIS ARMS.

WHAT DID I JUST SAY?

THE NOSE IS THE FOREMOST PART OF THE RACER.

IT'S THE NOSE THAT ACTUALLY LEADS THE CAR DOWN THE HILL.

NOW, IF THE NOSE IS NOT STREAMLINED,

THEN IT WILL SLOW THE CAR DOWN, AND YOU WILL NOT WIN THE RACE.

♪

IT'S PERFECT.

- WE DID GOOD.

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN "WE"?

YOU DID ALL THE WORK. ALL I DID WAS SUPERVISE.

- YOU DIDN'T TELL ME MS. NELSON

CAME INTO THE SHOP THE OTHER DAY.

- GUESS WE FORGOT.

WE'VE ALL BEEN SO BUSY AROUND HERE LATELY, ESPECIALLY YOU.

MS. NELSON SEEMED VERY NICE.

- AND SHE, UH... SAID THAT YOUR SCHOOLWORK

IS IMPROVING TREMENDOUSLY.

BOBBY, UM...

I KNOW WE-- WE, UH, WE...

GOT OFF TO A BUMPY START.

YOU'VE COME FAR, AND, UH...

YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF HARD WORK, AND...

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

- THANKS.

- YOU'RE WELCOME.

- WELL, YOU FINALLY GOT THE EASY PART DONE.

- THE EASY PART? WHAT PART OF THAT WAS EASY?

- [laughing] I'M ONLY KIDDING. WELL, A LITTLE BIT ANYWAY.

REMEMBER I TOLD YOU, IN ORDER TO WIN RACES,

YOU HAD TO LEARN TO DO THREE THINGS EXTREMELY WELL?

FIRST ONE, BUILD A FAST RACE CAR. WHAT ARE THE OTHER TWO?

- UH, LEARN HOW TO DRIVE WELL AND COMPLETELY WITHOUT FEAR.

- EXACTLY! SO, LET'S TEACH YOU TO DRIVE.

[laughs]

GET OUT OF HERE!

[yelling and laughing]

YOUR TURN.

- BUT I'M ONLY 12! - WELL, IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY

TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE.

SCOOT OVER.

SCOOT OVER!

[sighs]

ALL RIGHT, PULL THE HANDLE BACK, JAM IT INTO FIRST,

AND STEP ON THE GAS.

BACK.

GAS!

- WHOA! - THERE YOU GO.

- WHAT? LIKE THIS?

- THAT'S RIGHT. PULL RIGHT.

- HOW AM I DOING? - THERE YOU ARE.

MAKE A NICE CIRCLE.

LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU--

ALL RIGHT. OH, THERE YOU GO. THAT'S GOOD.

NOW LET'S TRY THE OTHER WAY. MAKE A LEFT.

MAKE A LEFT. A LEFT!

THAT WAY. YEAH, LEFT.

COUNTER CLOCKWISE, LEFT.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A... FEW MORE ADJUSTMENTS.

SEE HOW IT WOBBLES?

THAT'S NOT GOOD. YOU'VE GOT TO FIX THAT.

- ALL RIGHT, I SEE IT.

OK.

- THIS WAS GOOD.

YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL. ARE YOU READY?

- YES.

- WHAT DO YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU?

- FINISH LINE, SIR!

- YOU'VE GOT BLINDERS ON. BLINDERS TO YOUR LEFT.

BLINDERS TO YOUR RIGHT.

WHAT IS ON YOUR LEFT? - NOTHING, SIR!

- WHAT IS ON YOUR RIGHT? - NOTHING, SIR!

- WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU? - THE FINISH LINE, SIR!

- WHO IS GONNA CROSS THAT FINISH LINE FIRST?

- ME.

- WHO? - ME!

- WHO? - ME!

- YEAH. [laughs]

I GOT IT.

- HOW'D I DO?

- DON'T MATTER WHAT I THINK. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

- I THINK I'M READY TO RACE.

- SHOULD I TIGHTEN IT UP? - YEAH.

- ALL RIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO TAKE IT EASY.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST RACE AGAINST OTHER DRIVERS,

SO THIS RACE IS NOT ABOUT WINNING.

THIS RACE IS ABOUT STAYING FOCUSED.

- CHECK.

- PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE DRIVERS AROUND YOU.

IT'S ONLY ABOUT YOU AND THE ROAD IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR.

- CHECK. - SPEAKING OF THAT ROAD,

YOU ARE TO LOOK OUT FOR ANY IMPERFECTIONS--

DIVOTS, RUTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. CHECK?

- CHECK. - GOOD.

[sighs]

- AND NO MATTER WHAT, DON'T GIVE UP.

NOBODY WINS THEIR FIRST TIME OUT,

BUT YOU CAN'T LOSE UNLESS YOU QUIT.

- HEY!

- OH! [laughs]

- MILADY.

BOBBY, WE'LL BE WATCHING YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL.

- THANK YOU.

- WHOA, BOBBY. LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD RIDE ON RAILS.

- BET YOU IT WOULD. [engine starting]

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE IT RACE.

- THINK YOU CAN BEAT TOMMY IN THIS THING?

- WE'LL SEE.

- GO.

- TAKE IT OUT.

- PUT IT RIGHT HERE. - LET'S TURN IT AROUND.

- ALL RIGHT, TURN IT AROUND.

- TOMMY, WE CAN BEAT THOSE PUNKS.

[struggles]

- I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

THANKS-- THANKS FOR COMING.

- THANKS FOR INVITING ME.

- WELL, SURE, BUT, STILL, IT'S...

FOR BOBBY, IT'S GOOD THAT YOU'RE HERE.

[laughs]

- ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET...

- WATCH THE PUSH OFF.

- GO!

- GO, BOBBY!

[gasps] - MAN!

- OH!

- DID YOU SEE THAT? - IS HE HURT?

- I DON'T KNOW!

- ARE YOU OK?

HERE. GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

- WHY DID YOU RUN INTO THOSE HAY BALES?

- 'CAUSE THE CABLE BROKE.

I SHOULD GET WORKING ON THAT TODAY

SO I CAN DO ANOTHER TEST RUN TOMORROW.

- HUH.

TWO MAILBOXES AND A GARDEN GNOME.

- WHAT?

- THAT'S WHAT I RAN INTO ON MY FIRST RACE.

- THAT'S SOME AMAZING RACER, BOBBY.

- WHAT'D YOU MAKE THE AXEL SUPPORT OUT OF?

- FIBERGLASS REINFORCED BALSA.

- UH, HEY, MISTER.

IS IT TRUE THAT YOU COLLECT HUMAN SKULLS

AND KEEP THEM IN YOUR WORKSHOP?

- NOW, JUST WHO SAYS THAT?

- EVERYONE.

- WELL, DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR, BOYS.

- WELL, CAN I COME BY YOUR HOUSE SOMETIME?

HAVE YOU LOOK OVER MY RACER?

- SURE, IF YOU WANT.

- YOU WON'T EAT ME OR ANYTHING, WILL YOU?

[laughter] - GRAB A WHEEL.

READY? USE YOUR LEGS. [struggles]

LUCKY THING FOR YOU, I'M NOT HUNGRY TODAY.

[laughter]

- ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

YOU'RE STILL HAVING A PROBLEM WITH FRICTION, TOMMY.

- OK.

- I THINK YOU NEED A BETTER LUBRICANT.

- HELLO, DENNIS.

- OH. GOOD TO SEE YOU, JEFF.

I WAS JUST UP ON THE HILL WATCHING YOUR NEPHEW RACE.

HIS RACER IS REALLY SOMETHING.

MUST HAVE BEEN EXPENSIVE, BUT I SUPPOSE IT HELPS

WHEN YOUR UNCLE RUNS A HARDWARE STORE.

ALTHOUGH, I WAS WONDERING IF IT'S SUCH A GOOD IDEA

FOR HIM TO BE SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH JIM KLECAN.

- YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT. GAYLE!

GAYLE, CAN YOU COME OUT HERE, PLEASE?

- HELLO, DENNIS. TOMMY.

- LISTEN, I NEED YOU TO CLOSE UP THE STORE, ALL RIGHT?

I'LL MEET YOU AT HOME LATER.

- WAS IT SOMETHING I SAID? [chuckles]

- IT FELT LIKE I WAS IN A ROCKET SHIP.

- [chuckling]

- I CAN'T BELIEVE THE CAR GOES SO FAST.

- WELL, DON'T-- DON'T-- [knocking on the door]

COME ON IN! KID, YOU HAVEN'T WON A RACE.

[laughs] YOU DO GO FAST, THOUGH.

- WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?

- HI, JEFF.

- GO HOME, BOBBY.

- IT'S NOT HIS FAULT.

HE DOESN'T KNOW I LIED TO YOU.

- I SAID GO HOME.

- I MADE A MISTAKE. I'M SORRY.

- BOBBY, NOW, PLEASE.

- YES, SIR.

- [sighs] LOOK, UH... JEFF, I REALIZE THAT...

BOBBY SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE RACE,

BUT HE WAS PROBABLY AFRAID THAT YOU WOULDN'T APPROVE.

- WELL, HE'S RIGHT.

I DON'T APPROVE.

HE CAME TO ME, AND HE ASKED, AND I TOLD HIM

IT WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION.

- LISTEN, BOBBY CAME TO MY HOUSE.

HE WAS LONELY. HE ASKED FOR MY HELP.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? JUST SEND HIM OUT ON HIS--

- BOBBY IS MY RESPONSIBILITY.

I AM HIS GUARDIAN,

AND I WILL DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR HIM.

YOU'RE JUST LIKE MY BROTHER.

[laughs] YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THAT KID

AND FILL HIS HEAD WITH USELESS DREAMS.

- USELESS?

- JUST-- JUST--

JUST STAY AWAY FROM MY NEPHEW, OK?

- JEFF, THE RACE IS TWO WEEKS AWAY,

AND YOUR NEPHEW HAS WORKED VERY HARD ON HIS CAR.

- LOOK, I SEE YOU NEAR BOBBY AGAIN,

AND I'M CALLING THE POLICE.

SORRY.

- BOBBY?

SWEETIE, WHAT'S WRONG?

BOBBY!

[dog whining] - I KNOW.

[TV sounds]

[sighing] HI, DAD.

BOBBY SHOULD HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO BUILD HIS CAR

WITH HIS FATHER.

[dog moaning]

[laughing] YEAH!

YOU WERE GONNA COME BACK AND BE A RACE CAR DRIVER.

LIFE COULD SURE BE CRUEL

THAT WAY SOMETIMES.

ISN'T THAT RIGHT, ACE? ACE!

GET OUT OF THERE!

HEY, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO EAT NOW?

THAT'S NOT VERY POLITE.

HEY. HEY!

EAT YOUR VEGETABLES.

- YOU'RE BEING UNREASONABLE. - GAYLE.

LOOK, YOU SAID IT WAS OUR JOB TO RAISE HIM RIGHT,

AND THAT IS WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO.

- NO, IT'S NOT!

YOU'RE TAKING OUT YOUR ANGER AND YOUR RESENTMENT

TOWARD YOUR BROTHER ON AN INNOCENT LITTLE BOY!

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES HIM FEEL, JEFF?

- I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS, GAYLE.

- HERE'S THE PLAY. HE'S OUT OF THERE!

- OUT? HE WAS SAFE. HE WAS SAFE BY A MILE.

DID YOUR MOTHER HAVE ANY KIDS WHO COULD SEE?

- ...WHISPER IN HIS EAR, CHUCK.

- BOBBY.

- I KNOW I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.

- YOUR UNCLE WOULD BE VERY UPSET WITH ME

IF HE FOUND OUT YOU WERE HERE. YOU GOT TO GO.

- THAT'S BECAUSE HE DOESN'T KNOW YOU LIKE I DO.

- BOBBY, I CANNOT GO AGAINST THE WISHES OF YOUR UNCLE.

NOW, PLEASE, YOU GOT TO GO.

- THE CITY FINALS ARE A WEEK AWAY.

- BOBBY...

PLEASE UNDERSTAND.

- SO, YOU'RE JUST GONNA LET ME DOWN?

I THOUGHT YOU CARED.

[dog howling]

- I WANT TO HELP.

I WANT TO HELP BOBBY, BUT I'M AFRAID IF I DO,

I'M JUST GONNA GET HIM IN MORE TROUBLE.

- WELL, HE JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HIS NEPHEW,

BUT HE'S JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR HIM.

HE-- HE DOESN'T.

- DO YOU REALLY, REALLY THINK

EVERYBODY'S JUST TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR BOBBY?

REALLY? - WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO?

- WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS HELP THAT KID WIN THAT RACE.

[people talking]

- BOBBY'S IN THE BACK TAKING AN INVENTORY.

- I CAME HERE TO TALK TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE.

- THERE'S NOT MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

- WELL, I THINK THERE IS.

LOOK, BOBBY SHOULD NEVER HAVE LIED,

BUT HE FELT LIKE HE HAD TO.

- MS. NELSON, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP,

BUT THIS IS A FAMILY MATTER.

- HE FELT LIKE YOU WEREN'T LISTENING TO HIM.

- LOOK, I DON'T WANT BOBBY WASTING HIS TIME

ON SOME RIDICULOUS WHIM.

- IT'S NOT RIDICULOUS TO HIM.

HE AND STEVE HAD PLANNED TO RACE FOR MONTHS.

I MEAN, THIS MUST FEEL TO HIM LIKE YOU JUST TOOK AWAY

THE LAST TIE TO HIS FATHER.

[knock on door]

- I KNOW, LIGHTS OUT IN 20.

- ACTUALLY, UH... I, UM, HAVE BEEN THINKING A LOT

ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST WEEK.

YOU'VE BEEN LYING TO ME AND YOUR AUNT FOR MONTHS.

- I KNOW--

- LET ME FINISH, PLEASE.

YOU LIED TO US, BUT, UM...

I'M WORRIED THAT, UH...

I DIDN'T GIVE YOU ANY OTHER CHOICE.

WHEN YOU, UH... FIRST CAME TO LIVE WITH US, UH...

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REACT.

I HADN'T SPOKEN TO YOUR FATHER IN YEARS, AND, UH...

WELL, WE HAD A... A TRICKY RELATIONSHIP.

DESPITE ALL OUR TROUBLES, UH...

STEVE WAS MY BROTHER, AND I...

I LOVED HIM...

AND IT HURT TO LOSE HIM, EVEN IF I DIDN'T SHOW IT.

- I WON'T RACE, IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO.

- WELL, SEE, NOW, THAT'S JUST IT.

WHEN I REALLY STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT,

I CAN'T COME UP WITH A SINGLE REASON

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T.

THE DERBY'S IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND I... I SHOULD'VE HELPED YOU,

NOT FORBADE YOU.

- ARE YOU SAYING THAT I CAN-- - YEAH.

YOU CAN RACE NEXT SATURDAY.

- AND JIM?

- [laughing] AND JIM...

YEAH, YEAH. JIM CAN COME, TOO.

- THANKS, UNCLE JEFF.

- IT'S ALL COME DOWN TO THIS.

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, TWO AWAY.

HE'S IN THE ZONE, 3 TO 2.

BUT DON'T PULL THE TEAM OUT YET,

BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TWO MEN ON,

AND JACKSON IS STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE.

HE'S GOT HIS SIGNAL. HERE'S THE PITCH.

[smack]

AND JACKSON POPS IT UP TO SHORT CENTERFIELD.

[crowd cheering]

- DID ANYBODY EVER TELL YOU YOU WERE BAD LUCK, KID?

- MY UNCLE SAYS I CAN RACE.

- I DON'T LIKE BEING LIED TO.

- I'M TELLING THE TRUTH.

HE'S DOWN AT THE SHOP RIGHT NOW.

HE SAYS YOU CAN GO TALK TO HIM IF YOU WANT,

OR IF WE NEED SUPPLIES.

- WELL, IT'S ALREADY WEDNESDAY,

WHICH MEANS WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO

IF WE WANT TO GET YOU READY BY SATURDAY.

- DOES THAT MEAN YOU'LL HELP ME?

- THAT ALL DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU REMEMBER

TO MAKE CHILI OR NOT.

IT'S GETTING PRETTY LATE. YOU ALMOST DONE?

- I THINK SO.

- YOU READY?

- READY AS I'LL EVER BE.

- USE YOUR LEGS. THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT.

BACK END FIRST.

GOT IT. [struggles]

ALL RIGHT, POP IT OVER.

GOT IT?

READY.

CLOSE THE TAILGATE.

- ALL THE WAY. - [laughs] YEAH. YEAH. AH...

- WHERE'S AUNT GAYLE?

- UH, SHE'S WITH JACKIE AT THE RACETRACK.

- JACKIE?

- YEAH. GET IN THE TRUCK.

- DID YOU GET A HAIR CUT? - GET IN THE TRUCK!

- OK.

[engine starting] - IF I GOT A HAIR CUT...

KIDS. [laughs] FORWARD.

ALL SET. - YEP.

[people talking]

- GET THE TOOLBOX, BOBBY. - ALL RIGHT.

- LISTEN, JIM, UM...

SORRY ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF I SAID TO YOU THE OTHER DAY.

- AH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

- YEAH, I MEAN IT. I WAS... I WAS OUT OF LINE.

- YOU'RE DARN RIGHT YOU WERE OUT OF LINE.

BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. YOU'RE FORGIVEN.

- NOW THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE.

- UH... OK, DRIVERS AND--

COACHES AND DRIVERS ONLY IN THE PIT AREA.

EVERYBODY ELSE, PLEASE, DOWN THE HILL. FINISH LINE.

LET'S GO, LADIES.

- I'LL SEE YOU DOWN THERE IN A MINUTE.

- OK. GOOD LUCK, BOBBY. - THANK YOU.

- COME ON.

- YOU KNOW, UM...

I'M NO EXPERT OR ANYTHING, BUT, UH...

I'D SAY YOUR CAR IS MISSING SOMETHING.

- YOU DO? - YEAH.

A GOOD LUCK CHARM.

THAT WAY, YOU'LL ALWAYS FEEL

LIKE YOUR MOM AND DAD ARE RACING WITH YOU.

- OH, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. ENOUGH OF THE MUSHY STUFF.

ALL RIGHT? WELL WISHERS IN THE TRUCK.

DOWN THE HILL WITH THE LADIES.

BOTTOM. FINISH LINE. COME ON. [laughs]

YOU, PUT YOUR HELMET ON. YOU GOT TO SUIT UP.

YOU GOT A RACE TO WIN, REMEMBER?

- WAIT.

ANY LAST ADVICE?

- YEAH, I CAN GIVE YOU SOME LAST-MINUTE ADVICE.

YOU DON'T NEED MY ADVICE.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO, SO DO IT.

[laughs]

- REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT WINNING?

- NOBODY REMEMBERS WHO COMES IN SECOND?

- THAT'S RIGHT.

A CHAMPION DOES WHATEVER HE HAS TO DO IN ORDER TO WIN.

NOW, CONCENTRATE, TOMMY. GO OUT AND DO IT.

- WELCOME TO THE 41ST ANNUAL EAGLE ROCK SOAPBOX DERBY,

AND THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

[crowd cheering]

I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT THIS MORNING

TO SUPPORT OUR TALENTED DRIVERS.

NOW, THE WINNER OF TODAY'S RACE WILL MOVE ON

TO THE ALL-AMERICAN DERBY NEXT MONTH, IN AKRON, OHIO,

WHERE THEY'LL COMPETE

FOR A $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP AND THIS TROPHY.

[crowd cheering]

SO, I WISH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR DRIVERS THE BEST OF LUCK.

NOW, DRIVERS FOR HEAT NUMBER ONE,

TO YOUR CARS.

[crowd cheering]

THIS IS A SINGLE ELIMINATION TOURNAMENT.

AFTER EACH HEAT, THE LOSING RACER

IS ELIMINATED FROM THE COMPETITION.

WHEN ONLY TWO RACERS REMAIN, THEY WILL COMPETE

IN ONE FINAL HEAT TO DETERMINE

THE 1976 EAGLE ROCK DERBY CHAMPION.

IN THE FIRST HEAT, WE HAVE

THE GRAHAM SPECIAL RACING THE TIN MAN.

[crowd cheering]

- GO, BOBBY!

- THIS ONE'S FOR YOU GUYS.

- THREE, TWO, ONE... RELEASE!

[crowd cheering]

OOH, WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT THE FINISH LINE.

EVERYONE, PLEASE STAY BACK.

- ARE YOU OK, BOBBY?

- THE RACER!

- NEVER MIND THE RACER. WE CAN FIX THAT.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? - YEAH, I'M FINE.

- YEAH?

- WHOA. UP, UP... NO.

- [struggling] UP, UP... - COME ON.

HERE, RIGHT HERE.

OK, TAKE THIS OFF.

HOW MANY FINGERS?

- THREE?

- THREE'S GOOD. - [laughing]

- THREE'S GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, WHY'D YOU GO INTO THE HAY BALE?

- 'CAUSE THE BREAK DIDN'T WORK.

'CAUSE I TIGHTENED IT TOO MUCH.

- AH! CAN YOU FIX IT?

- I DON'T KNOW. I CAN TAKE A LOOK.

- ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S GET IT OUT OF THE TRACK

AND GO LOOK AT IT.

- CAN IT BE FIXED?

- WE ONLY GOT TWO HOURS 'TIL THE NEXT HEAT.

IT DOESN'T GIVE YOU A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO FIX IT.

- ALL RIGHT. WE BETTER GET TO IT, THEN.

- WE'RE GONNA NEED A LOT OF NEW PARTS AND FAST.

- WELL, LUCKY FOR US,

I KNOW A GREAT HARDWARE STORE IN THE AREA.

[chuckles] LET'S GO.

♪

- NEXT UP, WE HAVE TOMMY EXPRESS AND SPEED DEMON.

RELEASE! [crowd cheering]

- YEAH! WAY TO GO, TOMMY BOY. WAY TO GO, TOMMY!

YEAH!

- AND THE TOMMY EXPRESS MOVES INTO THE NEXT HEAT.

- REMEMBER, GENTLEMEN. NO ACTUAL ASSISTANCE, ALL RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT?

- DONE.

- YOU SURE? - YEAH.

- ALL RIGHT, GRAB A WHEEL. - LET'S DO IT.

- UP.

I'VE GOT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR YOU, KID.

STRAIGHT DOWN THE HILL.

- AND IN HEAT 17, WE HAVE THE GRAHAM SPECIAL

AND ROLLING THUNDER.

[crowd cheering]

- JUST WATCHING.

- THREE, TWO, ONE...

RELEASE!

[crowd cheering]

- YES! YES! BOBBY, YES! [crowd cheering]

- THAT WAS SOME RACE.

- IN HEAT 19,

WE HAVE TOMMY EXPRESS AND POINT MUGU.

- YEAH!

- RACERS, PLEASE, TAKE YOUR POSITIONS.

- COME ON, TOMMY!

- COME ON, SWEETHEART! WHOO!

ALMOST THERE!

- THREE, TWO, ONE... RELEASE!

- GO, TOMMY. GO! COME ON, BOY!

COME ON, TOMMY!

YES! YES! [crowd cheering]

- IN HEAT 19, TOMMY EXPRESS.

- THAT'S A CHAMPION RIGHT THERE, I'M TELLING YOU.

- TOMMY EXPRESS MOVES ON TO THE NEXT ROUND.

- ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE IT FOR 20!

[crowd cheering]

- THE WINNER IS BOBBY GRAHAM, WITH THE GRAHAM SPECIAL.

[crowd cheering]

AND THE GRAHAM SPECIAL MOVES INTO THE NEXT HEAT.

AND THE WINNER IS TOMMY BILLINGS.

AND THE TOMMY EXPRESS MOVES TO THE NEXT HEAT.

FLYING BRYAN WINS, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ROUND.

AND THE TOMMY EXPRESS WINS THE SEMIFINAL HEAT.

- WAY TO GO, TOMMY! WAY TO GO, SON. NICE.

[crowd cheering]

- AND THE TOMMY EXPRESS MOVES INTO THE FINALS.

[crowd cheering] AND BOBBY GRAHAM WINS BY A NOSE!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE WINNER

OF OUR LAST SEMIFINAL HEAT

IS THE GRAHAM SPECIAL.

THAT MEANS THAT BOBBY GRAHAM

WILL FACE TOMMY BILLINGS AND HIS TOMMY EXPRESS

FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

[crowd cheering]

- HEY, TOMMY,

WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE TROPHY, I CAN TASTE IT.

ONE MORE RACE, SON, AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO AKRON.

- I'LL DO MY BEST, DAD.

- WELL, NO. [chuckles] DON'T JUST DO YOUR BEST. WIN.

- I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN BEAT TOMMY.

- SADLY, YOU WON'T KNOW THAT, BOBBY,

'TIL YOU CROSS THE FINISH LINE DOWN THERE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

YOU ALREADY KNOW TOMMY'S WEAKNESS.

WHILE YOU'RE CONCENTRATING ON THE TRACK

AND THINKING ABOUT GOING OVER THAT FINISH LINE--

- HE'LL BE WORRYING ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING.

- YES. HE'LL BE WORRYING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

[chuckles]

SO, YOU JUST DO YOUR BEST.

YOU'RE ALREADY THE WINNER IN MY BOOK.

- AND, NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR THE FINAL HEAT

OF THE COMPETITION.

TOMMY EXPRESS AND THE GRAHAM SPECIAL

WILL RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP

AND THE CHANCE TO COMPETE NEXT MONTH

IN THE ALL-AMERICAN DERBY.

RACERS, PLEASE, TAKE YOUR POSITIONS.

[crowd cheering]

- GO, TOMMY BOY!

- WELL, WE'VE HAD A FULL DAY OF RACING TODAY,

AND IT'S NOW COME DOWN TO THIS, THE FINAL HEAT.

IT'S TOMMY EXPRESS AGAINST THE GRAHAM SPECIAL,

TO GO ON TO THE ALL-AMERICAN DERBY

NEXT MONTH IN AKRON

FOR A $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP.

WHILE THE RIDERS ARE GETTING PREPARED,

I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TODAY

TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL DRIVERS.

THEY'RE GONNA MAKE US PROUD, EVERYONE.

[crowd cheering] - THERE YOU GO!

- THREE, TWO, ONE... RELEASE!

AND THEY'RE OFF!

- COME ON, TOMMY!

- THE FINAL ROUND.

THE TOMMY EXPRESS TAKES A SHORT LEAD.

HERE COMES THE GRAHAM SPECIAL.

THEY'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH.

IT'S SO TIGHT, I CAN'T CALL IT.

- GO, TOMMY. GO!

- ONE IS JUST INCHING OUT THE OTHER, AND...

WE'RE COMING UP TO THE FINISH LINE!

IT'S NECK AND NECK!

AND...

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

THE WINNER OF THE 1976 EAGLE ROCK SOAPBOX DERBY

IS BOBBY GRAHAM AND HIS GRAHAM SPECIAL!

[crowd cheering]

- FANTASTIC JOB, GUYS!

[crowd cheering]

♪