July 13 – On this day in Montana history in 1941 12-year-old Terry Palo won the soapbox derby held at Great Falls. More than 1,500 people lined Central Avenue to watch the event. Even then controversy was a part of racing. One young driver was disqualified for having an “illegal steering apparatus.” Palo said afterwards that he hadn’t ever driven a real car, but wanted to become “a racing pilot and drive on the Indianapolis speedway.” Helena held Soap Box races as early as 1936.