Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1911 — LOOK IT SHILLINGS [ARTICLE]

LOOK IT SHILLINGS

Why England’s Big Race Track Proved a Failure. , Those In Control of Brooklands, Automobile Course, Have Experimented for Years In Attempt to Make Sports Pay. London.—The problem of how to make Brooklands, England’s big automobile track, pay, or at least prove self-supporting, at last seems near solution. For four years, ever since this, the largest racing track in the world, was opened to the public, those in control of it have been experimenting and out of bitter experience and the loss of much money they have slowly but surely learned that Its appeal is not to the man In the street, however good a sportsman he may be, but to the rich and well-to-do. When the track was first opened only automobile races were held on the great oval. Later on motorcycling was introduced and finally aviation. Now all three are combined at every meet. But attempts to get a popularclass crowd to witness the events have been abandoned and the 2,000 or more men and women who gather to see the races are recruited almost entirely from the upper crust of English society—owners of motor cars and flying machines of their own. As a matter of fact many of the races put on are arranged for amateur drivers and airmen piloting their own machines.

Motorcycling has become a popular pastime In England and interest In racing Is Intense. If Brooklands were more accessible to London it Is safe to say that the motorcycle races there would attract large crowds. But It is a 60-cent train ride from Water 100 station, there is another charge of 60 cents to enter the grounds and by the time a man has paid for his tea. a programme and a few other Incidental expenses he has put the equivalent of a $2 bill out of commission. The London sport can get so much for $2, or eight shillings, it Is not strange that he does not rush to Brooklands on meet days no matter how keen he may be on motorcycling. These facts have their Influence, of course, on the incentives that are offered to the riders who compete in the motorcycle races. In the United States the men race for substantial purses and hold out for them If they are not forthcoming. In England they are willing to race for a sliver mug of little or no value or almost for a sheet of paper stating that they won such and such a race on Buch and such a day at Brooklands. That, of course, has been the trouble In trying to match De Rosier against Collier, the English champion rider. Quite naturally De Rosier wants to race for a fair sised purse, not being in business to collect mugs or diplomat of merit, and efforts are being made to get one of the clubs In England to put up a bag of sovereigns for a match between the Englishman and the American.

Of the three sports now In full swing at Brooklands aviation undoubtedly draws the largest crowd. It still possesses the elements of novelty and danger which have to a large extent disappeared from automobile racing and motorcycling. The flying contests held at the big track are not what one would call exciting. The flights made at each meeting are added to the distance covered by the same aviators at previous meets and the one who compiles the greatest total before the close of the season is to get the prise. Thus, unless one is keen enough to follow the progress of the several airmen from meet to meet the flying re-

solves itself Into nothing more than an exhibition of aeroplaning. Nevertheless, it attracts a goodly crowd of spectators. Interest haß been added to the flying by the fact that a growing number of spectators have been up in the air themselves. When races are not being held at Brooklands there Is a corps of professional aviators constantly on the grounds for the purpose of taking passengers on more or less lengthy flights. Booking offices have been opened in London as well as on the grounds and a flourishing business is done.