Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1917 — HOW DE PALMA GOT STARTED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOW DE PALMA GOT STARTED

Learned His Lesson, Regarding Squareness, in One of His First Motorcycle Contests. Ralph de Palma is, perhaps, one of the squarest automobile racing drivers who ever steered a car. Ralph got into the racing game a score of years ago, when he won a bicycle race at

Buffalo, and with the proceeds he paid for the mount which he pedaled to victory. He learned his lesson, with regard to squareness, in one of his first motorcycle races, the first contest, in fact, which was run by the Federation of American Motorcyclists at the old Manhattan Beach track of Long Island, back in 1903. In that meet Ralph ran under false colors, donning the jersey, hat and goggles of another rider, only to be disqualified and suspended. His suspension, which lasted several years end which kpnt him OUt Of DOt—Qhly “motorcycle contests hut"*autbmobi 1 e and bicycle contests as well, was a bitter pill to the then young speed artist, and it likewise cost him a pretty penny. But lie learned his lesson, and not since that time has Rglphde Palma done a thing deserving of even a reprimand from a race referee.

Ralph de Palma.