Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 29 May 1946 — Page 14
to
RT ERE DBE ree
§
s Tricky ks and Electric Eye
Every Car Recorded for Each Lap; Final
~ Awards Determined by Audit
By LARRY STILLERMAN
‘One of the unheralded features
of the Speedway race and paradox!-
cally the most important is the timing system in the pagoda.
More than 150 men, 35 electric
clocks on one circuit and the most
perfect timing systems in the world keep records on the cArs in the
500-mile classic. < ‘This system, perfected since 101
4 { 1, records time for, each car on each
iap, 10 laps and the total distance; provides information for press, radio,
spectators and drivers, and audits all information prior to making final awards to drivers. Chronometer Key The key unit in the system is the timing machine governed by a ship's chronometer, The chronometer is set at 12 when the race starts. The timing clocks are all marked the same way. 1 The machine is linked with an electric-eye unit on the track aft of the bridge. Each time a car cuts the beam, it breaks a circuit and prompts the machine to record on tape the time in hours, minutes, seconds and hundredths of seconds. Recordings are made each time the car makes a lap. Differences in the lap timings are then calculated on special calculating machines, and
the speed in miles per hour is determined down to thousandths of a irre about that. Veteran race drivers and a couple of sports heading the wholesale grocery firmn|ciation, national governing board.
second. « Watches Car Numbers ©. A. Vawter jots down the car
Rocket Racer Is Challenge To 500-Mile
Idea Belittled, but Duke Nalon Is Confident
(Continued From Page One This Section)
The Duke himself estimated it ‘hoisted his speed from about 100 {to about 140 m. p. h. There was a good deal of dis-
writers disagreed. Nobody really (knew, Nobody , had bothered to
[clock the Duke's speed before and
number after the tape reading. Dou- after the rockets were fired.
ble-checking him are 33 men, each with a number on his back and
Race officials made it clear at
periment with rocket-racing had
above him corresponding to one of |, thing to do with the 500-mile
the cars in the race.
race, this year or next,
4 “Tony” continued to excel in track
the outset that Duke Nalon's ex- |
Hulman, New Boss, Likes
All Sports
(Continued From Page One This Section)
boats on the Wabash river during that: era. - “Tony's” flare for sports came to the front when he ‘prepped’ at Worcester (Mass) Academy, where he graduated with the class of 1919, It was there that he first gained fame on the cinder track and foot ball field + + recognized as the “one-man track team” because of his ability to score in several events. He participated ih many of the Harvard “international scholastic meets at Harvard stadium, winning the hurdle and pole vault, In 1919 he was officially named “best schoglboy vaulter in the United States.”
When he entered Yale university,
and football, He played left end for the varsity eleven .., and was an all-American end in 1024,
Graduated in 1924 He represented Yale and Harvard in the international meet with Ox» ford and Cambridge held at the Harvard stadium in 1921, During the same international meet in 1923 at Wembley, England, he won the
THE INDIANAPOLIS fies Henry Ford Il to Drive Pace Car
Co
Driving this sleek Lincoln continental cabriolet, Henry Ford II
will set the pace for the 1946 Speedway. In the front seat with him will be Wilbur Shaw, president of the race track. This yeal's pacemaker will be the third in the Speedway history to bear the Ford name. Both his famous grandfather, Henry Ford, and his father, the late Edsel Ford, have officiated at previous races,
Shaw, Three-Time Winner, Now Director of Speedway
(Continued From Page One This Section)
1938, won again in 1939 and re“peated in 1940.
0 A crackup in 1841, whe S a newcomer. The winner that year, | p when he was
George Bouders, averaged 03.1 nites | wriibur his life. per hour, Wilbur's mechanic and| relief driver was Louie Meyer, who later won top laurels in his own | right as three-time winner and|
back.
three-time natiorial champion.
Back to the dirt track in 1928 and
sion. He directed the $3000 per year 1029, Wilbur piled up more experi- s ae § per Yeu
high . hurdles, He was graduated from Yale's Sheffield Engineering | school in 1024, As a successful businessman—
established by his grandfather at | Terre Haute in 1850—“Tony"” likes| outdoor sports—hunting, boating, |skeet shooting, and keeping thor{oughbred dogs. One of the many trophies in his |Hollywood+like lodge on his 750{acre farm at Terre Haute is the {Indiana skeet championship trophy |
These men have a series of 200/ They said the race will continue pe won in the all-gauge class B| cards, one for each lap. As soon as indefinitely, the traditional gasoline
his car passes, he looks at the clock and castor oil grind.
before him and puts down the time. These cards can: then. be checked
Publicity Angles
Mr. Nalon's experiment
event by breaking 99 out of 100. There also will be found his trophy for winning second place in|
ence -and greater laurels INYwithin five years 19290 he was declared national dirt| 1 3 hs { Chai track champion of the United States | Hp a Swivel Chaiy by the American Automobile asso-| “Only the war made that possi-
In 1830 Wilbur returned to the I found a personal satisfaction 0diasnaposts Tava. But It seeing the project through.” wasn't un at he got a cut . aj ‘ of the prizes again finishing second | With the war's end in sight and rumors that the Indianapolis to win more money than he had d ould b 5 ever received in a single race. The Peavey would be converted into following year he was out at 37 building lots, Wilbur campaigned for miles and in 1035 he again finished Sume group te buy the track rom
in
within sight of victory, nearly cost He was paralyzed |. | h for some time because of a broken competition I'd find any place. I|Was not slow in catching on In
Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. He sold
second. “Tony” Hulman on the plan and Devoled Full Time {thus Wilbur stepped from a driver's Seasoned for the big leagues Seat to a swivel chair,
now, Wilbur gave up dirt track
with the ‘Cat Cay Tuna tournament in ecompetition in 1936 and devoted ‘all
against the timing tape, blank rockets was purely and simply an 1940 by hauling in the second larg- his time to construction of an In-
places completed and errors cor- experiment, with overtones of a est tuna—578 pounds. In 1940- he dianapoiis Speedway car. The hood [hastily-arranged publicity stunt. As|won third place in the same event
rected.
“This system is like a giant game far as anyone at the Speedway with a total catch of 3189 pounds.
of rummy and spelling bee combined,” quipped Chester S. Ricker, | director of timing and scoring, Mr.| Ricker perfected the system in 1037
knew, never before had rockets béen tested on racing cars. It seemed like a good way to publicize the rockets which the Aero-
Wife Skeet Champion Mrs. Hulman (the former Mary
{Fendrich of the famous cigar family
after newsmen complained of the|Jet division of the General Tire Co. !in Evansville) is one of Tony's most
slowness in announcing official times. 33 Compare Times He explained that ‘the 33 men compare times with their neighbors to determine whether they afe in
10 laps, a messanger takés the first 10 car numbers and with Chief Timer William 8. Powell for the official time as car zips through the electric-
is trying to market commercially. Out of the smoke of the Duke's rockets, and an impressive sight! they were as they hurled the racer ahead projectile-like for a few seconds, has come a challenge, however, to the cord and fabmric of the 500-mile race, After years of traditional bar-
radically new source of power has
on the traditional internal-combus-tion engine alone out of running.
Fear Heat, Smoke
eye circuit,” he continued, “Ken Hurlbut, director of the
Only 45 seconds elapse before the announcement is made to every-
one.” . Operate Scoreboards Other workers around the track operate scoreboards that accurately report the positions of drivers in the first 10 places and. the laps
that separate the cars. Every lapse of time spent in the pits,
or if a car is removed from the is marked on the records in “pagoda score-box.” Since every that starts is entitled to some consolation prize, these records must be accurate. Chief Ricker, who estimates that than
Filed in Washington Analysis of the race is sent to the American Automobile association
headquarters in Washington, D. C., and filed in an archive,
Duke Nalon's experiment, for all the ridicule predominantly conservative race experts heaped upon
it, showed that rockets did give a ‘| vast Increase in acceleration and | first time--as though you've done
could be controlled.
because of the heavy pall of smoke from the exploding rocket which would blind other drivers. Also its heat and thrust might be injurious to drivers behind. Rocket men, feel, however, that the smoke can be overcome and rockets made smokeless. The full force of rocket propulsion for racing cars will be demonstrated in the fall by Mr. Nalon at the Salt Lake City centennial. Last week, racing fans had a glimpse of the rocket-racer. They didn’t like it. Most of them ridiculed it or belittled the idea. But a few of them have been wondering since whether the spec-
| tacular rocket .flash can be kept
away from the Speedway indeflnitely. For rocket-racing poises a challenge which some day the Indianapelis Motor speedway must meet.
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| talented competitors , .
reling around the asphalt course, a n't look it),
come along. It is one which lends | to home and business . . . such a potential increase in speed |diates the friendliness that predom-
as to put the traditional operating |inates in Indiana.
. for she
was three times undefeated skeet champion of Indiana.
If you've gained the impression
{up to this point that “Tony” be-
| longs to the “playboy” set, be sure
to follow the next few paragraphs. At 44 years of age (and he doeshe's the typical conscientious Hoosier who stays close and ra-
Meet him in his office at Hulman & Co. at Terre Haute—home of his nationally known Clabber Girl baking powder—and you'll find the setting hospitable and “small-townish.” ‘Tony’ to Everyone “Tony” will greet you—even the
him a favor by coming. You'll hear
Opponents of the rocket-assist| everyone in the firm—even the eridea at the track point out that|rand boy—refer to him and address rocket races would be impossible,
him as “Tony.” If he's just back from a trip to Florida you might find a large sack of oranges or tangerines on his desk, placed there, he'll say, “because maybe someone might want some.”
All the while, you'll feel like you're talking to the office manager—and he'll be less officious than a typical office manager, When your stay has ended he'll grab your hand and thank you profusely for coming... and niake you feel that he was the one who benefited by your visit. Park for Employees
It isn't for effect , . . anyone will tell you, “that’s Tony.” Like they say about all the things he's done for his home town of Terre Haute.
For instance, the 360-acre Forest park for his employees and their families . . . and $60,000 for a clubhouse for them. He always responds—with cash—to further any worthwhile venture to improve his town. Stand any place in Terre Haute, lean against ‘a building — and chances are you'll be resting on a structure owned by “Tony” Hulman , , . or opefated by a board of directors headed by “Tony” . . or occupied by a civic group under a lease which was a deed or gift from “Tony.” For Terre Haute is “Tony” Hulman's home town and he has made | himself a part of it . . , a part as { vital as the engines which power {the race cars around his Indian- | apolis Speedway. If you're standing at a concession stand and you see a slender, { dark-haired fellow with a bottle of soda in one hand, a hot dog in the other and a friendly “let's-get- | acquainted” smile on his face, just| | say: “Hello, Tony” . . .-you'll probably bé addressing the millionaire who owns the Speedway.
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ished seventh. In 1937 Wilbur won his first Indianapolis victory, finished second in
Mays Sees
‘|1 was “cockier” than ever. For I was
| |
oe Ag) ea
132 M.P.H. as 500 'Peak'
kids around Rivefside, Cal, I wanted to drive a 'hopped-up Ford.
" . »” AT THE END of qualifying. trials
timed third fastest.
Then while “warming up” before] the first heat race, my ®ngine fell apart, I wasn't out of competition - |
|
not yet"for I climbed into the tow |
car that had been used to pull my| entry . . . and kslrove the tow car in the first heat. It soon blew up, too, and I defl- | nitely was out of business for the | day. : For the next two years I drove in| every race possible on the Pacific coast , . . when I wasn't picking ordnges in my uncle's orange grove Then in 1934 I got a chance to come to Indianapolis and try my first 500-mile race, - ” ” | I'LL ADMIT I was full of “ginger” | .. for at last’ I was in the toughest |
¥ =
‘WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1946:
Midget Racing Becomes Big Business, Attendance Rivals College Football
Noted Drivers Find Part-Time Job
—And. Add to
Speedway visitors bearing the-
Their Income”
By.BOB STRANAHAN
magic shield “Track Pass”-—which
permits them to stroll around Gasoline Alley—are certain to find a half dozen or more tiny racing cars quartered alongside the sleek, powerful
500-mile models. These “doodle-bugs,” or midget
racers, represent a part-time occu-
pation for many of the noted drivers—and not a small source of income.
Such’ popular and well-known drivers as Rex Mays, Harry MecQuinn, Tony Bettenhausen, Henry Banks, Louis Durant, Duke Nalon, Duke Dinsmore, Bus Wilbert, Jimmy Wilburn and many others own or drive these miniature racing thunderbolts.
Born on the West coast in the early '30’'s, mitiget auto racing has
spread all over the nation until its)
attendance rivals that of collegiate | football and other major sports, It
|was in the “Wild Bill” Cummings | race-minded Indiana.
| |
A keen businessman, Wilbur set|league now, and when I went out to |a record during the war years as|Qualify I set the fastest pace possichief of Firestone's aircraft divi-|Pie-
If any driver is “wild” when he]
business to $150,000,000 gnnually Makes his first try in the “500,"|
he soon gets over it. For experi-
Tried Indoors Indoor midget “racing at the fair- | grounds 11 years ago drew the' crowds—and then turned them outside, gasping for air after some
|ence in the 500 and in the other gmoky sessions. It seemed impossi-
(self, I'll go back to something like
big league races teaches. you. to never drive “over your head.” You|
{ble,” is his modest explanation, “but don't live long that way.
” ” » ~ | LIKE MANY of the other drivers, I do have obligations. I have a wife, a 6-year-old son, Rex III, and a 14-month-old daughter, Susan Lynn. And when I start to “scare” my-
the tent and awning business I was in when I went to piloting planes for Uncle S8am during the war. » s ”
MANY TIMES young fellows
Now the boys who once raced nave asked me the thing I wanted
against “Sharp” are racing for him. | ts know about 17 years ago:
How
And they look toward a great future |can 1 learn to be a race -driver?
for the world's greatest speedway | fasteners failed to hold and he fin-|. .
. it's the first time a seasoned driver . . {driver has directed -the destiny of [can't . .
You don't learn to be a race , either you can or. you
. you just have a certain
ble to ventilate the building sufficiently to clear the smoke and fufhes and still keep the customers warm . enough to watch the races in comfort. | Promoters turned their attention] to the half-mile fairgrounds ovals after that, and played to thousands during the ensuing summer sea-| ons. It was discovered, however, that { the little cars performed best on | smaller, higher banked ovals and that the racing was more spec- | tacular for the fans. Construction {of several quarter or fifth-mile | tracks over the state followed. New Track | At present, the Consolidated Mid{get Racing association operates
the 500 Mile international sweep-|something that even the race driv-|seven nights a week at five Indi-
stakes,
ers themselves can't describe,
ana tracks and one in Ohio. Crowds
4
of close to 10,000 are not uncommon for the events. Latest midget racing plant is the new Indianapolis Midget Speedway located directly across 16th st. from the 500-mile track. This was constructed at a cost of nearly $100,000. It has been pronounced by drivers as one of the finest midget courses in the nation. Speeds of up to 85 miles an hour are predicted for the new oval. Some Costly The tiny cars being driven in this
(area. vary from the home-made
model powered with anything from“ an outboard to a tractor engine to the = trim, custom-built jobs sent whining around the track with Offenhauser-designed power plants. Some of these cost as much as $5000. But whether they cost a song or a small fortune, theyre all built and raced for the same purpose: To pick up some of the cash which awaits the winner at the checkered flagfall, whether on a county fair track or at the swankier ovals. Uncle Sam found that these drivers came to his rescue during the past emergency. Most of them served apprenticeships as mechanics or grease monkeys before graduating to the pilot ranks. Their knowledge of high-speed engines proved of great value to their
{country during the.-war.
Many of them served tirelessly as aircraft trouble shooters in every area of the war until the army and navy could train experts to help them.
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