Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 41, Number 159, 22 May 1916 — Page 7

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CfUPPOSE at your breakO a$J At j morning -your wife should greet you with this suggestion: "John, let us go to the automobile race today. I feel like taking a walk. We will stroll along' side of the cars and talk to the drivers." It would be enough to make you choke on your coffee. The mere thought of getting too near Jhe modern rubber-shod demons of speed makes ' you wonder if your life insurance is paid tip. To ' attempt to carry on conversation with the huddled forms bent double over the steering wheels of the snorting cars that whiz past, is simply indicative of something uncomplimentary; , But this is exactly the way people went to the first auto race in America -they leisurely walked alongside of the cars and, white history is vague as to the exact conversation between drivers and pedestrians, it is probable that the spectators were "kidding' the drivers. We can even imagine these men being called "stationary engineers" so slowly did their craft move.

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PERHAPS the analogy is not 'literatyre" but it certainly is apt and depicts the idea to eay that racing is the hen that hatched the great automobile industry. , You, who never uw an automobile race, who never drive more than twenty miles an hour and shy from a car famed for its racing as tho it was an untamed animal, are nevertheless indebted to the time annihilating sport for the safety of your car. The literative engineer tells us that "speed spells safety.' In fact, cars in this country were never built in any quantity greater than one or two at a time until one builder was so inspired as a result of what his car did in a race, that he had the preposterous nerve to start building as many as twelve cars. Be it said to his immortal credit that three of these were sold. And they were sold, not bought. It was racing that imbued these pioneers with the courage of their convictions, back in 1895 when fasoline took on a new significance. A )uryea car was entered in America's first automobile race altho the French word "automobile" was not then an accepted term. As the historian measures time this was only yesterday but if you gauge time by what the automobile industry has accomplished, it was long, long ago, back in the dark ages of the self-propelled vehicle. This race was a fizzle, it is admitted. From a historical viewpoint it was one of the greatest single events in automobile history. That the pleasure of motoring down to your office is possible in 1916, and was not delayed until your great grandson's time, is largely due to the fact that a certain newspaper aroused nationwide interest in an automobile race at a time when there was grave doubt whether there was even one car built with enough necessary "merit to permit it to start a race let alone finish.

German Car Win It was known the "Times-Herald '" race, and was postponed time and ajain for the allsufficient reason that, despite the papers enthusiasm and boosting, enough entrants could not be found even with a microscope. It was originally scheduled for July 4. with $5,000 worth of prues to Spur the isolated inventors. Rival newspapers saw an opening here for ''much bolting of fun" at the Times-Herald, but the maa behind it, Kodlsaat, was sot to be denied his

automobile race. Finally, on Thanksgiving Day, consolation race was staged in the streets of Chicago. A Gejthan car Bens entered by Mueller of Decatur. III., won the race and the S500. despite the inherent mechanical trouble of the car and the adverse weather conditions including twelve inches of snow. Duryea's car a one cylinder contraption, driven by a belt started alright, but had a game of tag, your're it. with a team of horses, ending by the Duryea going into the ditch, with a broka wheel. The Men From Home" that is. Hayaes and Appersan from Kokomo, Indiana, were on the job with a car that won $150 pr for the best designed vehicle motor, but it practiced that present day habit of motor-cars, it skidded, and broke a wheel and never got farther than the starting line. - :.."-,. Goas With Barnum Circus But this race gave the automobile Industry a shove, the momentum of which is still gaining impetus. In 1S96, on Memorial Day. John BrisbenWalket fathered another race, the course of which was iu New York City, starting from the City Hall. Duryea s won with ease. Barnum took a Duiyea car after this with his circus as a drawing card and an opportunity for the pru "gent to exert himself, this car was the rival of the "Bearded Lady" and the "Wild Un rom Borneo." Europe s first automobile rce was staged In 1894 from Paris to Rouen, and teive months later the world breath eva momentarily taken away by the dare-devilish perfotmame of Panhard-Levassar car going ?44 miles at an average speed of about 15 miles an hour. The first race that assumed an international aspect was held in London. Nov. 14, 1896. Incidentally, automobile chroniclers record that it was on this day England canceled its ruling that aa automobile had to be preceded in the streets by a man waving a red flag and Other rules that prohibited (peed-maniacism, auch as exceeding four miles an hour. Frapk Duryea won this race with his "Made la U. S. A." car almost an hour before his nearest rival. Contemporary with these race events and resultant of their inspiration and practical proof of the horseless vehicle Success, the great automobile industry was emerging from Ms embryonic tag and feeling its way toward its present magnitude. It was stilt in the crawling period, not able yet to stand on its legs and make the even league strides that later characterized It. But whether we share the enjoyment of motor car racing with its ardent devotees, we must admit of the important function it played in giving US this industry. If Adana Had Aa Auto Time and distance have been the two main obstacles to civilization's progress from the time that Adam stumped his toe while out gathering nuts for breakfast. To get a longer hour and shorter mile has been the object of every age. o that the introduction of this new means of locomotion was in harmony with the world's need. -. v Using this need a the premise motor car bunders began to blossom forth in blacksmith shops, wood sheds, and even domestic kitchens all over the United States. Even our present day First Voter can remember without stripping their memory-gear how almost every cross road had Its genius who was tinkering with wheels, wires

and part from buggies. True tnoet of these motor car forefathers wete looked upon by their neighbor as being just a wee bit off, but few took theaa seriously until now and thea one of them actually got together enough odds and end that would start but would not stopthen there wa consternation, rampant, as a favorite flower bed was Uanegressed or a hitching post bent. Between these first samples at motor car racing , and the present day genuine articles, many things contributed to shape the course of events. Factories sprung up generally and various contests were held, such as twenty-four hour races on mile dirt tracks; the Vanderbilt race that kept folks up ail night and ruined many a digestion; the Crown Point road races, etc. In themselves, they were interesting and worth the price of admission and taken collectively they registered, aa in a Speedometer, rapid progress for the car builders. From a sensational view-point ic remained for four Hoosiers to dream

lrem of thrilNengendering attributes that dwarfed all previous race undertaking. This dream heralded the dawn of today' speedway racing. Indiana Heads the List The Sixth Internationa Sweepstakes race ta to be held at Indianapolis, May 30th. Many foreign entries are promised despite the war. Ralph De Palma won last year in a German made car. C. G. Fisher. A. C. Newby, James Allison and A. C. Wheeler were seated under a spreading maple tree eating a midnight lunch at the Indiana State Fair Grounds. On the horse track two National cars were phlegmaticaJly chasing each other, driven by boys from the shops, (this was before the day of professional drivers), who were determined to race the hand of the clock for twenty-four hours. Perhaps it was the romantic Sicker from the camp fire; maybe it was the moon, or the sandwiches, but certainly

Entries for Indianapolis Race May 30th

Drler Barney OldOeld : Darlo Rest a Eddie O Donnell Wilbur D'Alene Not Announced Eddie Rickenbacher Pete Henderson Not Announced Louis Chrevolet Arthur Chrevolet Gaston Chrevolet Tom Rooney Oil Anderson Harry Stillman Josef Christiaens Not Announced S. Osteweg Ralph Mulford ' C. f. Du Chesneau Tom Alley Mystery Driver John Aitken Charlie Men Carl Limber Jack Le Claia Not Announced . Billy Chandler Louis Johnson

Car Delage Peugeot Dueeenberg Duesenberg Duesenberg Maxwell .Maxwell Maxwell Frontenac Frontenac Frontenac Premier Premier Premier Sunbeam Sunbeam Osteweg Peugeot Du Chesneau Orgen Special Mystery Car Peugeot Peugeot Delage Delage 'pelage Crawford Crawford Crawford

From Los Angeles Europe Minneapolis . Minneapolis Indianagolia Canada". Europe and Detroit Europe and Detroit Europe and Detroit Chicago . Norway Indianapolis London Europe Lee. III. - Brooklyn Kansas City Milwaukee Cleveland Indianapolis Indianapolis Pittsburgh New Orleans New York New York New York

Several more entries ere expected, but the Speedwayjannounces only those definitely signed

something "got a spark" from the brains of these successful business men and started them aeroplaning mentally to dizzy heights. The paradox of it all is that no matter how high their imaginations oard, they kept their feet on the ground. They were not inspired by moneymaking ambitions either. It was the love of the port, and the good of the industry that they bad in mind, for au of them were automobile manufacturers. When dawn came these "men started prospecting for a suitable site near enough to Indianapolis where they could build America' first speed arena. Five mile northwest of the city, as they drove along the dusty rural road, they passed several corn fields where the farmer were beginning their day' plowing. Time plu a lot of hard work ha metamorphosed those corn fields into a great race course, enclosed by high fences and observation towers, endowed, with i two and a half mile paved track with high banked curves, and beautified by flowers, lawns and shade trees to say nothing of the enormous grand stands that eat about 100,000, There was nothing homeopathie about what these men did they thought and acted on a large scale. Today, after you nose your way thru a throng of thousand and thousands of gasoline scented end dust covered tourists from the four corners of the map. and finally find your expensive box seats in one of the mammoth grand stands you have no thoughts of "kidding" the drivers. One is too awed by the splendor and sue of the grounds, by the spectacular array of brightly polished cars and the caln matter-of-fact way the Intrepid pilots prepare to flirt with death. Nine Speedways Today The first race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the dean of them all. was held in August, 1909. It was a 300-mile event. Others have been run every succeeding year ranging from onemile events up to 500-miles and have attracted the finest creations of Europe to invade America and exart every possible effort to wrest the speed laurels. Europe it must be admitted, has had its lion's share of success too, altho a few Americanmade cars have held their own stubbornly. Following the Indianapolis example other cities have built speedways, two of which got on the front page prominently last year, one at Chicago and one at New York. There are in all nine "temple consecrated to the worship of Mercury." More than a quarter million dollars were given away in prizes ia 1915 at the race held on these nine courses. It la the world's most expensive sport. A tingle entry costs about $50,000. Speed spells safety it means a car that endures the abnormal strain, vibration and wear imposed at sustained speed will live longer when in daily routine private owner service. It mean that racing has inspired the industry, has found the mistakes in mechanical construction and ia fact, the race track has been the laboratory where experiment were made and the analytical secrets discovered. We may not believe in racing but we must believe in what it ha done and is still doing. You may own a car of a make that was never in a race but chances are ten to one that the steering knuckle on your car is safe because of what racing taught, some other maker about steering knuckles. If not this, then the type of motor you have or even, maybe, the shape of your car's body.

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