The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-13
A HORSELESS DERBY.
Motor Vehicles on Eps0n's Far
Famed Track.
Interesting Race to BE Held In Eng
land. Racing Machines Built.

At first Thought h0rseleSs DerDy seeins
great deal Ike the play Of Hamlet
with Hamlet left out Yet preparations
arc DOW being made for such an event IN !
England and there Is every INDIGESTION
that this race Of horseless carriages WILL III
a great measure revive an interest which
has not been .elt by mankind since tho
days when the reckless charioteers OF an
oient Rome periied life ond limb to win
applause from the crowded amphitheater'
Such definite form have these prepara-
tions taken and so sure aro she projectors
OF success that already apIsieativn n as peeh
made 60 the EPSON Grand Su nj ai soclation
for the purpose OF obtaining tho use OF THAI
famous race track Cor motor vehicle races
TO be held there from time 90 slime.
One of the prime 'novers in this iptro-
duction .nto the very stronghold OF The
racing horse of race from which all
horses shall Ee banished Is Mr.. Harry d.
Lawson, who, on behalf Of the British
motor syndicate, Is doing all In his power
To hiring these motor meets TO a successful
realization.
1t has been demonstrated by tests and
experimepts that a motor vehicle can 60
nt tho rate of a rnilo a minute, and race
1y,ug along the track with apparently no
motive power, In the opinion Of Mr. Law
son and those interested with him, would
be spectacle fully as fascinating and as
full of interest TO the spectators as was
ever a chariot race In ancient Rome.
A motor car constructed especially for
rucinp PURPOSES is as distinct q machine as
the bicycle sulky of the trotter or the wheel
OF the crack rider. They bear no little re-
sem mblance 60 chariot, being set low ana
of solid construction. There is also ample
| ouporturity for ornamentation, which
would add not little TO the picturesque
effect as dozen of them, guided by caring
| and skillful drivers, como flying abound
| the last quarter at top speed Tor the nnlsh'
What effect tho introduction OF these
motor vehicle races will have upon the fu-
ture Of the race horse Is question upon
which there Is a wide diversity of opinion.
| Many contend thati means the relegating
| of blooded stock to country race tracks ana
the dragging down Of tho noble sport OF
horse racing to tho level Of a mechanical
exhibition,
On the other hand, Dir. Lawson and his
friends say that motor vehicle races Will
not ipterfers with tie present value on
status of tho race horse or in any way de-
tract from the racing now SO popular
through both England and this country,
and instead Of detracting from the presen,
interest In the race truck will simply ado
another feature Of interest 90 an already
Interesting and fascinating sport.
ItispropoEod wien those horseless DerDyi
arc held 70 uniform the drivers OF the ve
h!cles In appropriate race oolors. as is no"
done with jockeys, and also to make th'
motors themselves distinctive In appear
alce.
The element Of chance will not be lack
Ing in these races, as there Is as much dlf
ference between motor vehicles, both III Tn
rpetter of speed and appearance, as there
81 race horses, and motor which VIII rul
well and distance all competitors upon on
tack will often under different condition
aud ON another track be distanced by som
ordinary motor into which has been set
new cylinder, gearing or a new set of rut
Der tires.
1t IL further claimed that such rnces O
these arc tho only practical, ecientilic an
satisfactory method Of testing the merits {
tie different makes, by which progress !
inventive improvement can bo insured
TIE popular ;nterest Will, 80 IL claimed, u
crease in such competitions every year, e
pecially when they are run over hat traci
and before comfortable grand stands.
Asa last argument in favor Of such race
and convincing proof that they will n'
interfere to any appreciablo extent vii
norse racing, Mr. Lawson and his frient
claim that motor vehicle races would
practicable only on dat level tracks, an
that II would ho impossible for thom
interfere in any way with Cross countl
rnces. hurdle races or the work OF hunter
New York Herald.