New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-14
RACING IN AUTOMOBILES.
SPORT FOR RICH MEN-HOW IT FEELS
TO RIDE AT TOP SPEED.


ali OF the expensive racing machines are i'm
ported which now being bargafned for more
than 100000 viii go abroad as preliminary
expenditure. Next season will also see a half
uoZen american racers the market and as a
racing automobile costs in the neghborhood of
$4,000 the outlay viii be enormous 1t is a
rlch mans sport, at least until the prices come
down, but they regard it as worth the money
There are said to be only two things that men
can 90 with some chance Of coming out alive
that are more exciting than racing automobiles
at the greatest speed One of these is going up
in balloon and the other is taking a deep sea
dive in the submarine boat Holland for which
experience few men have the requisite nerve
Nevertheless. automobiles running at the rate
OF mile in few seconds less than minute
will furnish all the emotions that the most
dulled sense Of excitement can crave. The de-
sire 10 find out where the excitement comes in
and how it feels will induce many to risk their
lives in the new sport.
so you want to take a ride in a racing auto
mobile. do you?" asked Peter J. Fisher jr, the
Government auto" expert when approached by
Tribune reporter. who desired TO find the
secret joys Of the new sport
Ever ridden in one before" he continued
Have taken 81 worth Of ride in an electric
cab" the answer. at which Fisher put up
his nose in digniiied disdan Of the eight miles
hour
We'll you'll have to be broken in before we
hit a speed and I don't know anything better
to do it than a flying trip through the business
district"
He brought around little gasolene runabout.
with thin wheels and a highly enamelled box
with no disiguring machinery hanging between
the hubs. The auto" looked like a thorough
bred. and weighed only five hundred pounds.
There were only two levers one Of which regu-
lated the speed and applied the brakes and the
other steered the front wheels There no
fussing Tuning at the start. This auto" |
was ready. and went ahead with a musical
whirr which soon became almost noiseless The
first stretch of the breaking-in process was over
the crowded and torn uD streets from the City
Hall to the Battery. in Broadway. Fishers foot
continually on the bell. and his steering
lever moving from right to left he lodged
around streetcars and took chances in darling
ahead Of heavy trucks. Four five times on
a block which almost unseated one
was necessary to avoid some heavy thinker who
refused to pay attention to the bell. In every
case they jumped back with a frightened air
the mobile" just missed them. The policemen
at the corners looked with a smile. They
knew Fisher as the man who broke records with
the Postofice automobile collecting wagons and
they trusted him.
After doing stunts" in Wa-st.. to the amaze
ment and disgust OF the teamsters, who could
not understand how a heavy automobile could
make waltz revolutions the slippery pave
ment without dumping over Fisher started out
to break his record for uptown run.
In fifteen minutes we'll be at the Grand
Central Station. and If you live through that
I'll take you for a racing run" he said as the
machine started off at a frightful speed con-
sidering the crush Of vehicles and that the cross
ings were black with people. Fisher has way
Of steering without using his hands which causes
much alarm to the people who witness it. AS he
crossed one Of the side streets two well dressed
women jumped back, considerably frightened. !
The operator raised his hands as one sometimes |
Goes in prayer.
Good heavens, Jane, were nearly run |
over" said one Of the women. THE man was !
praying for us"
It was necessary to run around two blOckades |
before the machine reached a straightaway |
course in Park Row. and swung around into the |
Bowery The operator made up for IT, how |
eyer whenever there was a clear road ahead |
and the station doomed up in just fourteen min |
utes from the time the auto" left WaIl-st |
There seemed to be less traffic in the upper part
Of the city. and the from Forty second st. |
to Sixty-sxth-st. and Broadway was made in |
four minutes. The reporter had managed to
hold to the machine this trip and the opera !
tor ready for the racing experience