New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-07
AUTOMOBILE RACES.
A THRONG WITNESSES HORsELEss We
HICLES IN COMPETITION AT
NEWPORT.

Newport. R. l.. Sept. 6 (SpeciaD.-Probably never
since the steeplechase races at Sachuest Point
eral years ago has anything like such a crowd of
people been at any contest in this city
assembled this afternoon at Aquidneck Park wit
the automobile races. about which much
has been said and written during the last few
weeks 1t is estimated that from 5000 TO 10000
persons went from Newport and the four
miles of country road leading to the grounds were
thronged never before Vehicles of every de-
scription including all sorts of automobiles and
everything in town capable of being drawn by a
horse were there in countless numbers; electric
cars ran full TO their utmost capacity and hun
dreds of persons wa4Ked to the grounds. 1t is be-
lieved that anywhere from fifty to hundred auto
mobile carriages were at the park
The contests which were arranged By the Ma
tonal Automobile Racing Association. OF which W.
X Vanderbilt, jr.. Is president, believed to
have been the first automobile races in this coun-
try. There have been some contests at various
points, but this apparently the first organized
and well developed attempt to have meeting
with these machines similar in character to those
in which horses figure. 1t was at first hoped to
have the races the Ocean Drive. but this proved
impracticable. and Aquidneck Park secured
The track is considered excellent one. being
sixty feet wide at the turns. 1t dry that
obscured them from view during large part Of the
racing.
In respect at least the racing was a disap-
pointment so many different kinds of vehicles were
in almost every class so poorly matched
that few Of the heats developed any real racing. In
a number OF cases. however the entries fairly
even and good contests resulted. The arrange
ment for the such to give ample
room for the contestants.
In the preliminary heats not over three vehicles
were allowed, and in the finals only two could
start In the final race for the championship four
vehicles, one a tricycle. were eligible to compete
Contestants were divided into four classes-gaso-
lene, or explosion. engines; steam engines, cleo
trio storage battery carriages and tricycles pro-
PEELED by gasolene. There were two trial heats
and final heat in each class, making twelve
races. and the last championship race, open
to the four winners. This shows relative speed
merits of the winners of each style Of machine.
The distance five miles, ten rounds Of the
required to carry its full seating capacity Of pas
sengers: The first prizes, handsome silver cups.
H P Belmont tricycles. and Mrs Hermann Gel
richs, for the final championship race and special
prizes by manufacturers of automobiles Second
prizes in all classes were presented by the Ma
tional Automobile Racing Association, The judges
and Charles L: F: Robinson: ,...,,.. -
professionals and society people but the winners
deed. W K vanderbilt jr,. who won the cham
pionship. was the only society competitor to take
mann n oerichs S and Bishop Whining in their Classes
by ta &eI G I'm f 1 the the oans
person. except that Stuyvesant Leroy handled Mrs.
Ganer. while Harold vanderbilt's tricycle. was rid
den by a professional. The summaries.
Race No electric vshle.es9mg1ESt heat Won by MT
Riker. iO:44; S. c, Crane io:521s second q. H De
forest withdrew at half a mle); final heat
by A. L. Riker 1905. Mrs. oelrichs did not finish
Race N9 cyoes.F1Ts st heat won R BY a. K SkiD
derbIt not timed third second by Charles s.
Henshaw e52. Royal Phelps Carroll did finish.
Final heat won by A Skinner. 9:12 Charles S.
Henshaw did finish.
Race No. (steam vehcles)-First heat won by s. 7;
Davis 1045a John Jacob Aston did not finish; second
heat won by F. H. McDufee 10:58: George I. Scott.
1915 second Ct. Griffin did hnish); final heat
won by F. H. McDunee 1852. s. T. Davis broke down
Race No. CgasoIene vehicies)-First heat by w
X Vanderbilt. jr. s;5s1a Peter Fisher. 1323 second
finish: second heat, H Bishop
by default; final heat by W. K Vanderbilt IT.,
$751;: II. Bishop $50, second
Final cnampionshp race (aI machines)-Won by w
K vanderbilt 1r gasolene. s:04 A. K. skinner try
second A L Rker electric 1O;2S "a third;
F. II. Duffee steam. did not finish