The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-14
TROUBLES OF AUTO CUP RACE.
FIRST EYE WITNESS BACK SAYS
GASOLINE CAUSED DEFEAT.
Charles ID. shanks Friend OF winton and
owen states That Americans Could
Only Get Russian GasOlene for Cars
--Parafin stopped Up tho Valves.

Only Get Russian GasOlene for Cars
-Parafrin stopped Up tho Valves.
Charles B. Shanks. the first TO return Of
the American party that went to Ireland
In quest of the international automobile cup.
arrived here on tho Etruria on Saturday
night. Yesterday. In response to inquiries,
he gave out a long statement OF the cup race
from the Winton viewpoint which affords a
novel reason for the failure Of Winton and
Owen to finish In the race. The story told by
Mr.. Shanks Is On interesting one. but it should
DO mentioned that Mr. Shanks is prominently
connected with the company that makes the
Wlnton cars used by Owen and Winton.
Mr. Shanks says:
Bad Russian gasolene was responsible for
the poor showing made by the Americans In
the race. Neither Winton nor Owen had
single accident during the race due either to
the machinery OF their cars or their handling
was soeiy respo Se for ali the mshsps
which they encountered. The best grade Of
gssolene obtainable for the trials was %
degrses The worst that can be bought in
the United States Is AZ degrees.
Two days before the race we heard that
the French and German contestants had
brought with them supplies Of gasolene OF
sccustomed to use in Continental races.
We also learned that the English competi--
tors had special brand OF petrol, SO that
shat our eompetltor: had been ioreSarnsd
on the spot. That was a heavy handicap.
,- Next day ! found a dealer 1,. r. New
had stock Of Russian gasolene on band:
tested II myself by q hydrometer and found
It registered u, so therefore felt very con-
arranged for its transportation to 1imolin.
where II arrived at $50 o'clock on the eve
Of the race. On the morning, OF the race the
O'Clock. bound for the starting point
BY the time Mr.. Wlnton was called TO tho
tape he had already discovered that some
thing had gone wrong with his machine. A
failed 10 disclose the slightest cause for tho
obstinacy. Feeling confident that II was not
the gasolene. since we had already overcome
to look for the trouble was In the carburetor.
But even here everything was In good con-
dition. Then the inlet valve nipple. through
to the carburetor. was examined. BY blowing
through this we found II was stopped up.
Here was the trouble, A wire probe forced
paraffine: The much Wanted Russia gaso-
lene. which we had supposed would smooth
oil our difficulties. was. after all, the cause OF
our undoins. AS the sa;gol enc. was forced
buretor the parafflne separated and collected
In the inlet valve nipple. The feed to the
carburetor was completely cut on as conse-
quenoe.
AT the time for his departure. $40 O'Clock
in the morning. Mr.. Winton was working
with the cantankerous motor; Forty min
utes later when the trouble had been located
and temporarily remedled and the carburetor
reattached to the motor. Mr. Mlnton drove
UP to the starting point and was OFT and away.
Half way round the first circuit. however,
the motor evidenced the same obstinate
tendencies as were experienced at the start
ing tape; the remedy must he effected as
before and the process consumed many
over and oyer again it was the
same story. All dav long until late In the
afternoon when the winners had passed the
wire and the race WIS declared
over the two Wintons battled with this here
tofore unencountered .paraiflne. evil This
been encountered In this country. with Ameri-
can gasolene: We never look for paraffne
because We know II il not there, and We did
not expect IL as a source Of possible difficulty
in Ireland. Mr. Owens experiences We're
the same as Mr. WintOn's
Late in the afternoon when the Wlnton
cars had covered little more than two-thirds
IF the complete course OF $40 miles. the order
came to stop. The race was over. and all
contestants were instructed to leave the
course. Five cars had crossed the finishing
inc our two cars were on the road, and the |
Ave other cars Of the twelve starters had |
fallen by the wayside. The Winton cars had |
therefore, the unique distinction of being |
he only contestants ordered to stop running.
Had II not been for this COMPOUNDED paraifine.
hey would have stopped running OF their
,wn accord, but only after passing the finish
ng wire in the winning class. or that am
absolutely confident, and / may say that
,yery one who saw the perform ance OF the
ears thought and said SO too"