New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-31
AUTO RECORD SMASHED.
ALMOST n MILE II MINUTE.
Barney OIdfeld Makes 1t IN
1:Of So.

Barney" Oldfeld made himself the hero Of
five thousand people at the Empire City race
track in Yonkers yesterday afternoon. when, in
his big red Ohio built racing car, he coVereo
a mile in / minute and / 80 seconds, lower
ing the worlds automobile record. The race
was probably the most exciting ever witnessed
in America. AS Oldfeld dashed around the
track everybody could that he was risking
his life break the worlds record. HIS Dig
| machine. flashing with gasolene flames. almost
lifted itself from the ground and at each turn,
when it swerved to the outer rail. it seemed as
though it and the rider would be dashed to
pieces. At the supreme moment in the last
heat when Odfeld flashed down past the
judges stand making the half mile in thirty
one seconds, the band added to the excitement
by striking up 'Hiawatha."
When it was announced that Oldield had
made the mile in 1:O1 80. against Alexander
Winton's record of 1:02A, the audience nearly
mobbed him. Society women and members OF
the Automobile Club of America crowded about
the machine where the victor sat. clad in a red
coat, with his face spattered with grease. and
wrung his hands and congrat ulated him. Old
field wanted to know for sure If the time was
official When he was told that it was he actu-
ally cried with joy.
Il am so happy" he exclaimed. "WintOn can
not refuse to race with me now. I have risked
my life but I have If had not made a
slow first mile in the second heat 1 would have
broken all records up to five miles" Oldfeld, in
making the mile in 101 80 not only lowered
Winton's record but he beat his Of :0l 40.
made at Detroit in 1907.
In speaking of Oldfeld's performance, mem
bers of the Automobile Club said that he had
once before lowered the worlds record at a
Western track. but because Winton and others
he
race with him Oldfeld makes his living by au
tomobile racing and he felt the action of his
rivals keenly. He cried for joy to-day. 1t was
said because his victory placed him on an equal
footing with his rivals. where they would he
forced either to meet him or forfeit the colors-
The yesterday afternoon was against
Charles w. Wridgway. of NewYork who rode
in a Peerless car. The race was for the best two
in three fve-mile heats, starting from opposite
sides of the track Oldfeld won both heats,
making the first in 1902 1-5, and the second in
5:31 while his rival covered the distance in
I:13 and 100 The winners time for the first
heat by miles was 80. 200 80. 4:33, o:4o and
1902 1-5 and for the second, lila %, 2:l0 81.
4: % and 5:31. The for handsome
silver trophy emblematc Of the track cham
pionship of America.
There were two other records beaten, besides
the one lowered by Oldfeld Albert Champion,
of Paris gave a five-mile exhibition with
four cylinder 1O-horsepoWer Clement motor
cycle and was greeted with cheers when he
made the first mile in 1;G4 10. beating his pre-
yious record, made at Nailsburg, N j., IN
October. 1901. by eight and One-ifth seconds.
The time for the five miles . minutes 90
seconds an average of mile in | minute
seconds The other fast record established was
by J. l. Blair's 800 pound. :}5-horsepower gaso-
lene ear. which driven by Joseph Tracy made
1 IL 1,a- inc he ha
previous time of 1872. made by Percy Owen.
TWO LIVELY ACCIDENTS.
Before the racing began there was great ex-
citenent on the lawn when Il Victor gasOlene
machine which was operated ny F. d. Maum-
bier took fire and nearly burned up. The acct
dent was caused by leak in the gas pipe. Mr..
Maumbler was looking for the leak with
lighted match when the gasolene tank, contain
ing four gallons of fluid, caughc fire. and in
stantIv the flames shot into the air. Mrs. Albert
c. Bostwck and friends we're sitting in "A big
white machine next to the one which took fire,
and when they what had occurred they
Jumped out on the lawn and fled. Many other
people also hurried get out of the way. For
few minutes 1t seemed as though an explosion
vas bound to occur and there was a panic
among the rich people. who struggled to get
their fine machines out of the way. While
every one else was Fastening TO get out of dan
ger Mr. Maumber who is a young society man,
showed presence of mind by remaining beside
the burning machine until he could turn the
valve and cut off the gasolene supply. This act
not only saved his automobile. but prevented a
lot Of women who could not have escaped from
the neighboring vehicles from having their hand
some gowns spattered with burning gasolene.
After the valve shut off the fire was put
out with pals of water The machine, which is
a new one, was badly damaged.
There was another accident, which the crowd
did not see but which came near costing the
life of D. D Murphy. chauffeur for Albert c.
Bostwick The Standard Oil man one of
The competitors in the second race a three-me
event for gasolene machines of from one thou
sand to two thousand pounds. Mr. Bostwick
entered his 1S-horsepower Daimler, and drove
the motor himself Murphy who is a favorite
chauffeur of the automobilist. rode with him
and as he dashed around the track he sat on the
floor of the car and leaned far out ]. Insley
RIair's Panhard was ahead of Mr.. Bostwick
from the start and the latter trying hard
70 overtake him Close behind Mr.. Bost-
wick came f A La Roche's Darracq car
driven at tremendous speed by its owner
The competition between the Bost~ick and
La Roche machines so great that Mr.. Bost-
wick VAS crowded to the inner rail and before
Murphy could get out of the way his coat was
caught ON the fence and nearly torn off him
The ripping of the coat saved the chauffeur
from, baIpD dragged from the vehicle ip,