The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-12
OFFICIALS CHOSEN
FOR AUTO RACES
Sam Ross to Referee the
Events.
MANY ENTRIES ARE ASSURED
Some of the Entrants Have Already
Tested Their Cars at Benning
Race Track.

The committee having in charge the
automobile races TO be held on the we'll
known Benning race track, Labor Day.
are making rapid Roadway toward per
fecting arrangements for this event
Possibly 1900 of our citizens have wit
messed sports Of this character. and
most Of that number were present at
the race meet held last year at the half
mile track at Brightwood. Full speed
was then out of the question owing to
the shortness of the track, and the down
grade approach TO one Of the turns. 1t
was little short of miraculous that no
one was hurt.
This year, thanks to the generosity of
the Washington Jockey Club, automo-
bile races will be held on one Of the best
race tracks in the country. Prior to Sc
curing the sanction Of the American
Automobile Association the track was
tested by racing on il several of the
very fast automobiles in the city, with
the result that they found it possible to
make the turn with perfect safety while
at speed in excess of fifty miles an
hour. Two of the machines engaged in
a friendly brush for a distance of three
miles, and passed under the wire bat a
Few yards apart. Neither was let cut
10 the limit.
Automobile races are OF great inter
est and draw tremendous crowds where
ever they are held. Now that machines
are entered under the new cIassifica-
ton there IS little chance for racing
events TO develop into professions; now
they wind up with hair-raising finishes.
Applications for entry blanks began
to come in in large numbers before they
were dry from the press. II was long
after hours before the chairman Of the
racing committee had finished filling or
ders for them. so that it Is already set
tied that there viii be so many entries
that trial heats will have TO be run off.
These VIII take place in the morning a.
II o'clock.
Track Officials Selected.
All the track officials have baen Sc
lected, and have signified their inten-
-tion TO be on the ground promptly for
their respective duties.
Sam Ross. a member Of the Washing
ton Jockey Club, viii be the referee.
The Washington newspapers furnish
The judges. who are George S. Nc
Curdy Of the Post" H. II. Fry, Of
the star" and Thomas Rice Of The
Sporting goods men will do the tim
ing-Claude Turner from Sax & Co.; E
&. WalfOrd, Of D. WalfOrd & Sons, and
W. c. Thacher, Of a. G. Spalding &
Bros.
c. Royce Hough and Rudolph Jose. of
the Pope Manufacturing Company, viii
act as starter and clerk Of course, re-
spectiVely.
Umpires TO watch the racers at the
turns and see that the rules of auto
mobile racing are strictly obeyed are as
follows: John G. Wood. the National
Automobile Company, Of Washington;
Z. r. Alexander, manager Washington
branch Of Baker Vehicle Company; and
p. J. Lockwood Washington representa-
tive for the Stanley steamer.
The racing committee IS composed Of
2: J. Ratigan, Milford Spohn. John B.
Dickman, Harry ". Sherman, and c. w.
WinslOw.
Machines Tested.
Quite number Of prospective entrants
have already been speeding their ma
chimes on the track and accustoming
themselves 10 taking the curves at ever
increasing speed. so that they Will be
able 10 give a good account Of them
selves IN the battles for the ten hand
some silver cups hung out for them
TO capture.
The five events are well arranged TO
suit the conditions in this city as 70
1.-THE machines eligible for these races, so
that all have fair chance and are
well matched. II IS already known that
the owners Of a number OF the large
power cars are going 70 have their ma
lcbines on the track, and in many in
.stances viii drive their own vehicles.
This in itself assures good races.
Practically all the dealers will have
more than four entries, and some OF
them viii have as many of their ma
chimes entered as possible. in order 70
stand a better chance Of winning the
cups with the machines they REPRESENT