The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-27
1893" Is THE FASTER MACHINE,
BUT Is INCONSISTENT.
TREMENDOUS CROWD SAW
THE THRILLING CONTEST.
HAUSEMAN'S MACHINE BROKE
DOWN IN FIRST HEAT.

II Was Proven COncIusiveIy Dhar
When Fit the Big Freak Racer
Can Draw Away From the Bullet
with Ease - Hauseman Proved
Himself n Daring Driver, and 1t Is
Freely Predicted That With Lit
tie More Experience He Will he
Able to Hold His own With old
field.
over 1000 people saw Barney Old
field, driving the famous Winton Bull
lett and e. A. Hauseman, driving the
freakish "999," contest for honors at
the Savannah race track yesterday aft
ernoon. Though there were several
mishaps to the machines the races
themselves were as thrilling as one
could expect
Oldfield won two out of three heats,
but it was. evident that the Bullet was
in no wise match to the big red
devil When running kindly the 1899"
drew away from the Bullet as if the
latter were tied, and the last mile dash,
which decided the contest, was won by
Oldfeld on fluke. :
To the majority of those present the
races themselves, so far as results
went, were disappointing. There were
no close finishes, nor any exciting mo-
ments, beyond the general thrill that
went over spectators as the laundering
exhaust of the racers seemed to verify
throw them around the track at such
a rate that the mere swerving of an
inch in the steering gear would have
been sufficient to send them crashing
into the fence. @5 'ts9
Very few people knew gust what it
meant to circle the mile track in
minute until they saw what a terrific
pace was necessary to make it even in
lilo.
Break Down at Start.
The first breakdown occurred in the
first heat of the race. Both men were
off to a good start with HauSeman a
little in the lead. He quickly increas-
ed this to over a hundred yards and
was gradually drawing away when
two miles had been reeled off, Sudden
ly something went wrong with 1893"
and Oldfield rapidly overhauled HauSe-
man. The crowd eheered, not know
ing that anything had happened until
Hauseman came to a dead stop on, the
hack stretch. In accordance with a
previous agreement the machine
crossing the wire first Was entitled to
victory for that heat, and Oldfeld was
declared the winner of the first heat.
In this race it was clearly demon
strated that 1893" was the fastest of
the two machines, but could not be
depended on. In coming DOWN. the
stretches and even on the turns Old
field let the little, Winton ppachil1e oft
to her full speed limit. Hauseman
could not do this with the freakish
racer. No man would be willing. to
take the turns at the terrific clip that
''999'' runs, and in taking up and let
ting out again Oldfeld got the advan-
tage Immediately after the first heat
Oldfield said that he was surprised to
see how well Hauseman handled the
big machine. II did not calculate he
would drive as fast as he did said
Oldfeld,. land if he can keep this up
he will beat me easily"
Hauseman Won a Heat.
After a wait of fifteen minutes in
which both machines were 'groomed for
the second contest a standing start
was agreed on. The race was at three
miles and Hauseman was the first to
show in front. Both machines open /
ed exhaust in front of the grand stand
and the reports were like unto rapid
fire battery in full play. Hauseman
was first to get away, and this time the
big red machine seemed in perfect
trim.
She SKINNED around the turns and
over the back stretch like bird, and
swinging down the home stretch was
flying along at such a pace that the
spectators rose as one person and I
cheered. Just as the machine flashed
by the gate nearest the stables 1t
swerved slightly and screams went up
from those near the fence. The wheels
dashed into small puddle OF water
that had been made by water from the
engines OF. the machines and a dozen
or more people were literally covered
with mud. 1t was all done so quickly
that Hauseman was flying around the
far turn before many realized that
they had not really been hit by the
racer.
Fastest Mile Was 1908.
The fastest mile of the afternoon was
made in this race, Hauseman making
the last mile in los. Oldheld broke
down after going mile, and the heat
went to Hauseman; and he was clear
ly entitled to it.
Owing to the bad condition or both
machines it was decided to decide the
contest with one mile dash, which
OldfeEd won by getting off to- 2 full
flying start, and getting a. full tssix-
tenth to the good before Hauseman
was in good pace. >I
The same annoying delay that has
always characterized races AT the. Sa-
vannah track was experienced by the
large crowd yesterday. But for the
band which enhanced the value of 81
lence between waits the delays would
have been doubly annoying.
Following is a summary Of the three
heats: w
First heat, five miles, won by Old
held, Hauseman failing to finish. Time,
los, 1903, Iii, 1:12 and ITO, total for
the five miles, $50.
Second heat, three miles, won by
4. A. Hauseman, Time, 1909, 1907 and
l;O5, total for three miles, 3:21.
Third heat, one mile, won by Oldheld
In ITO.
From Savannah the racers will go