The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-24
To Be MECCA
OF AUTO RACERS
CITY NEEDS ONLY SPEEDWAY.
ROY A. RAINEY THINKS ONE
COULD BE BUILT At LITTLE COST.


COULD BE BUILT At LITTLE COST.
Would Make savannah Peer of Any
Resort in SOuth-Speedway should
BE so Feet Wide and Miles Long.
Would BE More Than Self-SuppOrt-
ing-Savannah's Natural Advan-
tages Would Insure It's Success.
w. It. Rainey to Make Extensive
Improvements at New Home
Savannah will become the automobile
resort of the South if a speedway that
will allow of long distance races is con-
structed.
This is the opinion of Mr. Roy A. Raj
ney of New York. He thinks that such
a course could be constructed at COM
paratively a small expense and that it
would pay for itself in a short time, in
addition to proving of untold value to
the city, because of the advertising
that it would give, and the number OF
people that, consequently, would be at
tracted to the place.
Mr.. Rainey's idea is that a straight
away course should be built sixty or
eighty feet wide and at least five miles
long, and that rights of way should be
secured so that it could be extended in
definitely as the demand for a longer
course arises. A fence to keep it free
during races and the very small eX
pense of keeping it in repair would be
! all the further expenditure that would
be needed after it was once built, he
says.
Such a track could be built here
cheaper than probably anywhere else in
the country, Mr.. Rainey says, for the
nature of the soil is such that it needs
only to be levelled and then surfaced
with Augusta gravel which will make
an ideal track. The use of convicts to
do the work would keep the cost of la
Dor down to the minimum.
Fastest Track in World.
Comparing the possibilities of such
| a speedway at Savannah with Ormond
| Beach, where all the great automo
| bile events in the South are now held,
| Mr.. Rainey thinks that so great would
be Savannah's advantages that for
every 1900 persons that attend the Or
| mond races, 5000 would come to Sa-
vannah Everything is in favor of this
city, he says; it's climate is ideal, it is
easy of access for visitors, and there
| is no trouble in the transportation of
| machines. They can be shipped by
steamer a day or two before their own
| ers leave the North and are here, I'M
! loaded and ready for use when their
| owners arrive. 1t takes g, week to get
| them to Ormond.
| A speedway at Savannah would not
need to be advertised; it would adj
| Vertise itself, and aside from the adj
vantages of being easy to reach, would
attract automobilists here because 1T
would be much faster than the Ormond
beach. In fact, Mr. Rainey says, that
track built of Augusta gravel would
be the fastest in the world.
The track could be operated either
| by charging a certain fee for its use
| or by forming a club with annual dues,
this income in either case to offset the
expense of maintenance, and to pay
| the stockholders for the original out
lay. Prizes could be offered in each
| event, and the cost of them secured by
charging an entrance fee.
AutOmObiIists Enthusiastic.
Mr. Rainey is most enthusiastic in
| the matter and so are other prominent
automobiles who are familiar with
| other resorts of the country, and yet
| think Savannah offers greater advan-
| tages than any of them. Several Sa-
vannahians have been spoken to in
| regard to the matter and there is ev-
J cry probability that serious considers
| ton will be given the plan either by
several individuals, or by the Chamber
| of Commerce.
| SaVannah's natural advantages as
| a general tourist resort have impressed
| Mr.. Rainey as much as its possibilities
| FS.. nhf 81 Tn n
| dition to the excellent climate, the
town is most attractive, the streets
| well paved number of pleasant re-
sorts are near by, and there is always
| something to be seen, or to be done.
| The last named quality Mr.. Rainey
thinks one of the greatest attractions
to tourists. People will not stay in
a place he says. unless there is some
| thing to interest and amuse them.
Another great attraction of the city,
Mr.. Rainey thinks, is the course of the
| Savannah Golf Club. With some work
and expense. he believes it could be
put on Fpar with the best in the
country.
show Faith in City.
That the visitors have faith in the
city and enjoy their visits here is
shown by the fact that Mr.. W. T..
Rainey has bought the Point Place at
| montgomery, WHlCu ne VIII Sieduy
improve, and where, it is his present
expectation, he will spend the greater
| part of each fall and winter.
| Among the improvements to be
| made will be the erection of a house
for the proprietor, and another a sort
| of bachelors club house, for his
friends. The road leading to the es-
tate will also be put in good condition.
1t will be Strengthened so that Mr..
Rainey and his guests can make the
| trip in their machines between the
! ,;txy apd NTnnf0OnnarV in SoInathinp