The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-22
BARNEY OLDFIELD AND CHARLES
GRAHAM HAVE SIGNED
AGREEMENT.
WILL COVER DISTANCE IN
UNDER MILE A MINUTE.
SIRs r. 4. BRYSON MADE THE DEAL
IN NEW YORK A FEW DAYS AGO.

Contest VIII Take Place About Feb.
2-Rneers Will Stop In Savannah
ON Their Return from the Inter-
national Meeting Which viii he
Held at OrmOnd Beach Next Week.
other Famous AutOists VIII Come
Here to Witness the Contest, and
other Events VIII Be Arranged.
Arrangements have been made for a
match race in Savannah some time
about Feb. between Barney OldfeId
the champion auto driver of America
and Charles Graham of New York.
who is also famous chaffuer.
This announcement was made in a
letter received in Savannah yesterday
from Mr.. II. A. Bryson. who is now
in New York, attending the Automo-
bile Show at Madison Square Garden.
Oldfeld and Graham will stop in Sa-
Vannah en- route from Ormond Beach,
Fla, where they will enter the inter
national races to be held there COM
mencing Jan. 2S, to New York.
In his letter Mr.. Bryson stated
that he had made terms with these
two famous auto drivers to race five
miles on the Savannah track, and that
unless they covered the distance with
in five minutes that they We're not to
receive any of the gate money This
is guarantee that the fastest mile
ever covered on a Southern race track
will be made when the two 120-horsA-
power racers, steered by fearless chat
1eus, go against each other. To at
tain this high rate of speed will involve
no little danger especially on the turns
to the track. Special arrangements
will be necessary in banking the turns,
as it will be necessary to run at a
speed considerably less than mile
minute on the stretches to come within
the time limit
Going to OrmOnd Beach,
Oldfeld and Graham will go to Or
mond Beach, where they will enter
their machines against the fastest au-
tos in the world. Nine of these speed
marvels arrived in Jacksonville yes
terday on the Clyde Line steamship
Arapahoe. They will be shipped to Or
mond in time for the races which be-
gin next Thursday.
Mr.. Bryson has not announced his
plans for the race between the two
famous autoists, nor has the date been
set. In addition to the match there
will be a number of other events in
which some of the other visiting auto
lists will participate. The fve-mile
race, however, will be for the worlds
championship on a circular track.
other AutOists Coming.
In addition to Messrs. Oldfeld and
Graham there will be "a number of 9th
er famous autoists here. Messrs
Rainey, who are well remembered here
will reach Savannah some time next
week. They will bring three ma
chimes with them, and may be pur-
suaded to race at the same time the
championship event is pulled off. Mr..
Howard Gould, the actor, is also COM
ing to Savannah at the same time with
the Messrs. Rainey. he, too, having
heard of the excellent roads in this
vicinity for following a sport that is
daily growing in favor.
Mr.. Bryson will return to Savannah
early next week and make arrange
ments for the race. He may find it
necessary to build up the banks at the
turn of the track. The momentum with
which the machines will strike these
turns after hustling down the stretches.
will be unusually dangerous, unless
there IS sufficient elevation on the
southside.
Such race as will be pulled off will
be highly exciting, and for the first
time Savannahians can see just what
II means to cover the mile circuit in
a minute. Oldfield will drive a car of
MS own patterning, and Graham will
drive ono Of the famous Mors racers.