Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-12-05

Is Il possible 10 love an automobile.
TO lavish upon that huge mechanical
contrivance OF startling speed abili-
ties something akin TO ihc devotion
that owners. trainers and jockeys
feel for their fayorite horses? II any
one doubted such a possibility a visit
10 any point OF the Vanderbilt Cup
course on Long Island would promptly
have dlspelled that illusion. says the
New York Times
Every village adjoining the twenty
eight-mile race circuit. every farm
house. Il Is almost safe 20 say every
stOlid driver OF the big. slow-moving
market wagons. was infected with
that peculiar fever which the excite
ment Of automobile racing engenders.
The Infection was contagious. A
stranger could not help catching Il,
and within less than twesty-four hours
he would be inquiring a. eagerly as
one OF the garage attendants n Ian
Cia. the fat. good-natured Italian. had
beaten Hemery's time. or u George
Heath would outstrip the speed Of the
Frenchman bearing the sibilant name
OF Szisz.
The seriousness and the eXcitability
Of automobile racing have never been
exhibited with such intenseness In
America as was the case during the
days OF preparation for the Vanderbilt
Cup race. II needed the advent Of
these daredevil foreign drivers 20
show how everything else dwindled
into significance before the vital ques-
ton OF winning an automobile race.
In the French and Italian garages
nothing else was talked about, was
even thought about. and more than
one driver. In his humorous moments.
told OF dreaming OF how he overcame
the trials % the Guinea road and the
horrible IS" turn. finishing the TWEEN
ty-eight miles In miraculous time. In
deed. judging from some of the times
that were doled out to credulous visit
ors. II Is evident that some Of these
dreams bordeTed dangerously upon
the realm Of reality.
The French and Italian drivers were
insanely jealous OF their regulations
and az the cars made their regulations
they we're deeply sollcitous regarding
the welfare Of their monstrous ma.
chimes. II was amusing as well as In.
teresting to watch the care bestowed
upon these time annihilators. Besides
the driver. who bore the same relation
10 his car as the jockey does 20 his
race horse. each car had a small army
Of attendants. and when they all got to
work preparing a. for a fast trial run
before daylight they looked through
the grayish light that precedes the
dawn like 80 many busy insects hover
ing over an elongated piece Of mech
anism supported on four massive low
wheels
Above the roar and pounding Of the
motors as the engines we're tested
could be- heard the shrill. excited
voices ~ the workmen as they
screamed ont their orders from one 10
another Perhaps two men would be
wriggling on the ground under the
car. their arms and legs working in a
fronzied effort TO adjust some invis.
ible screw or tighten up a loose bolt
Then with a quick movement their
crimy faces would emerge. and per
haps four or six men would eagerly
bend over the throbbng motor. listen
ing intently for any sound that would
indicate imperfect conditions.
Amid the horrible noises and the
deafening retorts from the exhaust
pipes a novice would have found %
difficult 20 distinguish any variation
IN sound. Not so with these experts
Their ears knew exactly where every
sound came from. and II % didn't
crack and sputter in just the right