The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-09-23
TO CONTEST FOR
ASTOR CUP PULLED OFF
THIS MORNING.
Test Made of the Machines That are to
Defend American Title to
Trophy.

NEW YORK, Sept. 3.-Although
today's automobile race is really only
a preliminary to the great Astor cup
race which will be held on Saturday,
October IA, it has attracted a large
number of enthusiasts for the racing
sport from all parts Of the country.
Today's event was for the purpose of
testing the various makes of machines
which will compete with the machines
of foreign make in the Aston cup race,
which is an international trophy event.
American machines by an elimination
trial over the same course over which
the Vanderbilt race will be run.
The following machines took part
in the preliminary run this morning:
Col. Alb. A. Pope's SOnorsepower Pope
Toledo, r. H. Lydia, driver, Hartford
Automobile club; Albert L. Pope, Hart
ford, Automobile club of America, 30
horsepower Pope Toledo, B. N. Ding
ley, driver; DR.. H. E. Thomas, Chicago,
Chicago Automobile club, 120-horse-
power Locomobile, Joseph Tracy,
driver; c. w. Matheson, Holyoke,
Mass, Automobile Club of America,
40-horsepower Mathewson, Tom
Cooper, driver; L. H. Palmer, Brook
Ign, Long Island Automobile club, 40
horsepower Matnewson; G. A. Weld
ley, Indianapolis, Automobile Club of
America, 60-horsepower Premier
Carl Fisher, driver; Elwood Raynes,
Kokomo, Ind, Chicago Automobile
club, 4O-horsepower Haynes, Frank H.
Mutt, driver; Col. E. H. R. Greene,
Dallas, Tex, Automobile Club Of Amer
lea, 50-horsepower Franklin, w. F..
Cleveland, Cleveland Automobile club,
32-norsepower Royal, Robert Jerdine,
driver; Windsor T. White, Cleveland
Automobile Club Of America, 5O-horse-
power White; Harry Haupt, New
York, Buffalo Automobile club, 60
horsepower, Thomas, Mortimer Rob-
erts, driver.
,arfn n
every respect and there was not the
slightest hitch at any stage. The
start was made at half past five in the
morning from the Jericho turnpike,
where about 1900 persons occupied the
grand stand. From the starting point,
which was about three-quarters of a
mile west of the Minsola railroad
crossing, the course ran to Jericho,
thence north to East Norwich, then
over the North Hampstead turnpike
to Greenvale, then south on Bulls
Head road to Willis avenue and on
Willis avenue back to the starting
point. The course is trif1e over twen-
ty-nine miles long. 1t had originally
been intended to make the distance for
the elimination race 2S3 miles, the
same as that for the cup race, but after
considerable wrangling it was decided
to shorten the distance for the pre-
liminary race to 1872 miles. This
caused considerable dissatisfaction as
it gives lighter machines, built for
speed only, an advantage over the
heavier machines, which are built for
endurance more than for speed, as en-
durance is the most important factor
in a 300-miIe race.
Last year the race was run in an
opposite direction, but this year the
management decided that the turns
should be taken to the left, to avoid
some of the most dangerous spots,
thus diminishing the danger from acct
dents. Something new was the COM
pleteness of the telephone arrange
ments over the whole course. There
were telephone stations along the
course at intervals of five miles or less
and with operators at each instrument.
The roadbed had been put in the bes'
condition possible and plentifully ollie j.
to prevent the excessive dust which
in many spots. The whole course was
thoroughly policed and a fagman was
arrangement had been made with the
railroad company to prevent blocking
of the crossing during the progress of