New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-24
AMERICAN CARS QUALIFY.
DTNGLEYsS DARING DRIVE.
He Races ODer Vanderbilt Cup
Course at Railroad Speed.
az 60 . % TrLbune.l

the American cars for the second international
automobile race for the William X. Vanderbilt
Cup which VIII be contested for on October II.
Cheered by thousands, who lined both sides Of
the course the winner completed the 1882 miles
in hours and 80 seconds, an average of almost
ffty-seven miles an hour. which is the fastest
tine ever made in road race in this country.
The average made by George Heath the win
ner Of the Vanderbilt Cup race last year, was
hfty-three miles an hour. while the time made
by Dingey is four miles hour bet
ter It must be taken into consideration,
however that there were controls in the race
last year. at which the machines were compelled
TO stop. IN the elimination trials to-day there
were no controls. nor viii there be in the race
itself which takes place over the same course
on which the machines raced to-day. The Win
ming car is the same one Dingley drove IN the
last Gordon Bennett Cup race.
Only ffly-nine seconds behind the winner.
Joe Tracy in the big 90-horsepower Loco
mobile Of DR.. H. E. Thomas came In for second
prize in . hours minute and 49 seconds. 1t
was said that Tracy was instructed before start
ing not 10 let the LoconobIle car out. This car
also represented this country in the recent Cor
don Bennett race. and was driven by Tracy who
has a reputation as daring and skilful driver
both on the track and road.
The three other places on the American team
were won by a Royal Tourist. q Haynes and
a Thomas car, respectively. The show
ing Of these three cars was extremely crafty
ing, and every one who saw the race to-day
went away feeling that America had a formula
bic team TO oppose those Of France, Germany
and Italy, which viii take part in the big race
next month
The time Of the Royal Tourist driven by
Robert Jardine which got third place, was ,
hours 10 minutes and IS seconds, while that of
the Haynes car, driven by Frank Mutt and
E-z-H . %
% seconds Fifth place was by the Thomas
car. driven by n. Roberts which completed the
course in hours % minutes and 20 seconds.
That the race passed of without serious acct
dent miracle, when it is considered that
the course was slippery in places and had many
sharp turns. IN addition, the drivers OF several
of the cars were inexperienced in road racing |
and most OF them had been over the course only |
e few times.
The most serious accident of the race hap
pened 10 Jardine and the Royal Tourist, and
q cry OF horror broke from the bystanders, for
il seemed certain that both chauffeur and ma
chinist were killed. II rounding the Guinea |
Woods turn, at fifty miles an hour clip. on the
third tour Of the course the car skidded and
turned over, Incredible as it seems both men
succeeded in jumping from the machine in time
10 escape serious injury. What is even more
wonderful Jardine had the nerve and COoIness
to shut of the power before jumping. All who |
saw the accident supposed, Of course, that the |
car was badly damaged and out of the race
Oddly enough, however, it suffered little injury
and with the aid of the bystanders was quickly |
rtghted- The steering wheel and rod were found |
20 be bent and the rear right wheel was sprung,
while the water tank was leaking; Only three
and the car was of again.
The 120-horsepoEver Christie car came near |
running into tree at Jericho on the second |
round. Robertson the driver, vas trying TO |
make Up the time he had lost in the first round
Rhen q tire exploded while The car was going at
|
and It was only by a few inches that the car |
escaped climbing a tree. Christie asked per
mission to put on q new wheel ana was allowed !
TO do so the condition that he matter would |
be considered later by the commission. The |
Christie car did not finish.
The big 90-horsepower Pope-ToIedo driven by |
Lyle, finished the first round in next best time /
70 the winner, but unfortunately -swerved into |
q tree at East Norwich and broke its frame |
Luckily neither Lyle nor the machnist was /
hurt but the car had TO drop out of the race /
The White steam car broke a toggle right at |
the start Of the race A new was taken from |
a touring car, but not before a loss Of 20 min |
utes- In the second round II announced |
at the gTandstand that the machine had broken !
its universal joint Throughout the race II was |
not running right.
When the first i've cars had finished the race |
the others were so helplessly in the rear that |
The officials stopped the and named the first
FIVE finishing the winners. 4 more perfect day !
FOR the race could not have been asked for /
The weather was more Ike midsummer than |
fall The race, which started and ended IN |
front OF the grandstand, at MIneola, sched- !
uled TO begin at 4. but at that hour there |
barely light enough 70 see, and the hrst |
car was not sent off until $50 g. N.
William <. Vanderbilt, jrY and Mrs, Wander |
bflr were in the grandstand long before the |
start. The stand was comfortably filed when
the first car was sent of and the whole course |
was lined with people. Opposite the grandstand !
,yas stand for the officials and newspaper men /
and dozens Of telephones were here connecting |
with all parts Of the course. Announcement
was made at the gTandstand by this means OF
the doings of the machines al various places |
along the course. Men with red flags were |
stationed along the road at short intervals |
and waved a warning TO the crowd at the ap- |
Troach OF q machine. Car coming was the !
sbo11t of warning when a machine approached !
yelling into the drivers ear. Now CO., was the I
way Starter Wagner sent on the ten machines |
that started In the race. The oIher Two ehlrahts
who we're 70 have taken part in the contest
were G w Matheson, with a 4O-hoTsepoWer
Matheson. and G. A Weidley, with 6O-horse-
power Premier. It was reported that these cars
could not be got down 10 Tie weight Limit
and neither started. ..,
The cars were started at two minute intervals
The first be sent away was the dayLes
Then followed the POpe-Toiedo ana AAiEtllS
shout went I'D when Dingley cross the me !
The third machine sent away was the "ntIe
car Next came the Locomobile driven oy joe
Tracy Then followed the Christie, RoyaI TOUR
ist Thomas Franklin and the big SJ-horse-
power Pope-Toledo car. :. j
Hardly had the last been sent on WheL IL
was reported that the Christie car had ouTsL
tire at Jericho The first car to conpiete tne
first round Of the course was the Pope-IoieGG99
with Dangley driving He took % minutes %
seconds for this round and 1t proved 10 De the F!
fastest circuit made in the race The second car
70 pass the grandstand on the first round was
the Haynes. It's tine was 80 minutes - sec
ends. Then came Tracy and the LocornoDAsI !
going by the stand Ike q streak Of lightning. /
The Thomas car next TO make the circuit /
and shortly after II had passed the stand 1t was
box
Then followed the most exciting scene Of the |