The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-11
RISKED LIVES ON
A DUSTY TRACK
Two Smash-ups Marred the Rae
ing of the Chauffeurs on Ham
line Course.

Hard luck in huge punches marred the automo
bile racing at Hamline track yesterday and
only good fortune saved the lives Of two Mime
apolis drivers from instant death
The most miraculous escape was in the finals
for the tricity club championship. -Four cars
were lined up at the start, the four fastest IN
America, with the exception of Barney Oldfeld's
Green Dragon. Before the race Mrs. Oldfeld
who sitting in auto near the track and
who has probably witnessed as many races as
anyone, declared that it was criminal for the
track managers to permit the cars to start, con.
| sidering the condition of the track.
| "How can they do it?' she asked. There
will be an accident before they get around the
half mile ......#s-.~. ~ ...-
The four cars started the Winton Bullet, driv-
en- by Earl Kiser; the White steamer, driven by
Webb Jay the EIAT Dg daTae e1 ana
The cars were well together fighting for the
lead to escape the dust which rose in thick i'm
penetrable clouds. At the half mile the White
and the Winton appeared to be leading. Sud
ing.
! Meyer in the Dust.
Unable to see a foot ahead and fearful Of
slowing up the mile-a-minute speed lest rear
end collision would result Charley Meyer took
the curve as best he could There was crash
| az the Junior shattered the fence and jumped
thirty feet across the deep ditch on the outside
of the fence. Clear across the ditch and into
the fence beyond the car was buried. Meyer
hung pluckily onto the seat and althc jolted and
scratched climbed out of the ditch and waved his
hands to the grardstand. ~ s 4. - T. 80 s.
All interest in the race was over In the pest
of workmanship, Webb Jay slowed down MS
White and carried Meyer to the grandstand An
inspection Of the machine showed that rail mad
been driven thru the radiator, thru the macnln-
cry and under the seat
was in full sight of the crowd. Just before the
half mile M. A. Clark driving Rambler started
squirt and hit wet spot. How ne escaped IS
unknown as the car turned completely over twice
ard landed on the body, the wheels stlu spill
ming. - ~.
!. These two accidents were only part OF the
hard luck In the second event, entries nmltea
to Minnesota cars. Harry Pence was driving ike
a veteran for first, when his gasolene gave OUT
; and the car died .a
lot of gasolene, but thought OF course that
the tank had been filled up said Mr.. Pence
after the race.
Refused to Drive in Dust.
The biggest hard luck Of the day was in the the
finals for the $4,000 purse. 1t was gener s.I
understood that the big cars had 6een lsing
low In the lesser events Barney Oldnelu anu
webb jay, with great good sense. had refused
to risk their lives in the binding dust. IN
this race everyone was out to win. IN tne
start the White took the lead, the Mlnton
closely following and Barney the trail. At
the half mile the Winton made wonderful
burst Of speed and passed the Whlte ana led
mile and half Then the wn atea pes snd
Shot by in it's turn. The grandstand was wild.
Those who had not felt "a SILVER for two days
were standing on their seats cheering frantic.
ally Then it was seen that something was
going wrong with the White. 1t was after
: yards learned that the connecting rod mac
slammed and the statement made that the steam
. had died out was erroneous. From that time
IN the Winton had the ten miles we'll in hand
altho the last three-mile squirt OF Barney Old
field was one Of the best exhibitions OF the
d day. Part of the time Barney was entirely
a hidden by dust but kept at it steadily, taking
); the turns in masterful way
(. racing the Winton never trailed at the finish
The driving Of Kiser remarkable at al
times, and when pressed showed the difference
?. between a good driver and an expert Whel
n the race was easy he drove with hand; whel
+ 1t close he hung close to the wheel guild
Il ing the SO to take up the almost i'm
= perceptible lost motion.
To the spectators Of the most interesting
features was the performance of the local car