Evening star., 1905-10-29

.
Special Dispatch The Star.
NEW YORK, October est is problem
atical whether, there ever will be another
great road race for automobiles IN TINS
country.
This is not because the cup will go 10
France and the Vanderbilt races, if there
are any more, will be decided abroad. but
because all signs point to the early demise
of this sort of sport. Automobiles, or
course, are by no means of one opinion on
the subject but even the most enthusiastic
agree that the sport is on the decline. These
enthusiasts admit that within a short time
racing of this sort will be abandoned and
that road contests of an entirely different
kind will take its place.
There are some who say that there VIII
not be another race of the Vanderbilt cup
type either here or abroad, and these point
to the fact that the Gordon Bennett cup.
the most classic trophy of the sport is prac-
tically going begging. having been repudi-
ated by the Automobile Club of France,
which has had the custody of II for more
than a year, and which by winning this
years race obtained the right to keep ii
for another year.
The French club has finally announced
that II win not enter team either for the
Gordon Bennett or the Vanderbilt cup next
year. and the disposition of the trophy Is
to be decided at Il meeting to be held In
France in December.
The causes of the decline of road rae
ing, in which speed was the one object, are
to be found in the fact that it has served
its purpose for the manufacturers. AS a
sport ii is too costly to be carried on by
amateurs for sports sane, and ii has been,
therefore, to all fntents and purposes an
agency of the manufacturers in developing
and marketing their product.
Road racing has been useful in the past.
t, fa.p ,..l
from it, the manufacturers say, and they
cannot afford to keep 1t up when IL does
them very little good 1t has been proved
beyond doubt that automobiles can be
constructed which, as far as their engines
are concerned have practically no limit of
speed.
But to prove this type of car has been
developed which is of no commercial value,
a car for which there Is no demand in the
regular courses of trade, racing machine
pure and simple, an engine of tremendous
horsepower mounted on the lightest frame
compatible with safety. AS one authority
on the subject puts IT, the last Gordon Ben
nett race showed that the speed of the
automobile is limited by nothing but the
tires.
AT one time 1t looked as If road racing
would be put to an end by the same causes
which seem to have put a cuietus upon
track racing In this country. In every large
road race abroad few years ago there
were fatal accidents. Road racing, how
ever showed greater vitality than track
racing seems to have and f.as outiived the
deaths of many contestants. This years
great contests have been remarkably free
from accidents of a serious nature
This country took up racing later than
the European countries ard developed track
racing. The latter form of contest, how
ever has few elements of real sport and has
lived so long as it has largely for the benz
EFT of the promoters. If road racing goes
to the wall abroad il will not survive long
on this side Of the ocean.
There is, however. one form of racing in
this country that is likely TO suxfzEa sns