The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-08
AUTO RACE TRACK
Plan to Establish a Five Nile
Course in Indiana.
Thomas Taggart Starts the
Deal With Offer Of $50, goo.
ENTHUSIASTS TO AID.
viii Be the Only . Mile Circular
Track in America.
Much Less Danger Of Accidents
in the Big Contests.
ENTHUSIASTS TO AID.

Chicago. Dee. S.-According TO
webb jay. manager of the Chicago
branch for the White company.
Thomas Taggart. the Indiana poll
ticisn and hotel man, is planning 10
establish a five mile circular track at
French Lick Springs, Ind, for the pur-
pose of holding automobile. races.
There is no track of this kind III
America. and the fact that it viii be a
boon to automobile racing is obvious
in consequence of the number of acct
dents that have occurred on the
smaller circular tracks within the past
few years.
jaw is a stanch advocate of longer
tracks for automobile racing. be salo
yesterday that he would give Iaggart
an the support in his power to furt her
the movement. which should result IN
the best automobile course in the
world.
Taggart has offered $4,000 with
the understanding that automobile
manufacturers and enthusiasts con-
tribute $4,000 more toward the com
pletion of the track. which viii be To-
Gated at the health resort. Carl Fish
er has been authorized to secure the
necessary capital FROM the antonio
bilists, and, it is said. IS meelluS WIN
much success.
''The day of racing on a small cir
cuIar track-that is, q track OF mile
or two miles-is passing, sald Jay
yesterday. Outside of the course at
Orrnond, Fla. there is not an automo-
bile track i'm America which is really
avails Bile for record breaking This
Ormond beach course is stralEhtaV5ay
without a bend. On the smaller
tracks the bends are often fatal As a
matter Of fact. had I been racing over
q straight course at Buffalo when /
met with the accident that lncapdcl-
tated me for so long. ii is almost
certainty that L would not have been
injured. AS it was, I brought up the
rear OF my two opponents, the dust
got I'M my eyes, and I could not tell
Just where I was with the result that
I crashed through the fence. 1t is
dangerous proposition to race over
small circular track. and Taggarts
proposition should meet with the
favor of all automobile racers, and
spectators. for that matter. as they
will be able to see the machines at
their best.
LAS I understand it. the proposed
five mile course will be we'll oiled. pre-
venting dust. and it will be possible to
hold the big races over the course.
Tha turns on a five mile course would
rot be abrupt enough to interfere with
the terrific speed at which the ma
chimes would be driven
jay also stated yesterday that he
had not retired from the racing game
permanently.
II haven't had all the sand taken
out of me yet" said JAW 1T was my
intention lust before the accident TO
give up racing over the small circular
tracks. and I shook hands on the
proposition with Charles Burnham to
make the race at Boston. the one that
followed the Buffalo meet, the last in
which ] would appear over the small
tracks 1t is my intention to enter the
big races, and if live until the Van
derbilt cup race takes place again 1
shall be among the contestants"