The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-10
CHANGES IN AUTO
RAGING DESIRED
FAST DRIVERS DISCUSS TRACKS
AND RULES.
Visiting Racers Spend Sunday as Guests
of j. F. Wilcox at Lake Minnetonka
Meanwhile ST. Paul Thousands Wait
in Vain to See Them in Announced
Exhibitions.

Altho the St. Paul Automobile club
announced yesterday morning that the
world-famous Hchuffers would be
seen on West Seventh street. St. Paul,
be a series Of speed tests, the club un-
fortunately neglected to mention to fact
to the racers. In the mean time they
were being entertained royalty at the
Lake Minnetonka home of j. +. Will
cox, and no one in the two cities had
the least idea where they were. About
ten thousand people went to West Sew
enth street and listened to the explana-
ton of B. A. Ledy, secretary Of the St.
Paul club, that delay in making the
arrangements prevented the doings.
Three autos took the guests to Wild
hurst. One of the cars was driven by
Barney Ol1feld and beside him in the
roomy Peerless was Mrs. Oldfeld. Mr..
Wilcox drove his new Royal Tourists
and A. G. Bennett steered a Winton.
The autos arrived about l pm, and afr
small groups and walked about. tho es-
tate and took snap shots of tho lake
from the tower. About o'clock the
party was gathered together and in
James Howard's launch started for the
Lafayette club, where dinner was laid
for nineteen. Among tho number were
Barney Oldfeld, Mrs. Oldfeld. Johnny
Johnson, Webb jay. Louis Chevrolet,
Charles Meyer, A. G. Bennett, Charles
J; j. Yates, Oscar Scheig, H. G. Izlopp,
Harry Wilcox, Ralph Wilcox, A. F. Will
cox and J.. F. Wilcox.
After dinner a tour Of the lakes fol-
lowed. 1t was practically the first va
cation that the racers have had since
the circuit for this year started. Bar
ney Oldfeld declared that it was the
first time that he had been in the coun-
try for i've months. and that Lake Min
netonka made up for it all. About 6
the launch landed its guests and seated
on the lawn the kings of automobile dis.
cussed racing, as one of them said,
from soup to nuts.' -
oldfeld Not to Retire. J..
The first fact that came out was that
despite the many articles in the eastern
papers; Barney Oldfeld is not to retire
from the track. Next year he will have
a, machine built largely after his own
plans; s., 1t will be, six-c:ylinder motor,
The great thing about automobile
racing,' said Barney, els the start
The new machine will have first speed
! to be used for the start only, as it. will
be too fast for circular track on the
turns. That will get me off ahead of
the bunch and I can drop to the second
speed at the turn - ..-. ~.-z.'. -
Then followed a discussion of track
racing and of the dangers. The dust
proposition was knocked and Barney
suggested that the other drivers ought
| to do as he has done in some cases, that
is. refuse to ride unless the tracks arc
| oiled. That would bring some Of the
race promoters their senses if they
realized that there would be no races tt
draw the crowds if some consideration
was not shown to the drivers. Whe1
asked why the drivers did not get to
gether and kick, Oldfeld laughed ant
said that as for himself he had The
name Of being a kicker and that he hac
no desiresto add to it. p = ! se "a 4 II =
All were unanimous in declaring that
the present system of timing is full Of
imperfections. Chevrolet suggested
that an electrical timing device be used
as experiments. in the past have beer
very successful. The autoists did no
complain because they were sometime
given the worst of the timing, but be
cause in the anxiety for good track rec
ords local officials err on the side O.
giving records that are obviously i'm
possible. ~ ~ = -
Gas long as there are rules" sait
Webb Jay, Hthey should be lived up t,
without making it necessity for tn
drivers to lower themselves by protest
ing. If the referee knows that drive
is not entered properly he should no
be allowed to compete. -
How Mishap Feels.