New-York tribune., 1905-02-27
AUTO RACING IN CUBA.
Course Should Be Oiled-ETcelIent
Police ARRANGEMENTS.

Although the recent automobile races in Cuba
had the large entry list expected the that
started In the 100 klometer contest clearly showed
by the fast time they made that the country is
possessed of one OF the fastest road in the
world for a race of it's distance One strong OBJ
lection against the is that for good part
of the distance it is impossible for to pass
another in safety. Several of the automobilists
from this country who went the course sug-
gested that It would be good plan for the next
meeting oil the surface of the road as was done
for the Vanderbilt cup Long Island The
lime-like dust of the Cuban course powders the
drivers if a -four storm came from the sky and
is disagreeable tor as spectator as well
The policing of the course and the management
deserve the highest praise, and the contest Will
probably do much for the welfare OF automobile
racing in Cuba. H. W. Fletcher who drove the
S0-horsepower De Dietrich car In the race,
and who set figures for the fifty and hun
dred miles in the the Ormond-Daytona
beach, told representative of The Tribune that
the management Of the whole affair good
as he had ever seen. At every hundred yards. he
said, the course was policed, and the spectators
that lined both sides the course were kept inside
the fences As a result. he said that not even
chicken got in the way. He expected the races
next year would be big success. and that he would
be surprised, he declared, if there were many
cars from the prominent owners of fast cars here
sent over
An instance Of how well the course was polced
be had from the orders r. Mendoza, the
manager of the Cuban Automobile Association,
gave police officer. Two stands We're built at
the start Of the race, each side of the
road. After the race had begun a found
that her husband in the stand on the other
side, and pleaded with officer to be allowed to
cross the road. The officer explained the case to
Mr.. Mendoza, who said. in all seriousness, Have
you ever seen the picture of Saint Blank? Well.
if you him along and he wants TO cross
the poad. keep him from doing So" SO the woman
was kept away from her husband.
1t unfortunate that L. r. Thomas and his
driver Hawley, were thrown out of the be-
cause Mr.. Thomas had TO send his machine up
over ditch and embankment to escape
ming into an OK cart whose driver was asleep.
and as he was going to drive his car himself it
ing. On the day of the contest Mr. Thomas was
in the grandstand and said that he regretted that
ne did not bring his 60-horsepower Mercedes
along with him. for he was sure that 1t would
Many of the Cuban promoters Of the contests
say thaL 1t WIZ only be a matter Of a Jew years
guIar course which contest of any distance
can be held. Ernesto Carricaburu. who piloted
tory, gave about daring exhibition Of rech-
less 9n as was @ ever & seen b in bsT read d race ace His
tators while going at fuIl speed seemed likely 10
several sharp turns in the road without letting up
in his speed. OF course. he had the advantage Of
having gone over the road many times and know
ing every dangerous spot in the course 1t was
celent work Both CorniH and Carricaburu are
management, the races on the ormond-baytona
beach allowed TO drag over more days
than the time set for the wnd-up Of the contests.
This may perhaps have effect in keeping
some Of the manufacturers away next year. Many
of them went TO great expense in sending their
South for the stock contests, only wait hours
the beach for their class TO be called and then to
be told that II too late to it off. 1t
be denied. however, that the beach offer
the fastest course in the world With
agement next year the mistakes of the last contest
will in all likelihood be forgotten. and many cars
Of this year will probably be represented in the
various contests.
While there was only one fast motor boat entered
IN the Palm Beach tournament. the time made by
the Challenger Lake Worth made 1t certain
that the lake offers excellent opportunities for
tests Of this kind. With the many fast boats that
have been ordered at the Motor Boat and Sports
mems Show last week and the well known auto
mobists who have signfed their intention Of
entering this line Of sport, it Is likely that Lake
Worth viii become to motor boat doings what
the Ornond-Daytona beach course is to automo-
billing