The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-08
The AUTOMOBILISTS.
PRIVATE COURSE SUGGESTED
FOR BIG RACE.
Impossible TO Keep Spectators in This
Country From RiskIBg Their Lives
Expense q Big Drawback, Though
the Advantages Would he Great.

SNANAS tHo " ia "a NV AaN
been run there was considerable discussion
regarding the probability Of many more bis
road races being conducted over the public
highways OF any district where IL would b.
possible for any great number Of spectators
TO congregate. After the 1905 race one Of
the American manufa cturers who was repre-
sented in the contest said that he did not
think IL would ever be possible to prevent
Americans from risking their lives and those
Of the drivers in their eagerness TO see every
thing that went on from whatever point on
a course they were stationed. He said that.
no matter how many r~uralites from the sur
rounding country might be posted along a
course as deputies or fla gmen, IL would
be impossible to keep the roads cleap for
the passage Of racing cars. and he therefore
advocated the securing Of a twenty-five or
thirty mile course on private property, where
road races might be decided without inter-
ference from reckless spectators.
The matter was trough to the attention
of the officials OF the American Automobile
Association. but they did not view it with
favor because of the large expense involved,
IL was the idea OF the automobile manu-
f~acturer that such a private course would
prove a boon to manufacturers. as ii would
also provide a testing course over which new
models could be tried out properly without
breaking any speed laws. and for that reason
the project would receive the support Of
many of the large automobile concerns,
He also said that II would always be an ex-
ceedingly hard task for American manu-
facturerS to compete on even terms with
the foreigners in road races. as they could
not try out their racing cars sufficiently be-
fore they were compelled to start them
against machines which had been tuned up
for months before being brought here 10
race. IL seems quite likely that such a prof.
ect will be considered If there is to be another
contest for the Vanderbilt cup conducted
in this country.
Because he thinks that he has been u~njustly
censured for his refusal TO lend a pair Of rae
ing car cylinders to Foxhall keene for use in
the Vanderbilt cup race Robert Graves has
issued the following statement: Mr.. FoXhall
Keene having taken exception to the fact that
! refused him the loan Of a pair OF cylinders
for his Mercedes car in the race for the Van
.derbilt cup, and the impression having been
given through the press that my decision was
unsportsmanlike. in justice to myself ana a
spirit Of fair play | beg to submit 10 the
public my side Of the controversy.
Had Mr.. Keene made his request of me
before going to my driver, VI. Jenatzy, he
would have learned that instead Of having
several / possessed but one pair ~ cylinders.
paired my own chances in the event of a
similar accident to that which disabled my
car last year. My refusal was not because 7
feared Mr.. keene as a competitor but because
! scarcely deemed II fair to myself TO eopard-
ize my own chances to enhance his. In. an
international yacht race is II probable that
one boat would have loaned 10 her adversary
the only spare malnsail on board;'
by the remarkable judgment shown by
Gustave .Caillois in predicting the speed
that would be made in both he elimination
the man who made hfty-nve miles an hour
on an average would surely win the elimina-
nv making il in n fraction less than ffty-6ve
At the same time, almost a month ago, he
said that the winner Of the Vanderbilt race
miles an hour, and not 10 exceed sixty and
one-half. A study Of the average speed
made by Wagner shows that he made within
a fraction of one second Of the sixty mile
speed predicted by the famous Frenchman.
Consul-General shanklin, who ia stationed
at Pandn6, thinks the Panama Canal Zone
Will he "A good market for automobiles. The
streets OF Panama have been paved in sew
to the SabanaS, where there are many country
homes Of wealthy people.
Members Of the Automobile Club Of America
and their guests are to have a preliminary
view Of the 0rganiHation's seventh. automo. |
CENTRAL Palace. December 10 5. This private |
afternoon and it e expected that the visitors
the private view OF the clubs show in the
Regiment Armory. last winter.
Association will allot its space TO its members
on October 5, but the exhibition committee |
Of the Automobile Club Of America will not
do any a~llotting until October Is,
Several wears ago. when automobiling was
a luxury Of few Instead OF the diversion Of
many as is the case nowadays, the pioneers
OF the newest sport considered It quite the |
thing to use an opsn car Tor both GUNNER
were their own drivers. would have scorned
bodies for winter use. Vow. however. Coach
work that protects the occupants OF q car
from wind, snow and rain II becoming very
especially as 90 many body builders 1
and automobile manufacturers are prepared
70 supply various styles OF enclosed bodies
for customers who have bought machines
fitted with regular touring bodies. In this
owners Of several Leading American
cars are exceedingly fortunate. as they can
secure limousine bodies at short notice.
In the conduct of their economy test on
demonstrate their freedom from dependence
on the standards used by Eastern motorists
IN figuring winners Of various contests. In
by picking the car which travels the
greatest distance on a given quantity, Of
gasSle5e as was lone 6y the AutSmoblle
est on May 5 last. the C~hicasoans will award
heir prizes to the cars which use the smallest
OI lutl 70 COVER n given distance. |
the contestants will cover the following route:
20 South Chicl go, Hammond, Hess
Vile. Highlands, Hobart. Wheeler, and
SpriggborO to Valparaiso, nfty-nve miles.
From this point the route will lead westerly
10 Crown Point, nineteen miles, and then 10
Cedar Lake. six miles. where the contest will
end.
The automobile industry of Germany Ia
n a nolr!shinR CO condition, according 10 the re-
port ~ T. 81. John GaTncy. e. nsnl- GeneraI
VI Dresden. He calls attention II the en-
Dire's efforts 10 keep ahead in its manufac-
.ures and furnishes evidence "f tho success
4 these efforts. His report ia in part NJ fol-
The manufacture NJ automobiles
developed in 1905 and the FIRST bali II 1905
. an extent probably unparalleled by nnY
hPr class NJ goode. FOREIGN countries. IN
particular could not be- supplied fast enough
With motor buses and cabs. Numerous
riders were also pl1cei by big GerTnan cmni.
lus Companies and private contractors.
The motor cab traf1c IN Berlin and rrpcdpn
las increased considerably and viii CON
inne - do 20 Al q at!ll faster rate. Meters
" Themselves we're found useful for severa
purposes. Prices fer raw materials
ire neFman anflv an thu rtaa hnk l.. ..VI