Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-03
GARBUTT RACER
WINS FROM WHITE
WHlSTLING BILLY MEETS WITH
MISHAP
Exciting Sport Marks the First Days
Racing EVents-Reo Wins Two
Five-MiIe Races In De-
cisVe Manner
BY Edward l., Moriartv

Dy %0WdIu G'
Torpedo like, with it's white nose cut
ting along over the Agricultural park
course. "Whistling Billy" driven by
Bert Dingley, sped meek and neck"
for four and a quarter miles in the
seventh auto event yesterday after
noon, and then. as the power fell in
the speed marvel, the bursts of mo-
mentum died away, and "Whstling
Billy" was done for, allowing the Gar
butt car to finish as it pleased.
1t had been stirring race and un-
til the sudden termination the crowd
In the stands was on edge with excite
ment as the two cars hurtled over the
track, laying side by side like q pair
of good thoroughbreds fighting it out
In nerve straining contest.
To the stretch in the fourth mile
honors were practically even, both
cars crossing the wire three times
with their painting heads abreast. AS
they came into the open at the head
of the stretch in the fourth lap
"Whistling Billy stole to the front
and passed the judges stand perhaps
twenty lengths to the fore.
The Greyhound followed second
later and gradually wore down the
lead of the flying White, hugging close
at the quarter. Dngley had nursed
his car well, and when he again drew
away for a short space the crowd,
which had cheered the last squirt of the
hound, cried "Dingley's just playing"
A fraction of a second and all was
changed again. Like a live thing the
White had jumped to the front, clutch
ing the rail as at all stages of the race.
But just as the spectators had men,
tally awarded the honors to the Whist
ling one. the Greyhound was seen to
shoot by and leave BILLY" trailing
hopelessly behind.
The steam had failed and the race
was over so far as the famous car was
concerned. ]. Winfield Pearson. who
drove the Garbutt machine. came home
On three cylinders, having met with
trouble just prior to the collapse of
Eingleys machine.
The whole affair was a singular oc-
currence and one not liable to happen
in many year of racing. Just before
the Whites final burst of speed the
cylinders of the Garbutt car went
wrong. and Pearson waved his hand
to Dingley in token of a farewell. A
second later he noticed the tagging of
the ghost and realized what had hap
pened.
The concluding race up to the time
of the accident, which destroyed all
chances of the White winning, was
fitting close to the initial afternoon of
automobile racing, which sparkled
with exciting finishes and fast time
A worlds record was equaled during
the two hours racing when c. w. Ris-
den, on his Indian motorcycle. went the
second mile of the three-nile motor
cycle race in Iii 2-5 seconds, which is
the worlds record for a mile on cir
cular track
For the opening day the crowd was
large. and with the assistance of gen.
ulne California weather enjoyed In no
small manner the eVentful program
which had been arranged
The REQ touring car came to the
front by winning two of the best races
which occurred during the afternoon,
and Leon Shelter, the local represen-
tative, had every reason for satisfac-
tion as his fast car whizzed twice un-
der the wire a winner in two five-mile
races.
SO close as to make the result an un-
certain quantity until near the head of
the stretch in the final mile the second
race, which developed into n contest
between the REQ and the Ford, was
attended by excitement which bordered
on the progress of an Ascot horse race.
Five cars lined up for the start, with
the Napier on the rail. The REQ, Pre-
mier, Ford and Franklin stretched
alongside and all got away to good
start. The REQ forged to the front i'm
mediately with the Ford a close sec
ond. Round and round they went the
persistent Ford ever struggling to
reach the flying REQ. 1t was a pretty
race throughout, with scarce shade of
daylight showing between the flying
cars. At the quarter post on the last
mile the REQ drew away for a tempor-
airy advantage, but the Ford was not
to be denied, and at the half-mile they
were driving head and head.
Before the stretch was reached, Hon.
shue in the REQ had opened up de-
cisive gap and whirled down the final
quarter. winning by a good margin.
The opening race was won by the
Ford car in easy fashion, and the Pre-
mier which finished second came down
the stretch several seconds after the
Ford had been run into the paddock"
After the preliminary whirls the four
cars took their positions for the start,
and crossed the wire with the REQ
a slight lead, followed by
the Premier, Ford and Franklin. At
the quarter they were running in the
same position, with the Ford creeping
up. At the half the Ford held the lead
and the REQ had dropped to last the
Premier and Franklin occupying the
positions. They entered the
stretch in the same order, the Ford
increasing the lead to such an extent
that hopes of close finish went a
The cars finished in the
stretch with the victor so far ahead
that the others were practically "also
rams"
The Napier and the Apperson were
scratched in the third race. which the
REQ won. The REQ took the lead and
held it during the entire course of the
race. with the Ford, which had been
specially entered. following in second
place. The Franklin car dropped out
at the end of the fourth lap.
The Ford came fast in the first mile,
but could not overtake the speedy
REQ At the end of the first mile theI
order of going was REQ first, Ford
unnnr,h prnnni in,. third aud Era n lin