The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-22
AMONG THE AUTOMOBTLTSTS.
PROPOSED PRIVATE COURSE
MEETS WITH APPROVAL.
Elliott p. Shepard says That Duray and
Clement Would Not Compete Again
Under Old Conditions manufacturers
Ready 60 Subscribe for StOck Gossip.

Ready 60 Subscribe for stOcR Gossip.
Elliott F. Shepard. the American who was
one Of the French team in the Vanderbilt
cup race. has gone TO the Adirondacks for a
hunting trip. taking with him for use as a
runabout the 40 horsepower Hotchkiss racer
he drove on October 8 and with which he
finished fourth in the first day Of the Grand
Prix Of the Automobile Club of France on
5une 20 last. He is a firm believer In TIN
private course plan for conducting such con-
tests as the Vanderbilt cup race in this coun
try. Americans will not soon lose the great
interest they have shown in international
automobile ncinR." says the former New
Yorker. but ! must agree with Chairman
Thompson and his associates OF the American
Automobile Associations racing board that
IL would not be advisable to hold any more
contests on public highways because Of the
impossibility Of keeping the course clear Of
spectators, Before they "a lied for France after
the race both Arthur Duray and Albert Clement
told me that they would not consent 70 COM
pete in another road race under similar con-
ditions. and l feel sure they are right. Anauto-
mobile course of. say. thirty miles or so which
would present the same road conditions that
are met with In this country and which could
be fenced OF and closed to trespassers would
prove a great boon not only to American
makers who build racing machines but could
w htu aS n SNpeahs SNNAVS ~
concerns that are now turning out high priced
and high powered touring cars. In fact
such a testing course would enable the Ameri-
can manufacturer to turn out better cars,
because they would have an opportunity to
subject their new models to severe and long
continued tests before they were put on the
market, and that without breaking any speed
limit laws. From what many wealthy men
have told me since the Vanderbilt cup race
I feel sure that such a project. If feasible. will
not lack for funds to carry IL out"
Windsor T. White Of the Cleveland Auto
mobile Club. who was one OF the first to sug-
geet a private course for contests like the
Vanderbilt cup race. has offered to subscribe
s., 900 10 any project receiving the approval
Of W X. Vanderbilt. Jr.,J De Mont Thompson
and A. r.. Pardington. the members OF the
special committee appointed by the A, A. A.
board Of direct ors to examine the various
plans that have been proposed. Mr.. White
made the suggestion that a private course
should be secured about a year ago when
Robert Lee Morrell.. then chairman Of the
A. A. A. racing board. was the guest Of horror
at a dinner given by the contestants in the
1905 Vanderbilt cup race. Mr.. Whites offer
was made in the following letter TO Mr.. Pard-
ington: As you are aware, | have always
been in favor OF the project OF establishing a
proper course for road racing and for testing
purposes and now that a committee con-
sisting of Mr.. Vanderbilt. Mr.. Thompson
and yourself are busy on this matter ! have
not the slightest doubt that the long de-
sired course will soon be a reality. As the
establishment Of a course will so greatly
benefit manufacturers it seems proper that
they should give the project their financial
support. Acting in accordance with this
idea | will subscribe q 900 to the stock OF the
company formed TO build the course. and /
wish that you would put this formal offer
before the committee. This subscription il
payable whenever in your judgment plans
have reached a sufficiently definite stage to
warrant the calling in of subscriptions. 1
would say further that | do rot wish il UNDER
stood that I am not prepared to contribute
further TO this worthy cause. and ! believe
with the project in such competent hands
no difficulty will be experienced in securing
a large aggregate subscription from manu-
facturers. As regards the nature Of the
course itself personally believe. that II
should not be too perfect in character, that
is, there should be sufficient grades, sharp
turns. sc. so as to approximate actual road
for MS TO train a set of American drivers who
will cross the water and bring back from
Europe all the great International trophies
which is the goal that the American industry
should set for ITSELF
Asa Goddard, who was formerly engaged
in route Work for the American Automobile
Association. was elected secretary OF the
cleveland AutOniODle NlND AZ llS ldSl meet nRs
The club spent about tl,OoO. erecting sign
boards on Ohio roads in the vicinity of CleVe-
land during ne past year ana VIII continue
energies TO the furtherance OF the good roads
movement.
The board Of governors of the Rochester
Automobile Club have elected Mrs Frederick
r. Thompson Of Canandaigua, y. y, a mem
her of hat organization. She is the first
one Of her sex to become a member of the club
and has done considerable touring. She
abroad during z which she visited Great Britain.
the Continent and parts OF Africa.
An inventive Englishman has brought out
a front wheel brake, by, which an attempt
has been made to apply brake power TO the
with the steering. The object Of the device
IL to lessen skidding, relieve the transmission
brake of Overwork and generally increase the
upon to overcome side slip almost entirely,
and the inventor il now engaged in, working
out a compromising device by which the
boxes on all four weels will be linked together
and applied Simultaneously by pressure on a
foot pedal. In this brake the front wheel
spindles have over them, attached to the
top Of the steering knuckle. q column which
turns with the wheel. thus keeping a con-
cable works through the column TO a com
pensating device and thence TO the pedal,
The brake has Incorporated with it another
device, a steering control. This consists OF
a metal rim below the steering wheel. When
the brakes are applied and the car seows any
j symptoms OIL hlue IrippluH, uuc W 100 HuuutH
application or otherwise, the under rim Is
| gripped up to the steering wheel proper. which
locks the steering gear. and the front wheels
cannot turn aside.
Al e~nterprisinR San Francisco automobile
concern announces that 10 is about to open q
school for chaufeurs and new owners OF au-
tomobiles. The school will have sessions two
nights a week at first, but II the applicants
for instruction cannot all be cared for on two
nights a week one or more nights will be
added. The INSTRUCTION. win be N the opera
tion and construction OF White cars and ma
chimes OF two other makes. The scarcity OF
good chauffe urs is seriously felt In San Fran
cisco and II said TO deter man people from
buying automobiles.
Londoners are in quite a state ~ mind,
according 20 a report from Consul-General
Robert J. Wynne. over the many motor
buses that travel over the streets Of the Brit
ish metropolis. He writes that a determined
EFFORT Ia to be made in Parliament and before
local authorities TO check or modify II pos
sible the noises, smells. vibrations, smoke
and n0XiOus gases caused by the rapidly
Increasing Use of motor buses. which threaten
TO push the antiuuated and picturesque horse
omnibus from the streets OF London. Prop
erty owners complain Of dust, cracked plaster
and reduced rentals. Tenants along the
routes OF travel protest against a sleep
destroying racket and danger to pedestrians.
Scientists are insist ent that the already over
/ imprp Rnated air of the city Ia poisoned still