Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-06
This Makes the Third Vanderbilt Race Won By a French
 Machine.
LOUIS WAGNER WINNER
The Race Was Exciting All the Way and There Were Several
 Accidents.


 near Westbury, l.. l., Oct 6-Ihe third international automobile race for the cup given by William k. Van derbilt, Jr, was run to-day over course 29.71 miles in length laid out over the macadam roades of Long Isl and. Seventeen cars, representing America, France, Italy and Germany started i'll the race, the total distance of which was 297.1 miles. Tn the American elimination trials two weeks ago, Joseph Tracy, one of to- days favored contestants, made the fastest time, five hours P minutes and 45 seconds. The race began to- day at G:15 o'clock. there having been 15 minutes delay because of fog. The elapsed time will decide the winner and as there are no controls on the course requiring reduced speed, no time allowance of any sort will be granted. Cars may stop for repairs, interchange of parts. etc, but the time of stoppage will be counted against the contestant. The timers watches are started for each car ex- actly at the minute assigned the en. trant, whether the driver was able to start on the second or not.
 Five of the seventeen cars started to-day represent the United States, five represent Italy, five are from France and two from Germany. Originally there were three German entries, but the car named by FoXhall r. Keenc, who proposed also to drive the machine was withdrawn because of cracked cylinders. The conditions of the race called for cars under 2,- 20i pounds in weight and the entr;tnt from each country must be machine made entirely in the country to which if Is credited. Both of the previous Vanderbilt cup races have been won by French cars.
 All society was represented and eyes were heavy from lack of sleep but the excitement of the race and the enthusiasm of the devotees oi motoring over this greatest of Ameri. can automobiling events quickly ban ished all fatigue.
 William K. Vanderbilt. IF, donor oi the cup and referee of the race, ar rived on the course in his own racing machine shortly after o'clock and was cheered. Dawn broke gray and misty after a night of fog. The wind blew in cold and damp from the southeast and the fog shut down again. delaying the start. When the |. race was finally begun It was broad daylight. The racing cars appeared fin line near the start. their engines pufIlng and banging away like the fire of rapid artillery. Le Blon m his red American car. No l, drew up to the starting line twenty nm utes before o'clock and with his long beard and queer racing togs looked more like Cossack than a typical chauffeur. eHattracted much attention during the long delay walt ing for the fog to lift.
 Le Blon flashed away from the starting line exactly on the signal of 6:l5 o'clock. and the race was on amid wild cheering. From the long line of waiting racers came roar of engines like the rapid fire of a thousand small cannon.
 Following Le Blon. the other cars started at one minute intervals, one minute being dropped for No II car which was withdrawn by Foxhall Keene. making Q two minute lapse between cars 10 and IF.
 When the last car, No 19. had got away at 6:32. the crowd prepared Tor inc wait of twenty-five minutes ot more before the leading car should complete the first round.