Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-16
Hills, Curves and
Twists [ aiken
Full TiltbyDar-
ing Drivers OF
Machines.

field. And by the way. that happened at
one point of the course last year. In rush.
ing along Willetts road one of the French
drivers lost control of his car, which
| "skidded'' into a corn field. and there IL re-
manned until the race was over.
This hairpin turn is like nothing more
than a letter ~" 1t is entered upon the
left-hand side, approaching the opening OF
the u Before the driver reaches II the
| road slants a tri1e from the east. and woe
| betide the unlucky wight who approaches
| the turn unconscious that it is in his imme-
diate proximity. He may speed half a mile
| or more before he is able TO control his ma
chine so that he can turn around and re-
cover his lost ground.
In the direct center of the curve of the
| IT. there is located telegraph pole. If
a car ever "skids' from the road and
strikes that POLE not only will the car be
shattered. but there will be no telegraphine
| or telephoning in that part of Long Island
for some hours. :
II the car is not sufficiently under control
to make the reverse side of the u in
perfect marching order II is apt to climb a
fence and dart upon ploughed field.
After the turn is rounded in safety the
road stretches away over some finely laid
macadam, back of Roslyn, to another sharp
curve banked on the north side by stone
wall. This is particularly short and mean
turn, and there is danger of accident. in
that a car which happens to be stalled on
the far side is likely to be run into by q
pursuing car whose driver may not perceive
the obstruction in time.
Severest Test of All Years.
From here until the road turns toward the
Manhasset turnpike the highway is very
narrow, although 1t is in fair condition as
regards surface. On the Manhasset turn
pike the 10 per cent Hill which runs through
Manhasset village must be descended and
surmounted, and this is by TAR the severest
test which has ever been imposed upon
motor cars in any race which has been held
for the Vanderbilt cup.
To take this hill at full speed and climb It
means some rare generalship. and VIII
necessitate a machine which can stand the
grind ten times in succession. Just beyond
Manhasset the road turns sharply to the
left and passes over a well-kept turnpike
to the beautiful property of William *.
Vanderbilt jr., the donor of the cup. who
resides at Lakevile.
At Lakeville there is another turn to the
left where the route goes over the Willefts
road to the east. This traversed by
the old cup route in 1905 and will be used
las far as Willis avenue. where the cars
turn sharply to the right, retrace their way
to Mineola and the Jericho turnpike and
then to the starting point.
Almost all of the Vanderbilt cup route
traverses a region in which beautiful sum-
mer homes the rule The whole area
is covered with magnificent groves and
beautiful shrubbery. The estates of the
wealthy are laid out with rare concern to
perfect landscape gardening. and In many
places the quiet highways and lanes remind
one much of the beautiful rural regions in
England during the month Of June. 1t is
a most charming country to the eye and
there is end of pleasure in taking trip
over the cup route merely for the delightful
outing.
Foreign Cars Favorites.
In every year in which the race has been
run the foreign cars have been the favor
ties In advance of the running of this
years race they are again the favorites.
OF course. 1t is the ambition of the Amer
lean builders to manufacture car which
shall surpass those sent here by France,
Germany and Italy. Both years the French
makers have been fortunate enough to win
the Vanderbilt cup. In 1904 Panhard was
the successful car and In 1905 the race was
won by DarracQ.
Last year the Americans finished third In
the race, the Locomobile, operated by Jo-
seph Tracy. SURPRISING all that had been
anticipated from the car. This year the
American makers are satisfied that from
the cars which are to be raced in the elim-
ination trials five will be selected which
shall make better showing than the Amer
lean cars ever have made In the past, and
they are greatly in hope that they may be
able to finish first.
The value of the cars which are to COM
pete in the Vanderbilt race is about half a
million dollars. They are driven by ex-
perts, whose salaries are higher than those
Of any other chauffeurs in the world. They
are not valueless for anything but racing,
as many suppose, but most of them are used
for racing and racing only.
The object in encouraging racing is SO to
improve the construction of cars that light.
ness shall go with stability and durability.
and that manufacturers may know how best
to use materials in order to produce the
most satisfactory results in the longevity
of road cars. Machines which can STAND
the test of road racing will almost cer-
tainly last longer and do better work on
the road IL the same principles are followed
in building them for the use OF those who
purchase automobiles both for amusement
and practical purposes. Hence the value
of a cup race is not solely that Of making
wonderful records and setting two con-
tinents aghast by the terrific speed at which
the cars are driven. but in deriving bene,
ficial information from results SO as to inns
prove the construction Of the cars which
are used in commerce and for pleasure.