The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-26
Automobiling

A slight malignant OF the wheels
seems trivial to the inexperienced, but
it Is something that results In big tire
bills. A wheel slightly askew Is In a
certain degree being dragged side
ways by its true-running fellows, and
side skidding tire is quickly worn
out
1t appears as If the Darracq car has
a permanent lien on the Vanderbilt
cup, even as the Pierce-Arrow seems
to have one on the Glidden trophy.
The Darracq was beaten by the great
Arrow on the long tour and 1t would
be interesting now If the makers of
the great American car would build
a racer, SO that the two could COM
pete in the big road race. This they
decline to do at present, because they
deem the weight limit Of 2,204 pounds
too low to insure absolute safety in a
high-powered race Whether the ia
cilities of the big new factory will
work any change in this attitude, and
result in the satisfying of a popular
desire, remains to be seen.
1t is hoped that the proposed Long
Island automobile speedway will not
be developed along the lines of a race
course. but will follow the natural
topography of the country. just as the
old Vanderbilt cup course retained the
natural grades, hills, dales and sharp
corners.
FOxhall Keene, who made an excel
lent speech at Mr.. Murphy's dinner to
Wagner at the Cafe Martin the other
night, was particularly emphatic on
this point, and said that any attempt
to follow the smooth horse track idea
in an automobile speedway would ce:-
tainly result in a failure, as it would
be neither test of drivers nor ma
chimes.
However, with such experts as w.
X. Vanderbilt, Jr., and A. R. Parding-
ton on the committee, it is not likely
that the company will be permitted
to fall into any such fatal error.
While there Is much, speculation as
to where the course will be located, it
is safe to say it will not be in Nassau
county, but in Suffolk county, which
Is further from New York and where
there Is more room.
The movement to build a special
course for road racing and testing pur-
poses Is assured of adequate financial
support II the example of the White
Sewing Machine company, the makers
of the White steamer, is followed by
other manufacturers, as, 1t is safe to
predict, will be the case. A subscrip-
ton of $4,000 to start the ball roll
ing" has been rendered by Windsor
T. White, vice-president of the White
company, in the following letter to
A. R. Pardington:
las you are aware, our company
has always been in favor of the pro-
ject of establishing proper course
for road racing and for testing pur-
poses, and now that committee con-
sisting of Mr.. Vanderbilt, Mr.. Thomp-
son and yourself are busy on this
matter we have not the slightest
doubt but that the long desired course
will soon be reality.
AS the establishment of a course
will SO greatly benefit manufacturers
1t seems proper that they should give
the project their financial support.
Acting in accordance with this idea,
the White Sewing Machine company
will subscribe $4,000 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 Is payable whenever,
in your judgment, plans have reached
a sufficiently definite stage to warrant
the calling in Of subscriptions. I
would say further that we do not
wish to have it understood that we are
not preparing to contribute further to
this worthy cause, and believe, with
the project in such competent hands,
no difficulty will be experienced in
securing large aggregate subscrip-
ton from manufacturers.
AS regards the nature of the course
itself, personally believe that 1t
should not be too perfect in character;
that Is. there should be sufficient
grades. sharp turns, etc., so as to APP
proximate actual road conditions. In
no other way will it be possible for
US to train set Of American drivers
who will cross the water and bring
back from Europe all the great inter-
national trophies-which is the goal
the American industry should set for
ITSELF"