The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-07-19
Automobile Tourists


A party of automobilists numbering
nearly 300 people and conveyed by about
IS automobiles of all kinds. both Ameri-
can and foreign makes, are to pass
through Skowhegsn next Wednesday
afternoon, en- route from Quebec to Wa
terVille, in which latter city they will
pass the night, Thursday morning they
again pass through town, travelling the
same road from Waterville north. as OF
the previous afternoon, to Lakewood,
thence through No. Arson. No. New
Portland and Statton, to Kangeley,
where they remain over Friday. Satur-
day, they make the run to Breton
Woods, where the tour ends
The party started from Buffalo, n. Y,
July 18th. Il is in the main pleasure
tour, but the second contest for the
Charles j. Glidden Touring Trophy is
incorporated with it, entrants for the
general tour being allowed to contest
for the trophy after paying the general
entry fee of $50 without extra expense
and by simple declaration
The entire route of the tour from Buff
falo is marked with confetti distributed
by pilot car which leaves at day break
each morning and il has been planned
also to mark the roads with arrows and
! placard them with signs warning resi-
dents near the users of roads TO be care
full on the date the tour passes, to keep
their children off the roads and confine
domestic animals. In canada such no
tees will be printed IN French as well as
| English.
Beginning with the start from Buffalo,
the checking system, on which rests the
value of the contest, was inaugurated.
Checkers are sent forward by patrol car
early in the day and deposited at the
points named in the daily schedules
Each of these checking stations will be
designated by an appropriate flag. The
bridge is the checking station in Show
hogan. AS each car passes each check
er, the latter will enter on record card
the hour and minute when the car
passes. The actual time of passing will
have to coincide to the minute with the
schedule time in order that the car may
escape a penalty. For each minute the
|
be penaized one point The double
penalization for being ahead of the
schedule is to prevent racing. the daily
schedules being arranged on the basis
of the maximum legal speed limits with
allowances for various delays, such as
filling of tanks, traffic delays, etc. Such
checking will be done each day at pointe
averaging twenty-five miles apart and
| = ba nf l.
this way, the entire tour is divided into
fortyfou checking units or periods and
the driver who comes nearest to main
tanning the pre-arTanged schedule each
day will receive the lowest penalization
and will therefore become the winner of
the trophy
Each driver receives card at the
time of checking out in the morning
which will state the time allowed to
make each checking station and the
exact hour and minute when he must
arrive at the night stop, SO that he can
estimate his running during the entire
day and at all times. Garage officials
and checkers will compare watches at
the beginning of each day and there will
be no appeal from the time as registered
! by the various official watches
A second patrol car will follow the
last entrant to start and will pick up the
various checkers and carry them to the
night stop. This car will also render
ard to any cars in distress by carrying
messages to the nearest towns and ap
prising the tour officials of the difficult
! ties should such occur.
| The entrants for the tour who do not
wish to compete for the trophy may en-
ter any kind of an automobile and are
not compelled to avoid repairs or ad
Justments in the garages and may use
their machines for pleasure runs at all
the night stops and points where extra
days lay-oVers are arranged. " lille
their time is taken at each checking
point, they are not compelled to observe
the schedule and are practically un
trammeled by strict rules
Those contestants who are competing
for the Charles j Glidden Touring Tro-
ply on the other hand, are subjected to
exceedingly stringent rules For them
the tour is regularity test and they are
compelled to run to q certain fixed
schedule and are not allowed to touch
their cars for any purpose whatever, ex-
cept during the time they are on SEIZED
ule ard then at their own risk and sub.
ject to penalty should their repairs, adj
! justments, replenishments or inspection
be sufficient TO delay their running.