Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-15
PRACTICAL TESTS
D|SPLACE RACING
USEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS ARE
MORE EFFECTIVE
High Speed Development Gives Way
to Utility of Mechanical Con-
struction and General
Usefulness

With the sole exception Of some track
features of the contemplated open-aiI
show at the Empire City track in May
not a single race has been scheduled
by the automobile interests for the
coming season.
This surprising fact is elected from
the American Automobile association
with which rests the granting of race
sanctions. Not one application for a
permit has been filed as yet.
The authorities of the association see
in the conditions striking evidence
of a metamorphosis of the competitive
spirit, which, although growing instead
of diminishing, is taking the form OF
tests of utility and comfort rather than
of the ability to develop high speed
freaks of no commercial value.
Not that those whose finger is on the
pulse of public interest in the auto
believe that such trials as that for the
Vanderbilt cup, or as was held al
Ormonde, are likely to be abandoned
but that the whole tendency of com
tests should be toward the development
Of motor construction and useful ap-
piance rather than to speed alone
Even the racing cars are indicating
clearly the same disposition.
Cars Are Improved
1t is the improvement in the cars
themselves that has really killed track
racing. The high speed developed rem
dering safety impossible, experts say
has been the primary cause, and the
growing interest in quick starting and
quick stopping contests and other tests
that tend to improve the type, the
secondary incentive.
Such track events as will be later
arranged are to follow these lines in
the main, with carburetor and alcohol
motor tests, trials of ant-skidding de-
vices, of different tires, of speedome-
ters ard other apparati in which the
growing number of automobile owners
will be essentially interested. The day
seems to have passed when these ques-
tions interest only the manufacturers,
for the public has become learned in
technicalities
The Automobile Club OF America,
recognizing the logic of the situation,
is laying its plans for the development
of economy runs and tire tests and
other forms of contests which will be
largely in evidence this season, and
anticipates that there will be a marked
advance recorded in consequence in the
development of Americana appliances
instead of reliance on the inventions
of Europe, which have grown out OF
following the same lines in the past few
years abroad.
Already American manufacturers
have made tremendous strides toward
the development of the automobile, and
the machine turned out on this side of
the water is winning more and more
recognition abroad. BY its policy of
encouraging experimenters and stimu-
lating invention the Automobile Club
of America IS determined to raise the
standard of excellence to still higher
plane until the American product takes
rank as the first international power in
motoring.
The Automobile Club of Great Britain
is taking the same step, and has ar
ranged for extensive tests of tires,
speedometers, lamps and the like. while
in France, besides an elaborate en-
durance trial for tri-cars and run
abouts. Baron Henri de Rothschild has
offered prize for speed indicator
contest to be held early in May. All
these straws are taken to indicate
clearly the direction of the blowing
wind, to which the manufacturers are
keenly sensitive.