The Washington times., 1906-08-05
OLDFIELD WINNER
OVER EDDIE BALD
At BENNING TRACK
Howard Gill, of Baltimore,
Ahead in Only Exciting
Amateur Event.
NOVELTY RACE AMUSING
Bald Would Have Beaten
Barney" If Judges Hadn't
Reversed a Decision.

a crowd that filled the grandstand
and paddock at Benning race track was
OF hand yesterday afternoon TO witness
the automobile races under the auspices
Of the Washington Automobile Racing
Association.
Barney Oldheld. the famous driver,
was advertised as the star attraction.
and pro- ed himself an excellent draw
ing card. Eddie Cannon" Bald, the
former champion cyclist, also attracted
considerable attention.
Aside from tho work OF the two pro-
fessionals. only two other events fur
nished the slightest suggestion OF sport.
one race between a Thomas car driven
by Mr. Mccormick. and Stanley
steamer driven by Howard GIL holder
Of a number Of Baltimore records. was
exciting from start 70 finish. Gil win
ming by a narrow margin. The distance
was five miles, with both drivers Jockey
ing at every turn.
A Novelty Race.
The other amateur event Of special in
terCst was amusing but not exciting.
II was called Il novelty race and was
open 90 all fully equipped touring cars
carrying three passengers and driver.
The engines We're started by the drivers
al the referees pistol, and drivers and
passengers mounted In their places
after the shot had been fired.
AT the end of the FIRST mile the cars
came 10 a full stop a the tape and
passengers were discharged. At the
end of the second mile the cars again
came 20 fun stop, and passengers
were picked UP. The last mile was a
flying finish.
G. W Frank won the event IN a Co
lumbia car in minutes and . 3-5 sec
oads. a. p. Dorsett was second in a
Glide car. The third starter. Robert
Schaum. ran his car into the fence at
the second turn, and failed 10 finish.
Frank won the race easily. Dorset fin
ishiug several hundre- yards behind.
The Big Event.
Following this the race for which the
large crowd had come 10 BenninE was
pulled of. II was listed on the program
as THE great national sweepstakes.
open TO the world, S. 600 In gold coin 10
winner. $500 TO be added If worlds rec
ord IS broken. Entries limited 10 first
nve entries Barney OldheId is entered
in this EVENT.. In heats"
Oldfeld and Bald were the only driv-
crs iu the world who sought honors in
the great national sweepstakes" The
event went TO OldheId after four heats
in every one Of which there was "a close
finish. Oldneld drove the weN-adver-
tised Peerless Green Dragon Bald
drove machine called the white
Streak" manufactured by the same con-
Germ. Bald said he didn't have the
lightning Bug with him.
The first heat was for three miles. aHd
was won by Bald. The cars finished
within a few inches Of each other, and
had the distance been another hundred
feet Oldfeld undoubtedly would have
won the event. The time was minutes
and 5 seconds
Bald in the Lead
In the second heat, which was for the
same distance. Bald cot of first, and
OIdheId seemed TO maxi no effort 10 pass
him until the last stretch Evidently he
had miscalculated the distance for Bald
finished a few inches N tire lead. This
was "a great disappointment 10 the
crowd as the raCe was 10 be the best
two in three heats. ana il had been
hoped after the first tnaJ Oldheld would
win in order TO make It necessary to run
the final.
The judges stated thair decision, say
ing that Bald was the winner. The
other officials. however. decided that the
crowd deserved to be given better run
for their 90 cents, and it was finally
announced to the grand stand that it
was dead heat.
. The heat was run in mile sprint,
Oldheld winning by a tew feet.
The hnal was for three miles. Old
field repeated the same performance of
letting Bald take the lead. and drawing
up on him in the last stretch The
other races had demonstrated that Old
field had the more powerful car; in fact
the machine is one Of the fastest in the
country. Bald, however. was driving
his car to the limit, and using excellent
head work, Strategy was one Of Bald's
strong points when he was known or
the cycle track as the white flyer -
ana he still employs the same methods
in automobile racing.
f