The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-13
The AUTOMOBILISTS.
VANDERBILT CUP CANDIDATES
BEGIN PRACTICE.
Seven OF the American Racing Cars Make
Early Morning Runs on Nassau County
Circuit Ernest keeler strikes Tree
with OIdSmObIle. but Is UnInJured.

Seven OF the eight American Vanderbilt
cup candidates stationed AZ their training
quarters on the Nassau coun,y circuit were
on the course Yesterday. which was the first
day set for practice by the racing board of
the American Automobile Association Her
bert II. Lyttle. with his 30 h~Orse-powe'
Pope-TOled was the first driver out, stlrt-
ing before 5 O'Clock. He had equipped the
racer with three strong scarchlights so he
could see the TO d before sunrise. He was
out 80 early that the vo unteer timers at
KruR's Corner were not prepared for him
on his first round of the 20 II miles circuit.
but he was timed for three rounds later In
81, s. and 30 minutes. Lee A. Prayer. with
one OF the 10 horsepower Frayer-Miilers,
was the second driver TO start out. having
with him In the mechanics seat 4. II. Beldcn,
who is to drive Frayer-Miller No. 3. Prayer
made one round of the circuit in 80 minutes.
Frank Lawwell, driver of Frayer-hiller No. ?,
had trouble witt tires and did not make a
complete round OF the circuit.
Joe Tracy took his 20 horsepower Loco
mobile around twice, being timed IN 20
minutes each time. On his second round
Tracy's car threw a tire while travelling
over the rough stone dressing on the Jericho
turnpike. but neither driver nor car was
injured. John W. Haynes. with his so horse
power Haynes. and Ernest Keller. with the
90 horsepower Oldsmobile. each made one
round Of the circuit In al minut IS. Walter
Christie took out his direct drive 10 horse
power Christie, but did not complete a round
because OF defective spark plugs.
The only accident that happened to any
Of the racing cars befell Ernest KPeleris
Oldsmobile when he was rounding the Lake
vile corner on his second round. The steer
Ing gear locked and the car stBuck a tree
at the roadside a glancing blow. which
turned the car over and spilled Keller and
Miller, his mechanic. out on the road. The
front axle was sprung badly and both front
wheels were smashed. The axle was a
light one that Keeler was experimenting
with. The engine and working parts Of the
racer escaped damage. but KeeleT said IL
would take three OF four days 10 straighten
out the frame and put the machine In running
order again.
Most OF the drivers com planned Of the
condition Of the course and said there are
many soft spots on the circuit. A stretch
on the Jericho turnpike between the Jericho
corner and Westbury IL being resurfaced.
and the loose crushed stone on the road
way compelled all Of the practicing drivers
to slow down IN many places the dust
is very thick, which bothered those who were
following other cars, IA little oiling has
been done. The turn at Krug's on the Jericho
NuAhbAhN " " bNA '"A oiC AlC
road slopes away on the corner. instead of
being banked as II should be.
George II. Robertson. who is to drive the
80 horsepower ApPeTson. was down on the
course yesterday morning watching his rivals
tune up their cars. He received word from
KoKOmo late on Tuesday night that his car
had been shipped direct TO Mineola and should
arrive there this afternoon so he could have
Il out early tomorrow morning with the
others. Tom Cooper said last night that the
IS horsepower Matheson racer which Ralph
-Mongini Will driXe md been .Ahlpped from,
Wilkesbarre yesterday and should arrive in
New York to-day.
Word was received from Buffalo last night
that Gustave Caillois. Hubert lie Blon and
Montague Roberts positively would be on
the course the first OF next week with their
Thomas racers. The cars would have been
shipped yesterday or on Tuesday hut for the
fact that they were found to be geared too
high for a course with a. many corners and
turns as the Nassau county circuit, This was
developed on Tuesday when lie RlOn drove
his racer over. a measured four mile stretch on
the macadamlZed road between LockpOrt and
Main street, Buffalo, ". eight mile stretch
was used for the trials. and Le Blon hrst made
three trips over the eight miles. The first
was timed In 5 minutes 80 Us seconds. The
| sOcOndr trial was Q artne faster, but the third