New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-30
4 noroR Gle SPEEDWAY.

Some time ago we had occasion cordially to
commend the project of creating on Long Island
what was variously called an automobile speed
way and an automobile parkway. 1t was, at
any rate, to be an extensive roadway, meant
and preserved for the exclusive use Of auto
mobile vehicles, which should be at once a
means Of promoting the and enjoyment
of such vehicles and also of Obviatng the mis-
use Of the common roads for motor car racing
On both Of these grounds we We're inclined to
welcome the construction Of such a speedway
or parkway, and the progress which is from
time 10 time reported on it embOldens us to
hope that the project will not go the way of
its predecessors of the same kind at Pennng
ton. n. j.. and elsewhere. but will In the near
future be carried to fulhlment.
Meantime it is TO be observed that our Eng
lish brethren have got ahead of u.s. and while
we have merely been talking about and pre-
pairing for such an institution, they have act
ually gone ahead with the construction of one,
and have so far completed It that the formal
opening is now confidently announced for few
weeks hence. 1t Is a speedway or racetrack
which they are making, rather than q parkway,
but as such it seems to be all that could be
desired. 1t is well situated at Weybridge, only
forty minutes ride by rail from the heart Of
LOndOn-what the time is by automobile de-
ponds upon the car and the chauffeur! The gen.
mile each side is perfectly straight, and it's
circumference is about four miles. CapaciOus
grandstands command an unobstructed view Of
the entire circuit and directly past them runs
a straight flying klometer' extending dag
onally across the grounds near the smaller end
Of the oval 4 large car Enclosure In the centre
gives ample parking space for the cars Of spec
tatOrs, and subways give ingress and egress
without crossing the track at grade. The ely
ing klometer' is perfectly level, but on the cir
cumferential course there are two gradients,
one Of one in thirty ascending and one of one
in twenty-five descending The track Is a hun
dred feet wide, SO that dozen machines may
run abreast, and the cars in a race may all
start together as do the contestants In a horse
race The curves are tremendously banked, so
that at some places the track is only q few
degrees from the perpendicular, and it is reck-
oned that speed Of ninety miles an hour will
be quite safe at even the sharpest curve. The
finish OF every race viii be on the "hying kill
Ometer." directly in front of the grandstands.
In such a thorough manner are English mo-
florists providing for indulgence in their favor
ite sport Entire approval cannot, we fear, be
given TO It. Doubtless such running of ma
chimes will belt is-a thrilling and fascinating
spectacle, and we are quite ready to believe,
on hearsay rather than from personal expe-
rlence that It Is even more thrilling and fascinat-
Ing to the drivers Of the racing machines than
to the spectators. But we must consider, even
under the most favorable conditions, such as
win doubtless prevail at Weybridge, the danger
to limb and life entirely too great to justify in
diligence in such SPORT particularly since no
good purpose is served by such racing, but only
the mania for speed. Nevertheless, as we have
hitherto said, IL men wish thus to risk their
lives It is suitable and should be imperative
for them 20 do so in a specially prepared and
reserved place, where no lives but their own
viii be endangered. This English course is OBJ
viously racetrack pure and simple, and rae
ing Will be conducted on 1t with machines, just
as it is with horses at EPSON and GOodwood
and elsewhere. We shall see If machine racing
appeals successfully 90 the English sporting
taste. Perhaps it viii, since the track viii
permit genuine side by side racing Why not
Some men race horses under the saddle others
raos Aolsss h.ichad To skeletnn sulII.les ara