The Washington herald., 1907-05-30

Ten contestants will face the starter in
the 100-mile race this afternoon in the
feature event Of the first National Circuit
automobile meet ever held in this city.
For over two hours these drivers who
represent the best long-distance pilots of
the modern juggernauts IN America, will
battle for supremacy.
For the first time in the history of auto
mobile track racing a woman will contest
in a long g-distance event against expe-
rienced drivers famed for their daring and
skill. Mrs. J. y Cuneo. Of Richmond
Hill, Long Island driving a 45-horsepower
Rainier semi-racer. will brave the dangers
that constantly surround a contestant in
such race. to demonstrate that woman
is the equal Of a man at the steering
wheel when nerve and endurance are
properly applied.
Good Field Entered.
Pitted against this extraordinary woman
will be Ralph Mongini, the Terrible Ital-
ian,' man renowned for his reckless
abandon while driving around the treach-
erous turns Of @ circular course; Wallace
c. Hood. of Baltimore. winner Of the re-
cent Harrisburg York road race; Howard
Gill, OF the same city, in a 60-horsepower
Thomas racer; A. L. Mccormick, the we'll
known local daredevil in a 4O-horse-
power Thomas, John 4. Lutz and mis-
Oldsmobile semi-racer: Jack Conway.
driving David Moore's Thomas: Ralph
Orme and his Ford, Big Six Jack Rior-
dan f- -Il~sar,rv.rr D.,rI.-- 81
a. Howard and Stevens -Duryea Mon
gini Will pilot a Columbia car in the place
of his Matheson. which was badly dam
aged in Philadelphia ard could not be re-
paired in time for to-day's contest
The record for 100 miles in track com
petition is two hours and eighteen min
utes. The Benning track has been put in
the best possible shape. and is is freely
predicted that the old mark. which is held
by Rogers, Of Racine, will so by the
boards to-day.
Fond of wild Drive.
Mrs. Cuneo arrived in the city yester-
day afternoon and is guest Of the Ar
lington. She is probably the last woman
in the world one would pick out as
racing autoist She is Of slight build.
about medium height exceedingly mod
est and looks to be more at home in the
drawing room than at the wheel Of
racing car. To Washington Herald re-
porter last night she told of her love for
the gasoline cars and described the sensa-
tons attending a wild drive around
circular track.
L must confess that racing an auto
mobile did not occur to me until long
after I had my first machine" said she.
Just five years ago my husband pur-
chased an electric runabout for me and
used 1t for a year as convenient mode
Of transportation TO and from the sta
ton Of our Long Island home. The fol-
loving winter we took our usual Florida
trip about the time Of the Ormond Beach
races.
"One race on the programme was for
woman drivers and a friend of my nus
band had entered his gasoline car with
his wife as driver At the last minute she
decided that the sport was too nerve
racking and withdrew There were but
three entries. and to prevent the race
from being called off consented 10 drive
in the place Of my friend. I was fortu-
nate enough 10 win the event. and I
guess I was inoculated with the speed
germ then and there.
THE little electric was sacrificed as
soon as we got home. and ! purchased a
steam car. which I used for a year, in
the Glidden tour. on the beaches. and
occasionally on the track.
Enfertnfns No Fear
From a 15-horsepower steam car I
graduated from class to class until I
am now plotting a 45-horsepower Rainier
The thought of bodily injury or fear
never occurs to me. II ever felt
that I was afraid to take any chance
that Is presented while skirting around
a circular track at a mile-a minute gait,
/ would quit the sport then and there.
7 always use the white fence on the
inside Of the track as a guide, and never
notice anything else. / have never ex-
perienCed so exhilarating a sensation as
travelling at a mile a minute or faster
l am entering automobile races from a
pure love Of the sport. and because I
don't care for golf or the less strenuous
diversions
L hope no one Will think that I am a
professional driver or that I am con-
nected in any way with the automobile
industry / simply listened to the call
Of the speed mania, and could not resist
its beckonings So many have been kind
enough 20 express a hope that I emerge
victorious I'm tO-morrow's contest I don't
believe I will, but II I am in at the finish
l Will be satisfied
Mrs. Cuneo will also drive in one or
two other events. The short-distance
races will begin at O'Clock. and the big
race at $3.50. The management has de-
cided TO allow cars 20 park inside the
track.
MAYFL0WER TEAM WINS.