Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10

NJ. Clemenceaus decision to authorize a
great automobile race in Paris this year
called the Grand Prix of the Automobile
Club of France, it is said. has been received
with satisfaction by the majority Of the
automobile builders. There Is a conviction
among them that great speed races stu
serve a useful purpose, and all attempts to
suppress them entirely have SO far failed.
For several months minority of automo-
bile constructors and also portion of the
press have been authorizing violent cam
paign against authorizing speed races for
the future, but without success.
The circuit for this years race has not
yet been chosen. A number of suitable
routes have been proposed, and one thing
may be assured certain, that last years
circuit will be abandoned. There are strong
indications in favor of the so-cailed circuit
of Aix-les-Bains. The principal innova-
ton in the regula tons for the Grand Prix
consists in the abolition of the weight limit.
which hitherto was restricted to 1890 kilos.
On the pthSr hand, a restriction has been
placed on the consumption OF petrol thirty
liters being allowed for 100 kliometers.
An elaborate set of rules for controlling
this consumption of fuel has been drawn
up, and. of course, E>c.:n autOm>>lies may
be entered for the race. But as the French
builders continue to claim certain privileges
the race Is losing in it's international char
acter, and it is not likely that many for
eign cars will compete.
~
A meeting of the racing board of the
American Automobile Association will be
held next month and some announcement
is expected at that time regarding the next
Vanderbilt cup race. In view o. the fact
that the French club has altered its rules
A.; Fl,;~x bot "a
German emperor's cup regulations follow
an entirely different plan, the question has
arisen among American motorists as TO the
probability of a change in rules for this
years big event on Long Island =
$50 far as F. can tell Jefferson de
Mont Thompson. who will remain as chair
man of the racing board dnringth the coming
year, said, 1.-The same rules viii prevail as
hitherto. We do not wish to; place ANY
heavier burden upon the American manu-
facturers. The rules based on the maxi
mum weight of the car have produced good
results in the past, and several of the cars
made last year are being improved for this
years race. To follow the French plan Of
gasoline consumption would entail seri-
Gus disadvantage upon the American con-
teStants. for practically all of the intending
many of them are practically finished Any
radical change in rules would have to be
made very early in the season.
X,
Most Automobiles are familiar with the
work the universal or cardan joint Is called
upon to do in the modern car, and with
the serious result of any great detection
from the straight line in transmitting the
power to the rear axle through these very
much worked parts. They are, of course.
a necessity, but the less their services are
required the more satisfactory the car. In
several cars this principle Is carried out
almost to perfection, the engine being In
elined downwardly toward the rear, so that
with its regular complement of passengers
the crank and propeller shafts are In an
exactly straight line. entailing no wear
whatever upon the two universal joints pro-
vided. The value Of this in a seasons use
cannot be overestimated, it is said.
~.
When one reads in the daily papers OF
the accidents to automobiles from defect
i've or poorly constructed steering gears, 1t
is said to be refreshing to look upon those
Of several machines. In some the steering
knuckles and Jokes are of chrome nickel
steel, while thef connecting rods are mas
sive and of the Same material. To prevent
any possibility Of accident, these are pinned
I and brazed after being lined up in the fac
tory, so that as far as human ingenuity and
care are responsible there Is no possibility
of accident from failure of those parts. In
some light cars carrying five people and
weighing about 2,2JO pounds the massive
ness of the construction Is very apparent
and a comparison with other makes will re-
veal the fact that the makers have been
most liberal in this particular and pro-
vided construction heavier than that OF
many cars twice it's size.
X
San Francisco has. since the recent ter
restrial disturbance, been the mecca for au-
tomobile dealers. With the streets almost
impossible, horses at a premium and their
feed practically unobtainable, the horseless
carriage has demonstrated its value under
the most Instantaneous conditions ever
imposed. The result has been the eastern
makers have not been able to ship cars
to San Francisco fast enough to supply the
demand, and 1t has developed the CONNER
months to a greater extent than under Or
binary circumstances would have been pos
sible in as many years.
"A good deal is written relative to the
cost of the material entering into the con-
struction Of the up-to-date automobile
some of 1t correct, much of it incorrect"
an automobile man recently said. AN an
alysis would reveal the fact th;: even were
I. all Of the material Of the highest possible
grade it would not account for the differ
ence in price Of the high and the loW-grade
car 1t reminds US somewhat of the famous
saying of fooling the people, etc. but In
this particular case 1t Is the public'S own
fault, and they have practically asked to
be fooled by demanding high-sounding
names for material, the value Of which
they are not familiar with, and ignoring
what every engineer knows to be the prime