New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21
TOURISTS IN TROUBLE.
MANY CARS MISSING.
T1centy Machines Lost Bet7oeen
Pht8burg and Bedford Springs.

Bedford Springs. Penn, July 20.-The ninth dav's
rua of the Ghdden tourists from Pittsburg to this
place. distance Of 99S miles has played havoc with
foores. cars and percentages. The trip over the
Fgue Ridge Mountains was the most tedious the
auonobilists have had 10 contend with so far
U 10 midnight only thirty-two of the ffty-two
cars when left Pittsburg this morning have re-
ported. and where the others no one knows, ex-
cept that they are struggling along in the noun
tans somewhere.
II the run to-day PIttsburg was the greatest
1uherer. and result the perfect score which
fas been maintained by that city since the begin
ning Of the tour has been broken. Buffalo
leads, with q percentage of eSI 40 while Pittsburg
IS next, with 97712.
TIE road from the summit of the Blue Ridge
Mountains to Bedford Springs is strewn with auto
mobiles Of both the Glidden and Hover trophy
contestants A number of the cars are broken
down altogether and others being towed in by
teams. The mountain roads were too much for
them after the strenuous OF yesterday into
Fittsburg.
An accident nlarrod the tour II neared this
place. The car Of 2. p. Jones, OF Pittsburg' with
Eve punctures. struck a deep rut and n son OF MI
Jones was thrown out, striking on his head. A
quick run was made several miles back where
medical attention given 10 the young man lie
Is not seriously injured. Several hours late, MY.
Jones made an attempt TO arrive here on time
which he failed 10 do by hour and 81 minutes.
As the result he was penalzed 30 points thus
breaking up the-perfect score of the Fitsourg club
Tomorrow the tourists VIII rest, and early Mon
ia morning the TO Baltimore will be at
tempted.
Alfred Reeves. general manager of the American
Moor car Manufacturers Association, upon his
return from Indianapolis yesterday, after covering
tat the journey in competing cars said that the
American Automobile Association tour for the
GE5aen trophy. now in progress. was the severest
test to which American touring cars had ever been
subjected Although the tour from a scenic and
novel point OF view does not compare with the one
through Canada last year, Mr.. Reeves declares
In present one Is going TO do for the pastime
and industry II is going through thickly popu-
lated country and ar1ong persons interested in
improving the highways and able 10 buy motor
cars.
with the trip about half over. I am convinced
that the present tour from Cleveland to New York.
fv way Of Chicago. Indianapolis and Pittsburg. is
the hardest test TO which regulation touring
have ever been subjected said Mr. Reeves. This
s owing 70 the very fast schedule required and the
rouza roads over which the tourists have to travel.
Indiana reads are good. but Ohio and Michigan
can do liltle boasting of their highways.
IN an effort 70 furnish fast enough schedule
for the big cars the little receiving the
worst of il. ANY machine IN the contest Of less
than 24-horsepower is required to go almost at ts
limit in order TO make the schedule and have
enough spare tine to fix tires or make any minor
adjustments
These conditions have resulted in abnormal
test os machines and exhaustive endurance trial
for the drivers as we'll as for the occupants of the
cars Old SOL when it didn't rain. sent his hot
rays down the tourists. most Of whom discard
ed touring tops in order to make better time
the road
In my Judgment future contests Of the sort
1-.u have 5ezi1h-a price classification. In
other words. GAYS Of S20G0 less should be
oui-ed 70 make fifteen miles an hour; those selling
f-o-- g 0) % $500 would be asked to make seven
tee rni - hour, while the machines selling for
s91G or more should be asked for nineteen miles
an hour average in this connection. the work OF
the small cars, Ike the REQ and Maxwell, has
been source Of wonder on the trip. they having
% travel at their very limit in order to make the
time.
The whole tour shows that motors almost
perfect. There has been very few spark plugs put
II. and comparatively motor troubles Of any
importance. The only troubles have been in
ming gears particularly in the matter Of springs.
bearings and wheels. About thirty Of the cars
originally equipped with shock absorbers. and
these had 10 spring trouble