New-York tribune., 1908-04-10
RACE UP STEEP HILL.
Monster CrOzcd out to See Cars
Rush Up Fort George Incline.

Thirty thousand persons, more or less, prob
ably more, gathered at Fort George hill yester
day afternoon for the automobile carnival hill
climbing contests, and judging by the noise and
cheers enjoyed the interesting and exciting sport
to the full. 1t a stirring sight to see the
cars rushing up the steep incline between the
lanes formed by men and women in the lure Of
the motor car, and few there who left until
the last contest was over, there seemed 10
be peculiar attraction to the onlookers in the
remarkable speed developed up the 19OO-foot
incline
Eleven events were on the programme, and
thanks to Fred Wagner, the starter, and the ef
fcient work of the committee and the police,
everything ran off smoothly and on time, while
not a single accident marred the afternoon $
sport.
Some of the best known drivers in the country
took part, and seventy-five cars took turns in
rushing up the hill in an effort to make new
records That the record for the hill of %
seconds made last August by Stearns car, was
not broken was due 10 the fact that the start
was standing Instead of flying Among the driv-
ers who piloted the various cars were Barney
Odfeld, Guy Vaughn, Manuel Cedrino Maurice
Bernan and Waiter White.
The White steamer. we'll handled by Walter
White. made the fastest time of the day when
I
in 321k seconds. This time was made in the
or-alI contest open to cars of all types
snd motive power. The other cars to win were
The C'orhin the Stearns the jackson, the Stew
ems Durvea the Mitchell the Maxwell and the
Rabcock The Corbin, White and Stevens-Dur-
yea cars won two events each. The 3O-horse-
power Corbin machine made a particularly goou
showing in Contest D, in which sixteen cars
started. 1t raced up the incline in 4S'S seconds.
The same car made even faster time in contest
T when IT covered the distance in 424b seconds.
The so horsepower Apperson car made the
fastest time of the day for gasolene machines
when it was timed in sc seconds in the contest
won by the White steamer.
The thirty thousand persons lined the course
from the foot of the hill to the finish. high up
on the top of Fort George Gathered about the
starting point we're two hundred machines, not
r+i,,e, those entered in the hill climb. At
.ba tom of the hill there were just many more
! machines every one OF them filled with spec
! tators The high slopinG bluff directly under
| the Fort George Casino looked like one or the
blcachers at the Polo Grounds. At least hVe
! thousand persons the contests from TINS
| point alone. Even the trees along the course
were filled with human crows, and every place
! which commanded view of the course was
! eagerly sought for.
The scene was much like that OF a Vanderbilt
CUP race although a smaller scale. II was
| perfectly plain to the novice that auto
| nobiling has a strangle hold the sport loving
regulation of this city. When the big high
powered cars came dashing up the hill with
their drivers crouched over the steering gear,
the crowd roared it's delight, and the men at the
wheels were cheered all along their journey.
| The boom and roar Of the machines seemed to
get into the blood Of the spectators, and they
thrilled with delight whenever the announcer
shouted through his megaphone that the time
closely approached the record.
Vendors of pennants, peanuts, programmes
and souvenirs haWked their and found
ready purchasers. Had it been little later in
the season one might have thought he was at
a country fair.
Sprinkled generously among the spectators
were the juniors OF New York University who
are now suffering" from the faculty penalty
Of a three days suspension for duckng a fresh
man. They having a picnic, and planning
how to get another vacation before this term
ends Afternoon courses at New York Uni
versity must have been badly cut" judging by
the number of violet sweaters and college caps
conspicuous in the crowd
1t was an ideal day for the sport The sun
shone brightly; there vas not a cloud in the
sky and the course was in perfect condition.
Although a chill wind blew down off the Hud-
River it not too cold 10 view the
contests with pleasure. The odor OF gasolene
filled the air. but seemed 10 suit the spectators
/ better than pure oxygen.
All the got off TO a standing start First
there a splutter and splatter which grew
! stronger as the power increased. Then came