The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-11-16

cipal sporting event in the automobile
the Grand Prize under the auspices
of the Automobile Club of America
at Savannah, to be held on Thanks
giving Day, and the small car race
which is to be run on November 25th,
the day before Thanksgiving. Both
races will be run over the public
roads of Chatham county, the short
car race being over course practi-
cally ten miles in length, and that
for the larger cars being over spe-
The big race will be 400 miles in
length and that for small cars 200
miles. The prize in the big car race
will be gold cup valued at $4,000
donated by the Automobile Club of
America. Both events are interna-
tional in scope. and there are now on
the grounds drivers from Italy, Ger
many, France and America. The big
race is known officially as @The
Grand Prize Race and the smaller
one as the international Light Car
Race"
The greatest interest is felt in the
grand prize race in which the most
famous drivers and cars in the world
will compete. There are % entries in
this race, and the drivers and the
machines are already on the ground
getting in shape for it. The course
is closed to the public for two hours
each day, and during this time it is
occupied by the drivers who are
quainted with it's general conditions
Camps have been located at different
points along the course by all the en-
trants, and from this date until the
day the race is run there will be busy
times in them all. The course is a
perfectly level one which was built
| by convict labor and surfaced with
Augusta gravel, composition that
admits OF very rapid speed being
made. 1t is expected that several new
| worlds records will be hung up on
| the course in the big event. Those
| who have witnessed races over the
Vanderbilt Cup course and at Ormond
Beach declare that the best time on
these courses will be readily eclips-
ed by the drivers on Thanksgiving g
Day. The Ormond Beach record is II
miles an hour. 1t is believed that at
least S5 miles an hour will be made
by the winner of the Gold Prize over
the Savannah course.
The course for the long and short
races will be carefully guarded by
state militia who have been ordered
out by the governor of the state for
the two days. That this is the only
practical method of guarding an auto
mobile race course has been demon
strated. Last spring when there was
an automobile race in Savannah the
course was guarded perfectly by the
same body of men who will guard it
i for the events of this month, and
there was not the least trouble nor
Inconvenience in handling the big
crowds There will be none this year
either, if the plans of the governor
and the military committee having
the event in charge are carried out.
Being International In character
the race will attract attention widely
beyond the confines of the United
Estates. Invitations have been extend
ed the President of the United States
and the members of his cabinet to
attend, and also to the Emperor OF
Germany, the King of Italy and the
lPresident Of France. There will be
numerous visitors from all sections
iof the United States, New York es
lpeciaily being well represented. Spe
lciai steamers win be run from New