The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-24

ohi ~ tN1 |RRS(N'
start the race as quickly as possible
The Irish Volunteers were sent out
and, with motorcycles. cleared tn
course and all roads crossing it wer'
barred with hawsers.
Opposite the grand stand and grouped
about it, seemingly for miles, was a seq
Of automobiles which had brought par
ties of from five to twelve to the course
One automobile dealer estimated that
there were IS, ZOO, 900 worth of automo-
biles at the spot, not counting the rae
ing cars.
BY the time the officials were ready
to start the race the rain had ceased
there was a perking up in the wind. ano
Indications were that the sky would
clear. Whitehead walters hurried
through the big grand stand serving
hot coffee, steaming omelets in little
sil~ver-covered dishes, and caring other
wise for the material wants of the
mostly rich who found places in the
select enclosure.
When the officials came out on the
track and summoned the racing cars
to form in line to be ready to start a
minute apart the first cheers were
heard. But it was a little early for
great enthusiasm.
They're on mt 6;30.
No. 1, Locomobile, driven by Florida,
was the first car started at $50 a. m.
No. 2. Knox, 40-horsepower, driven by
Dennison, followed one minute later,
then came Stricken with his German
Mercedes, and they were followed a
minute arart until all were off except
the French Renault, No. II. which did
not get off until TIA.
Florida. No. 1, was tho first to COM
plete the course, his time being given
of1cially as % minutes 10 seconds, but
the best time on the first lap was made
by Robertson, No. 16. His time was 20
minutes "a seconds.
His radiator was leaking badly, and
he lost nearly a minute in replenishing
it in full view of the grandstand.
The delay in getting off put Strang
under a handicap of 2S minutes, n
it seemed a forlorn hope, but he threw
In his clutch and set out to overtake
the field.
On the fifth lap, cars Nos. 4 and o
were the leaders; each were delayed
about half a minute.
Strang met with a little more diff
culty. having burned his clutch out at
$40 a. m.
Starting on the fifth lap at about $40
but seven cars were practically in the
running, as follows:
Nos. |. 3, 4, s, s, IL and 16.
At the end of the fifth lap No. 4 was
still in the lead. No. 3Nhad moved mp
to second place and No. 6 was third.
Robertson's time for the sixth lap was
20 minutes 30 seconds.
Reports of trouble began to arrive
at the grand stand. Foxhall Keene was
reported with his car ablaze at Locust
Grove. In a few minutes, however, ne
was again in the race, and as he passed,
completing the circuit. there was a
futter of handkerchiefs and a clapping
of hands from the grand stand
Patschke, in No. IL Acme, however, was
out for all time, having broken a cam
shaft after completing two rounds.
The third car to come to grief was
Chevrolet's Matheson, which cracked a
cylinder at Jericho, and was put out
of the race after going a lap and a
half.
Thomas car No. 10, driven by Gill,
broke a gear at Jericho.
Car No. 9, Hotchkiss, driven by Kill
patrick, broke a clutch.
Robertson was proving the hero OF
the race, reeling off the first three
rounds at an average of 66 40 miles
per hour.
Completing the third lap, No. 16,
Locomobile, driven by Robertson, was
in the lead, followed by No. a, a
wick, driven by Haupt. and NO. o.
Isotta, driven by Lyle.
Robertson made the third lap in 20
xr1tal, MO tho ia Gf-
est time so far.
He ~relinquished the leadA on the
fourth lap because of tire trouble
At the completion of the fourth lap
Haupt. in Chadwick No. A, was leading,
closely followed by Lyle, winner Of the
Briarcliff, and Stricken.
on the sixth lap No. 8. Mercedes, was
delayed about one minute. account OF
engine trouble.
At 9 a. m. No. s, Mercedes. was held
up at the pit about four minutes to re-
plenish gasoline and water supply.
At 9:05 a. m, No. 7, Matheson, caught
on fire in front of the grandstand. The
fire was quickly extinguished.
Three-Corncred Fight.
At the end of the sixth lap, with the
race for the Vanderbilt cup a little
more than half finished, Haupt, No. A,
in his Chadwick; Robertson, No. 16, In
a Locomobile, and Herbert Lyle, in
No. 6. .Isotta, were making a desperate
fight for leadership. Haupt had the
honor at that point, but as he flashed
across the line Robertson was tearing
along only 10 seconds behind him,
pushing his big car to the limit of its
speed. He went past the grandstand
like a whirlwind. finishing his sixth
lap at an average speed of almost 10
miles an hour.
Forty seconds after Robertson came
Herbert Lyle. He was pushing his
machine to its utmost in an effort to
overcome the slight advantage Haupt
and Robertson had over him.
BY doing the seventh lap in 20 min
utes and SO seconds, Robertson, in his
Locomobile, took the lead. No. 6. the
Isotta, second, and No. 3, Mercedes,
third.
Chadwick Out.
At 1926 al M, a No. 4, Chadwick,
which was in the lead up to the seventh
lap, was compelled to put into the
control at Locust Grove on account OF
magnetic trouble.
At 9:31 a. M. car No. 10, Thomas.