The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-04
MOTOR PUFFS


The early shows have now cleared away
things nicely, and those who lave hither-
to flown southwark right at the close oi
the New York show are ready to fly again
to the Sunny South and spend weeks
upon the tide-rolled sands, in leisure under
the palm trees, among the orange groves,
rather than to devote several months
during hard times and rigorous weather
in the North. There is something about
Florida which attracts yearly. The Wis
ions watch arise before the man or
woman accustomed to lolling in the tropi-
cal sun amidst truly tropical surroundings
will not down and good resolutions fade
away, providing these have been made adj
verse to Florida.
The bright, sunny winter weather to be
found along the Florida East Coast draws
like a magnet, and the mere mention of an
automobile race at Ormond or motorboat
races at st. Augustine, Rock Ledge and
Lake Worth is sufficient to start the Flor
ida winter resident in the right direction.
The program of the coming season is so very
attractive that hundreds will travel SOUTH
ward within a very few days now to devote
some time to pleasure before the contests
occur. Automobiles will go South very
quickly now to get ready for the meet at
Ormond, and motorboats will be shipped
to st. Augustine to start preparations for
Lu6 LIlp " Lake HOIIu. Int CudnCto q
grand and successful meet in 1908 are
brighter than ever before, as the meets all
come at a time when tradesmen and sports
men may devote the necessary time to the
journey, and 60 South content in the
thought that all will be over there in time
to return for the opening of another sea-
son In the North. One Of the earliest to
leave for the South will be Emanuel Ce-
drino, with the Flat Cyclone, as Cedrino
is n0fprminn6 70 ni1nf his pFn1f cal
through to victory, and he fully appreciates
the value of preparation for the events to
come. Cedrino has raced before at Or
mond, but never with a car as fast as his
present creation.
He will take with him also a fast stock
chassis for the stripped stock car race, and
Cedrino will be a factor in the contest,
judging by the record of the Fiat in Europe
during the last year, where it won all of
the principal events.
The Automobile Club of America, a new
entrant in the limelight as a race pro-
moter. having undertaken the promotion of
the great Ormond meet, has long fostered
healthy competition. The A. c. A. pro-
NOTED an automobile parade away back in
'9S, not SO very long ago in a lifetime, but a
long time ago in the automobile industry.
Thirty-four cars, a bicycle and a delivery
wagon took part in that event. In that
event many cars fell out because the slight
grade at 10th street, In Manhattan, would
not fall for them. Five of the steam cars
froze up en- route. In 1900 the club held its
first road race on Long Island and an cleo
tric carriage, specially constructed, won
this in two hours, three minutes and thirty
seconds. TIL club held a long-distance
run to Philadelphia that year and the win
ner took twelve hours for the great 20
journey. The advancement OF the automo-
bile was shown in 1906 when one car in the
two-gailon contest travelled e~ighty-seyen
miles on two gallons. Another advance
ment was shown this year when forty-one
of forty-eight cars tied for the prize in
he's sealed bonnet contest of over 900 miles.
The club now enters the field OF race pro-
motion in order that 1t may still further
show the advance of the industry. Nor
will 1t fail. for Robert Lee Morrell and
Secretary Butler will score a success in
anything they undertake.
There's a lot of talk about the New York
o-Paris race, and wagers are being offered
that no cars will start, and also that no
car starting from New York, February IS.
will finish the journey. Optimists take quite
another view, for the Pekin-to-Paris race
is in the minds eye, and cars finished in
tnat run. americans DeIeVe that the con-
test will finish in Paris In due time, and 1t
is evident that Europeans think so. for
every day bring new reports Of cars being
made ready, the latest being the report
that the Fiat Company. of Turin, was pre-
pairing to enter a car in the race or tour
ing event, as 1t may be terD6ed. The Fiat
has always been well to the front In all
great stunts. An Italian car won the race
from Pekin, and italy is evidently deter
mined to follow mp the advantage gained
in this great stunt. The Fiat, If entered,
will be a factor without a doubt, as this
great car has never been entered in any
even in which 1t did not show to advan-
tage. In America the Flat Automobile Com
pany, of New York, processes ignorance
of the plans Of the parent company. Mr..
Hollander has heard nothing from Europe
regarding the matter. but feels that there
may be some truth in the cabled reports.
He feels certain that a Flat, II entered,
will make a grand showing, and even pre-
diets victory for his car should 1t be in the
lists. The many past successes of the Fiat
are pointed out as evidence of its winning
qualities. F. ED. SPOONER.