The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-11-29

average of go miles fer hour; the vol
turettC race tie day before the Grand
FTix at ali average OF 5t02 miles per
hour.
Abnormal Strokes.
At first thought It would appear that
the tendency to limit the size of racing
motors in this manner is admirable, but
When study is made Of the strokes Of
the foreign TaClT cars in 1909. IL would
appear that many Of the motors are In
reality .reakS particularly when II Is
considered that the short stroke motor
Is gaining ground all the time and that
a few years ago when the bore was un-
limited the foreign designers made the
stroke short in preference.
For 1895 The Europeans have decided
10 reduce the bore still further. from
81 inches TO 81 inches. II was hoped
that some limit would be placed on the
stroke because the Automobile Club of
America in reply to the request Of the
racing powers abroad, advised a Classi-
iltatiUn by volume, q most sensible
thing. The wisdom OF this plan should
four and siA cylinder motors in the
same class. but II encourages rational
motor design and the building Of cars
that viii have a commercial value after
the races are over
Handicaps on Americans.
4 four-cylinder motor Of 5.1-inch bore
and a reasonable stroke. say six inches.
Is a very good size. manufacturer
could easily turn such a racing car into
"a stylish and speedy roadster with little
trouble. the result would be a car con
tanning all the value racing can offer In
the way of experience. and instead OF a
freak. would be a new logical model
perfectly tested.
The foreigners can very well afford
! TO build such cars, OWiUg 20 the large
number Of events held abroad every
season, and, therefore, open To just such
specially built racing cars. Moreover.
motor car advertising on the continent
Is largely limited TO contests, wherefore
the makers can afford 10 go 20 greater
| contest expense They do not have as
many automobile shows as we have, do
not have 20 do so much advertising in
I the newspapers and magazines, and
what rs very important, the ADVERTISING
they do is highly effective. owing TO the
relatively small and densely populated
areas as compared with the United
States
Argument Answered.
The point might be made that few
OF the racers built abroad for the 1903
season did not have abnoruaIIy long
strokes II is reported that the winner
OF the Grand Prix had cylinders OF
5ty-inch bore, and OF 669-inch stroke
tsuL u must be considered that 81
pore IS large, real racing dimension
IN itself, and in this case II was NOT
found necessary 10 tengthen the stroke
very much,
Now for 1903 the bore Is greatly re
duced. and in order TO make a fast car.
the designer is almost certain to build
a very long stroke motor. Ike in the
cars IN the finch race in England. or
the YOiturette race in France
what IS today the position of the
American manufacturer who has a de-
sire 10 build a car that can win the
Grand PTiN OF 1902 Simply this He
must build for racing purposes only.
one or more freak cars He cannot
compete successfully with the foreign
ers unless he dos. If ne does no.
lengthen the motor stroke 20 some alb
surd length his cars Will not have the
speed o. the foreign cas-; he viii not
be racing on equal terms with them.
and will be beaten.
What then will be the attitude OF the
automobile public toward American
manufacturers who are in sympathy
with and experienced IN racing. but who
do not care to build freaks. from the
racing performance Of which thew will
learn little or nothing Most likely II
viii be considered that they are dead
slow or unpatriOtiC OF afraid OF the
foreigners. Not in the least The
American builder has had nothing to
do with the formation Of the 1909 racing
rule beyond an unheeded protest made
by him through the medium OF the
Automobile Club OF America