The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-02
Savannah Is Preparing for An
 Event of Interest
RICH PRIZES ARE OFFERED
Route is Over 25 Miles of the Finest Track Ever Built in the South and Every Care is Taken to
 Prevent Accident.

vannah will fulfill her promise to the letter and present on Thanksgiving Day next the greatest automobile race the world has yet seen.
 The preparations for it are now prac- tically complete. Purely as a matter of public enterprise and from a standpoint of municipal patriotism, the people of Savannah and Chatham county have built the most complete and satisfactory au- ton1obile race-course perhaps in the world today.
 Official representatives of the Automo- bile Club of America, under whose aus pices this race will take place, who have been here and gone over the course, as- sert that there is nothing like it either in this country or Europe; it presents points of improvement upon practically every used course
 The route of this race is laid over 25 miles of as prettily surfaced road as can be found in the south. It is simply a series of splendidly paved public roads with additions and details which make what is needed for an auto race-course.
 Fine Racing Surface.
 These roads are surfaced with what is known as Augusta gravel or cement gravel, which, upon being laid, eight inches thick in the center of IA to 24- foot roadways, tapering off to the sides where there is a perfect system of road drainage, hardens after drying out and presents a perfectly smooth, almost dust less surface.
 These roads have been built wholly at public expense at a cost of approximately s350O per mile, but not only that, the county has done certain work whose only object is to perfect the course for racing purposes. This particular work consists in the construction of IS banked turns giving both the proper angle and curva- ture to make it possible for the swift racing machines to take the turns at top speed. Instead of having to slack up to 15 or 20 miles an hour in order to make sharp angular turns, the swift racers can go around these gently in- clined curves at 60 to 75 miles per hour with all safety.
 Public Enterprise.
 Another illustration of the spirit of public enterprise looking to insuring the success of this event is found in the fact that owners of handsome residence property have willingly and without de- manding compensation, given up portions of their lawns in order that this race course might be most expeditiously con- structed.
 Everybody has fallen into the spirit of the occasion and with the permission of the governor. the local military com mands will turn out and render their serv- ices in guarding the course during the two days of the races free of cost in order that there may be no unnecessary accident or loss of life. Savannah is determined. if possible, to have the big sest automobile race the world has ever seen without a death to mar it or with out even a broken limb. Every possible precaution has been taken against acci- dent and during the two days no un- authorized person will be permitted upon the race-course or even to cross it. Those who must cross can do so only upon overhead bridges which have been erected to meet this emergency.
 The county authorities and the people have done their full part but much still has remained for the Savannah Automo- bile club, which is promoting the great enterprise, to do.
 Chief Expense.
 The chief expense to the club. per haps, will be the oiling of the road, and so thoroughly is this to be done that the swift racers at their greatest speed will raise not a particle of dust Some ten days or two weeks before the date of the races they will begin sprinkling on these roads S0000 gallons of crude bituminous oil which acts as a perfect binder and dust layer. This oil costs 394 cents a gallon in addition to the sprinking.
 They have erected an immense new grandstand in front of the starting and finishing points, which will accommodate 160OO spectators. Pits have been dug in front of these and all repairs during the races must be made here right before the eyes of the audience. Parking space has been set apart for those who want to view the races from their own ma- chimes.
 Northern auto enthusiasts who are keeping track of the arrangements be- ing made. wired that additional boxes would have to be provided to accom- modate them. The committee im- mediately proceeded to add 50 new boxes.
 Light Car Race.
 The international light car road race will take place November 25, the day begore Thanksgiving. They will go 21 times around a 10-mile course, making d total of 210 miles. The cars entered for this race are three Maxwells, three Bucks. one Chalmers Detroit one Cameron. two, Horoscopes one Ameri- can Aristocrat. three Oldsmobiles, all Americans one Isotta and one Lancia from Italy and three DeDions from France.
 The great race and that in which there is promise that some worlds records will he clipped if conditions are as good are now expected. will take place Thanksgiving Day. Novem Der 26. in this race are entered al- ready 21 cars, five Italian, i've German. five French and six American, with possibility of at least half dozen other entries.
 These cars win race It times around the 25-mile course. making a total of 400 miles. The cars. with their drivers. are as follows: Italy-Fiat Nazzaro. Fiat. Wagner; Fiat, dePalma, Itala. Cago; Ttala, Fourner. Germany. Benz. Hemery; Benz. Hanriot; Benz. Erie; Mercedes. Salzer Mercedes. Pogge. France-Renault, Szisz: Re- nault. Strang; DeDietrich, Duray; clem- ent- Bayard Hautvast; Clement Bay ard. Rigal. American--Lozier. Niche ner; Matheson, Chevrolet: Acme. Pat schslse. American Locomotive, l.. J. Bergdoll; B. l.. M, Williams: Chad