Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-07
TRADE BENEFITS
BY MOTOR RACES
RACE DEMONSTRATES IMPORT
ANT FACTS
HANDLING OF CARS is OF HIGH
EST QUALITY
Meet Shows Local Association Can
Successfully Handle Big Affairs
Without Any Suggestion
of Unfairness
BY L. GEO. THOMPSON

Several things were demonstrated AT
the recent race meet that. while not
new, have not before been forclbly
called to the attention of local motor
dom by any previous contest which has
taken place here.
1t was shown that an air-cooler car
could run 100 miles without burning
up and still be fit at the finish. In con-
nection with the air-cooled car it also
demonstrated the lighter weight made
possible by the elimination of the wa
ter system and all things necessarily
connected Herewith, decreased the
weight of the car to such an extent il
was much easier on tires.
What was especially gratifying from
another standpoint than that of the
progress in motor building was that OF
the personal side, in which it was prov
en- beyond doubt that the local associ-
alton can successfully handle such an
affair, and that the local spOrtsmen are
of the caliber that eliminates any sug-
gestion of unfairness or crooked play
from the game.
The driving of Hamlin, Patee, Stone
Kuhl, Barnes, and in fact all of the
rest. was of the highest quality and de-
void of rawness.
The success of the meet means moro
to the trade here than even those di-
rectly interested probably realize, be-
when contests of national Importance
will be pulled off in Southern California
that will be supported by the eastern
manufacturers, and the harmony of the
last meet will be the finest of recon-
mendations to those who are willing tc
put the money into the promotion ol
the trade and stimulation of the inter
est of the public, as it will insure them
q square deal and fair return for their
expenditure when they come to compete
here for supremacy.
Will Hold Contests Here
AS this is conceded to be the best
field in the world for the motor car
industry, it is natural to believe that
contests of such nature will be held
here, and that the manufacturers viii
take direct part as they did at Savan-
nah, Briarcliff and within the last few
days at Portland.
In comparison of the actions of the
various cars that took part in the re-
cent meet the Franklin naturally stands
out to the fore as winner of the two big
events, but it cannot even then eclipse
the really wonderfully consistent per-
formances of some of the others, espe-
cially the Pullman and the Cadillac.
Both small cars of medium power and
price, they gave the big fellows long.
hard chase and beat several of them
decisively.
To see the little Cadillac peg along
mile after mile behind the powerful
Stearns and the swift Franklin was a
surprise to many of those dealers who
consider themselves well posted on the
latest improvements of all of the cars.
The run of the Pullman on Sunday,
when it went on the track with the
same Fisk tires that it had used the
day before was a surprise, as 1t was
supposed that no car could keep going
so long without change.
Have Best of II
When it comes to the question of tires
the cars that were light of weight and
short of wheel base had much the bet
ter of 1t. Take the Ford runabout, It
was still going when the race finished
and had not stopped on account of any
trouble whatever, and did not miss an
explosion.
The pace that it maintained was only
slow comparatively, and the perform
ance of the "littlest one was credit
able indeed.
The general tendency in motor build
ing is to reduce the power plant IN
weight, speed and strength. and 1t was
fully explained in the performance OF
the Cadillac and the Pullman. They
had all the speed that could safely be
used and more than can be used, eX-
cept very infrequently, on the road,
and still they were always there. The
accident that happened to the Cadillac
in the century run was such as is likely
To happen to any mechanical conStruc-
tion and is almost impossible to guard
against. 1t was not such an accident
as would endanger the car or the pas
sengers, but was effective in stopping
the run of the car until its chance of
winning was gt e.
One result of the races was 10 satisfy
many prospective buyers that they
would have cars to be proud of when
they bought those equal to the Cadillac
and Pullman, and that it is not neces-
sary to mortgage the farm to get car
that will hold its own with the big fell
lows on a prolonged run.
The best sales of the season have
been on cars listed between $4,000 and
$780, and most of them have been
nearer $4,000 than $4,000
1t is well for he man who can TO buy
the high priced car and there Will al
ways be a good market for them, just
as there is for high priced watches.
The dollar watch will keep time and
will answer when one cannot afford a
better, but it is with motor cars as ii
is with watches, the cheap one can be
made to do, but if the money is avail
able it is more satisfactory to own the
higher priced product.
Charles Davis, who represents the
Michelin Tire company, is recent ar
rival in T.DS Angeles