New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-22
GREAT RACE FOR
GRAND PRIZE
,r-yO WORLD TURNS TO
SAVANNAH.
International Contest Promises To
RI the Fastest ECer Held IN
This Country.

,~es ever held in this country and which unoouot-
ssr VIII be equal 20 any ever ran abroad. viii
!, The Grand Prize contest at Savannah on Thurs
- In the contest are entered twenty-five cars,
--presenting France. Italy, Germany and America
a. the wheels of these machines VIII be the pick
a. the best drivers Of the various countries. IN
soa5te.5ly the interest OF American automobiles
WI be centred on the seven home cars and on the
ueffor1aauces Of Lewis Streng and Ralph De
Palma. The two American drivers who viii pilot
foreign machines StranE partner OF Emil
/ s1ricker IN the endeavor 20 make new record at
birmingham last week, IN which Stricken was
I killed
a Few years ago the foreign manufacturer would
have thought Il out OF the question 20 trust the
chances of his TO American driver unless
De had had experience abroad. Then there were
few chances this side OF the water for the
native chauffeur 10 acquire experience in the dar-
me business OF automobile racing. This year, how
ever there have been several important road
this country in which the American drivers
showed themselves on q par with the foreigners
In fact. IN American has won every road race
held this year. strang VIII drive one OF the well
known makes OF cars. representing France, while
De Palma viii be behind the wheel OF one OF the
rest known cars carrying the coIors OF Italy, the
Eenault and Fiat. respectively
strang has had the distinction OF winning three
hig road contests IN this country il the last year
Before this he was little known. although TWO
Years ago he acted mechanician in an American
II the Vanderbilt Cup race. and in the Grand
pacsty IN the same American II not urtll
re stock car he'd in Savannah last March
tha: St-a2g had his first real chance TO make
good. Then, C-iving Italian car, the lsotta- ne
captured first hon0rs. His skilful and consistent
handling Of MS machine made him marked
Before the he said that he was much dis
appointed IN being sent 10 Savannah The same
car he 10 drive had been entered in the Briar-
cit stock car road race. two months later, where
81 would face more prominent cars over a course
rat vas regarded dangerous even by the drfT-
ers Themselves. Straug believed IN taking few
chances as possible with his before the Briar-
clt1 rare. and thought that his time should be
spent in becoming familiar with the Briarclin
COURSE
A heavy fog added TO TIE danger az the start OF
fhe B-ia-ciir race but strang drove through II
10 another victory And his first lap the fast
est C al n spite Of she fog. When asked the
hest part OF his victory straag said that It
his beating Of e certain other in the contest
He had applied 70 its ent-ant before his present
engagement 70 give him chancs and It was re
fused
y made ID ny mind 70 beat that car" said
szz2g and I an more pleased st doing that
thar 3. coming II first
few months later strzns started in the Lowell, |
Mass road race and for the third time brought |
ne sane Isotts the finishing line first |
Fe plainly showed that he had al tie good quail
ties C The best foreign drivers
strs1g has much praise for his u1odesty |
as fo- lbs skill and daring. He never boasts after
4 yicto-y, and what he does say is usually praises
"a MS car and rnechauician. When asked what /
--szss successful driver, St-ang replied that IN
he FIST place having the car that would /
% n knowing how 70 drive the car. having faith
II = being familiar with the course and. OF course
s-5ng some Ct the luck which gees with the game
Nc : never think OF the danger. said he 1or
thzt Is TIE thing that the successful driver has 10
fo-Es- Eou must forget fear; IN fact you must
not have il IN you 70 do the things necessary Ii
automobile racing. You must nave perfect knoFl-
esra q handling your car, and must kno" JUST
nat 70 do z 6 fash when Al emergency presents
.-sess You must held a cool, calm and c04ec'eO
head and never get ratified
srang believes that the coming big race WI 30
dovu n American road racing history as the n1os'
important yet held IN this country, II not II l-e
-o-ld He viii make comment as 10 els 0"H
--,s,sc-s o-Iv saving he VIII drive the BEST faCe
he c. aad that he has FIJI confidence u i-iS -
- pima came into the automobile racing game
orI~ IL lie last year, having previously l--oe-
motor circles before bicycle pace I04-o"ei2' -
u has nor had much experience on t1e 1o"N =
hse gained E hiE reputation IL track contests A-N
rzo months ego made the one nile track Eecoio u
q Fist. car Of the same make ne L 70 oI1'e OH
Thursday. lie Is without doubt one O. the pest
rack drivers II the country
one q The unfortunate things aDout me TaASe =
lie absence o. george Robertson who won the re-
cent Vanderbilt Cup race. fEooertson nous nc
distinction @ being the only driver 70 WIZ Ell
csrblt Cup race n American car. LIE A00V-
big 10 meet The rites governing the race On IhUIs-
ds- Re il one q the best American drivers, and
besides winning the Vanderbilt Cup race, won the
r0sd race IN Paramount Park, Philadelphia on La
bor uzv and two months ago established the record
for tEg-ry-fol- hours On the track At Brighton
Beach
Prominent automobilists from al over the couIi-
~ VII ATTEND the race. Hundreds have arrived
Z Savannah n the last two weeks 70 see the con-
tsg- vile ou the rszEy trains advertised TO leave
hs-e next week there has been q big demand for
seats The Savannah Line steamers. City OF Sa-
rsr-sh and City o. Columbus. left New York on
Ss-u-5z- roffl crowded with automobilists- The
1ozIner vas chartered by the Automobile Club OF
Aulerca under The auspices Of which the contest
I'll bs held Among the well known passengers
me City O Savannah were Judge Gary. OF the
United States Steel Corporation, president OF the
Automobile Club @ America; Colonel John Jacob
kst1r, George Chamberlin. Winthrop Z. Scarr1tt,
tarnsr president OF the club: Philip L Dodge and
Jefferson De Mont Thompson, chairman OF the Van
oe-oit Cup commission
TIE course over which the viii travel Is
80 miles in length, ard ie 20 be covered sixteen
1ues. making total distance OF 4o2-S niles. II
lss fourteen turas, a. Of which have been banked
Recent q las been sp-inkIec with oil TO keep
ao*r ne dust Eighty thousand gallons werH used
y o1e covering
sIReiF= o. Georg1z's crack regiments viii police
1s course. with power 10 shoot II their orders
los coeyec Governor Hoke Smith OF Georgia and
y-e171or-eect Brown promise &c lie present at the
-4-sN- Iney VIII act an honorary referees.