The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-05
AN AUTO ENDURANCE RACE.
Nine Cars of High Glass Have Already
Entered the Contest.

New York Sept Sit is a little early
to talk of the 1909 automobile races.
There is one being planned, however
which will undoubtedly be the biggest
event of the next season. 1t is to be
an endurance run across the continent
and return. This comes at the re-
quest of several automobile manufac-
turers and will be started from New
York July 4, 1909 Nine cars have al
ready been formally entered for the
competition, representing four Ameri-
American cars are the Thomas, the
Lozier, the. Geerless. two Maxwells.
The foreign competitors entered are
the Flat, the Renault, the Isotta, the
Zust.
1t is confidently expected that there
will be at least three more foreign con-
testants and six more American. II
was in order to enable these additional
cars to compete that it was agreed to
hold the contest in the summer of 1909
instead of this fall. Steps are already
being taken to lay out the course for
the competition. Cars have been start
ed over the road to determine the best
available route and arrange for all the
details of the contest.
Competition is undertaken in behalf
of the manufacturers who desire a
contest which shall thoroughly test
their cars over all sorts of American
1t is stated that the races for espe-
cially designed high speed cars such
as the Vanderbilt and the Grand Prize
are well enough in their way, but there
are many automobiles who are I'M
convinced as to what they determine
The stock car races under some con-
ditions are subject to the same gen
eraI objections. This test is the out
growth of contests similar to the Gid
den tour and is to fill the demand for
I t. a1a al n n
the Glidden tour is not severe enough
to thoroughly test the modern automo-
bile. 1t is provided that the contest
| shall be held between stock GLASSES
| fitted with special bodies designed to
| carry four men and extra supplies Inc
| cars should carry a crew of only two
| men, the driver and the mechanician
These men will be required to do all
| the work of repair and replacement on
| the route and will not be permitted to
accept outside help of any kind. In
addition to the crew each car Will
| carry an observer nominated by an
| other competitor and reporter. The
| cars will only run an hour before sun
| rise and an hour after sunset each day
| and all repairs and requirements must
| be made within these hours. The cars
| will be garaged under seal each night
| and property protected against IN
fringement of these rules. This will
| insure a definite record OF all the re-
pairs that are necessary along the
route and will inflict a natural time
penalty for any necessary replace
| mentS
The route of the contest has been laid
out to pass through the principal cities
| of the country, following the great
| lakes and the northern route across the
continent on the western trip and the
| southern route on the return to New
| York. 1t passes through Albany. Syr-
acuse, Rochester, Cleveland, Toledo,
| Chicago, Cedar. Rapids. Omaha, Ogden
to San Francisco on. the way out and
returning touches Los Angeles, Salt
Lake City, Denver. Kansas City, St.
Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburg. Philadel-
phia and back to New York. This is
subject to some changes which may
| occur to the men who are now engaged
| in laying out the course.
All of these details of the contest are
in the hands of a general committee
| consisting of one representative of each
| contestant, while the management of
| the competition will be in the hands of
an executive committee of prominent
| automobilists. In this way it is ex-
pected that the competition can be
! conducted on sound basis through
out and the strictest enforcement of
| rl11eS secured