New-York tribune., 1908-08-21
TIMELY AUTO TOPICS
HOPE FOR NEW RECORD.
Belief That Good Guarding at Sa
uannah Will Mean High Speed.

The promise of the shattering at the fcrthcom-
ing Grand Prize race at Savannah OF every Ameri-
can road record in existence is made In various
foreign automobile journals. which contrast the
protection to be afforded to the racers on the
Savannah with the lack OF the same pro-
lection In previous Vanderbilt Cup races.
1t ha; always been more or less OF q puzzle. IN
the eyes of the uninitiated at least why the
speed attained in the big American road races fei
so far short of that attained abroad. notably In
the French Grand Prix, where average of sew
enty-one miles hour maintained for six
and hree-auarter hours At the end of the last
Vanderbilt Cup race number of the foreign
drivers said that again would they take
part in American road race unless the course
was so protected TO preclude the possibility of
spectators invading it. This was the reason there
was no Vanderbilt Cup race last year.
1t to be expected therefore, that the news
that practically the entire state militia of Georgia
would be placed at the disposal OF the Automobile
Club of America for the patroIling of the Savannah
course would be received with enthusiasm abroad.
1t is assured that such drivers Nazzaro
Wagner Duray and Szisz have reconsidered their
decision not to here. and that they and other
stars will participate in the Grand Prize race
On this Savannah there will be cause
for nervousness OF any kind, and experience in
overcoming nervousness will therefore count.
In addition, for the first time In the history of
American road racing, four hours of daylight will
be given the entrants in which to take practice
spins each day. The American driver who In the
past had been compelled tune up his car during
two brief hours of semi-darkness will have ample
time to learn this and bring up his machine
TO the top mark of efficiency. This will place him
less at disadvantage with his foreign rival than
he had been in the past and give him hand in
| the lowering of records his own account
That there is a good field for American cars.
especially the low and medium priced automobiles
Is evidenced by the reports of American consuls In
Algeria, Spain, the United Kingdom and Canada
James Johnston. of Algeria, suggests the sale there
of light strong medium priced car. Automobiles
are extensively used by wine and oil merchants
who have to travel in districts where as yet the
railway does not exist
r. NJ. Bartleman. of Madrid. writes that there
are seven hundred automobiles in the Spanish
capital, and there Is good market for American
machines No American are the
market
Mr.. sackett. Consul at Prescott Canada, says
that comparatively few automobiles owned
there This section. he says. is well worth prospect
ing by the manufs fsctufers of safe, hardy, medium
priced automobile of American make.
More than a thousand persons attended illus-
trated lecture delivered by OrreI A. Parker. chair
man of tie entertainment committee of the Auto
mobile Club of America the clubhouse last night
on the New York-to-Paris 1t given
under the auspices Of Harry s. Houpt Co. agents
of the Thomas in this CITY,
Before Mr.. Parker spoke short addresses were
mace Dy marry D toupt, GeoTse Scnuster, VINO
drove the victorious Thomas into Paris, Mon
tague Roberts, who did the plotting of the machine
the first leg of the journey: George Miller. the
mechanician: Robert Lee Morreli, z. S. Partridge
E r. Thomas and T. r. Williams correspondent
Mr.. Williams gave interesting description of the
heartbreeking going through the heavy snowdrifts
! on the from this city to San Francisco.
The perils and hardshps, both to men and car
held the close attention of the audience from be-
ginning end. The lecture drew the largest at
tendance of any that has been held in the big re-
ception room Of the club. Well known automo-
bilists belonging to the club, besides prominent men
in the American Automobile Association, the Ii
oensed Association of Automobile Manufacturers
and the American Motor Car Manufacturers Asso
ciation were in attendance
| In the showroom window Of the Studebaker com
pany are being shown twelve gold stop watches
that are to be presented to the plucky drivers who
assisted in taking the army dispatch car from this
citv to Fort Leavenworth. Kan, in a trying run
last winter. They arousing a good deal OF In
terest and the opinion Of all who have seen them
Ia caaf not he