New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-25
CURTAIN RAISER FOR
GRAND PRIZE RACE
S4V4NN4H THE MECCA
FOR MOTORISTS.
Vdliard FdUorite for Light Car Con-
Robertson VII Not BE
Able to Start.
Able to Start.
- $500 . "a. rribune. ]


Savannah. Nov 2a.-With the international light
car automobile race only a few hours off Savannah
IS looking skyward tonight. as it has been doing
oil day. There is threat of rain, feat of show
ers. and many look for repetition Of the fog OF
This morning but there is reason TO fear much
real trouble in the weather for the little fellows
when the Lancia- the first OF the fifteen, dashes
sway On The lsS mile Journey that will serve as
curtain raiser Thursdays great contest OF the
automobile giants.
Savannah wears = metropolitan aspect tonight
Every other face is that of New Yorker, and
since the two steamboats, docked this afternoon
end the wall Street special pulled into the sta
ton Sarannah's native population has been fairly
Fvsmped-
TIE light car race will be seen tomorrow by one
of the biggest crowds that ever automobile
contest but The crowd that will turn out Thurs
day Cor the big race bids fair to be monster one
that viii dwarf everything the sport has seen in
this country.
Two cars are definitely out of the light race
on its eve George Robertson, winner of the Van
eerbilt Cup race. could not get the Gregoir car
ready In time, and has given Up all hope Of being
able TO start *. r Manvtlle and his American
Aristocrst have not been heard from in weeks
and are out Of It. too.
Louis Bergdon OF Philadelphia was stormins
around last night for fear that his Chalmers
Detroit car would not arrive in time but 1t was
on hand this morning and will start IN the race
lot OF money IS being bet on both races Cor
reiius Tellcves r. and Sim Deirnel. of New York,
who quote what amount TO official odds, have
big book on both contests; and New Workers,
starved for e chance 10 bet without breaking
law are eager 70 place Vegers. Among the httle
fellows the Lsncia, be driven by billiard, IS
the 1avorite at 70 l. Lnrin1er, in g Chalmers
Detroit IS second choice. at to /. after a quick
drop from 10 on heavy playing. The baby
IsottA is quoted at 10 l. and Burns's Chalmers
Detroit Is held at TO /
Frank carneron's Cameron started outsider at
IN 10 : but heavy betting after his good showing
ves4erdsv forced the odds down 70 10 TO in short
order to-day. Tbs Maxwell and the Buick cars are
entered tc be running at the finish, and hEure in
the betting IN that way
Arnons the thousands who came into town to-day
vas James B Parties. who had driven al the way
from Kansas City in his Chalmers-Detroit 4ohorse
power. covering seventeen hundred miles on the
trtu through St Louis. Louisville and Memphis
He viii go 10 New York after the races, still in the
car and sail thence for Europe ". .. Lambert
also arrived after long r1n trorn New Orleans in
2 White steamer
All Savannah was present 70 see the ships
dock this afternoon. and most Of II is 70 Be en-
1er1atned tomorrow night the City ot Savannah
by the Automobile Club OF America
II became known tonight that Ralph Milford,
ana not Harry Nnchener, Will drive the Lozter racer
~ Thursday. Milford was tuning the car Up this
morning when he ran OF the road into e tree.
luckily escaping injury 70 himself and the machine
The conditions Of the races and the rules OF the
course were read 10 the drivers tonight through
interpreters and the last doubtful points were dis
cussed and disposed of Everything is in readiness
for the light car race tomorrow The tiny racing
machines will be sent away az halfinute intervals,
end Il all goes well the last Of the fifteen should
hardly Re under way before No. comes swirlng
down the home stretch IN completion Of the first
lap The unusually large number OF laps 70 the
rsce and the short intervals separating the cars
are expected 70 furnish plenty OF excitement TO the
thousands gathered IN The zransstands ar the
finish line.
The only serious ecciients Of ths practice period
for the racing here have occurred 10 the light
and there Is not little apprehension tonight lest
rhe more daring the drivers should send their
machines along tomorrow too great speed for
safety. There are only four turns the rectangu-
lev course. however, and al are well banked Six
hundred troops are 70 be thrown about the racing
roads nsgnen are 10 be stationed 1T the shortest
of Intervals and everything possible IN protection
Of the course viii be done
with the light race starting a. Il O'Clock the
result should be known shortly after ?. n for
the experts ere expecting that the little racers will
=. able 70 maintain average speed Of between
forty-avs and fifty miles an hour. The exact dis
lance Of the race is leS miles.
The rule closing the course 70 practice to-day vas
--.cinded By the Automobile Club Of America off,
cfais and most OF the light took advantage Of
the hour allowed exclusive occupants OF the ten
rifle rectangle Later in the DAY nine Of the twenty
speed honors of the day went 10 De Palma OF the
fn 2 minutes ~ seconds