The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-14
SAVANNAH BIC RACE
Eyes OF Motor Enthusiasts Gen.
tered on international Event.
FAMOUS DRIVERS ENTERED.
Navarro, Wagner, Hemmery, Fourier
and Strans Among the Many to
Compete In Four Hundred Mile
Struggle to Be Held on Nov. 26.

100000 auto race. That's going
some even in these days of seemingly
reckless expenditure for the one great
object of attaining speed. They ought
to get whole lot of go for that
amount OF money, and doubtless those
who are fortunate enough to see the
grand prize race of the Automobile
Club of America in Savannah, Ga, on
Nov. 20 will be satisfied that they have
witnessed the greatest speed contest Of
the century.
Twenty thousand dollars is the very
smallest sum for which a grand prize
racing car can be built. There will be
twenty-five of these cars in the race,
sixteen of foreign and six Of American
build. In addition to the $44OO 900 as
the first cost of these cars. there will be
ten or dozen expert mechanics for
each team. men brought from Europe,
who are capable of constructing and
caring for all the parts of high
class auto. The expenses of these men
will be about $500 each. Then there
are the drivers and the salaries of all
for the six weeks of time from the
preparation to the close of the race,
which brings the grand total up to
fully 100000.
Following the big race the day after
Thanksgiving there will be race Of
small stock cars in which twenty-six
entries have already been made. The
cost of these autos will be nearly
$1,000 each, which includes their trans
portation and care. These cars will
also have big corps of attendants,
and with these, as well as the grand
prize racers, will be duplicate parts. all
specially made and transported at
great cost. An average of $1,000 as
the cost for putting these cars through
the race is not an excessive estimate,
the total being not less than S1S2,OOO.
The entry fee will be about $4,000.
The city of Savannah is appreciative
of the great value the race will be to
that city from. an industrial and gen
eral business standpoint, for the sum
Of $4,000 has already been expended
upon the roads to be used for the
course, although the state gave the
work Of thousand convicts for the
purpose. A grand stand capable of
the state Of Georgia gives the use of
five regiments Of the national guard,
armed with rifles and real ball car
tridges, to keep the course clear dur
ing the races. this costing the state
about 5000.
The Automobile Club Of America has
spent $4,000 to make the race a sue
cess. 1t will also give a gold cup val
ued at $1,000 and $1,000 in cash to be
divided among the first six drivers at
the finish, the winning driver receiving
$4,000, which ought to awaken any one
of the twenty-five to his best efforts.
The cost of shipping these cars. insur-
ance and incidental expenses will cas-
lily bring the grand total cost of the
race up to and probably far beyond
$1,OOO.OOO
The foreign drivers who will be in the
big grand prize race are Navarro and
Wagner Of the Fiat team; CASTOR Du-
ray. who drives the Lorraine Dietrich
racer: Hautvast and Rigal. the Bayard-
Clement: Fourier and Cagno, the italia
car; Hemmery, Hanriot and Erb. the
Benz: Poegge and Salzer. the Mercedes;
SZfsz. the Renault Navarro. Wagner
and Duray have driven in races in this
country before. Navarro holds the
worlds record average of seventy-fve
and one-quarter miles per hour made in
the Florio cup race in Italy a few
months ago.
In the betting Navarro and Hem
merry, who will drive the big Benz car,
are the favorites. Willie Haupt, who
will drive the Chadwick which made a
good showing in the Vanderbilt cup
race; Michenor. who will drive the
Lozier. and Louis Strang. who Won the
Briarcliff race in the Renault car, will
be the favorites among the American
drivers The race will be run so as tc
finish about 2 o'clock in the afternoon.