The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-11-28
MOTORS
TEND To PRODUCE
FREAK SPEED CARS
A. L. Riker Discusses the 1909
International Racing Rule.
Matter of Bore.

A. L. Riker, Of the Locomobile Com
pany of America, has this to say In
reference to the 1909 international rae
ing rule:
"All racing cars built abroad for the
season of 1908, by virtue of an inter-
national ruling, were restricted In de-
sign as to their cylinder bore. For the
Grand Prix n other events, Intended
for large cars, the bore was 81 inches;
for the English Isle of Man contest the
Limitation was four inches, thus the
name -Four Inch Race" Similarly
the bore of the cars constructed for
the small car race run on the day pre-
ceding the Grand Prix was restricted.
In spite of these limitations the cars
were speedy and notably high averages
were made. In fact the average time
made BY the winner of the Bressia cir
cult Is a new record, faster work than
has ever been accomplished before
with a motor of unlimited bore or
stroke. The Grand Prix was won at an
average. of 69.2 miles per hour; the
voiturette race, the day before the
| Grand Prix, at an average of 5o.o2
miles per hour.
"At first thought 1t would appear
| that the tendency to limit the size OF
| racing motors in this Is most
| admirable. but when a study Is made
of the strokes of the foreign racing
cars of 1908 it would appear that many
of the motors are in reality freaks,
particularly when 1t is considered that
the short stroke motor Is gaining
ground all the time and that a few
wears ago when the bore was un-
limited, the foreign designers made the
| short stroke in preference.
"For 1909 the Europeans have decided
to reduce the bore still further, from
81 inches to 81 inches. 1t was hoped
that some limit would be placed on the
| stroke because the Automobile Cluo OF
| America, in reply to the request OF the
racing powers abroad, advised a ciassi-
| location by volume, a most sensible
thing. The wisdom of this plan would
be obvious to all: It not only places four
and six cylinder motors in the same
| class, but II encourages rational motor
designs and the building OF cars thai
will have a commercial value after the
race Is over.
"a four-cylinder motor of 81 bore
and a reasonable stroke, say six inches'
is a very good size, and a
turer could easily turn such a racing
car into a stylish and speedy roadster
with little trouble, and the result o
be q car that could contain all the
value the race could offer in the way OF
| experience, and, instead of being a
freak, would be a logical, new model,
| perfectly tested. Just what a b'l-lnch
| motor with an extravagantly long
| stroke would be good for after the
| racing season with the rules changing
| every year. is difficult to see.
1.-THE foreigners can very we'll AFFORD
to build such cars, owing to the large
number Of event held every season
| that are open to Just such specially
built racing cars; moreover, the motor
car advertising on the continent Is
| largely limited to contestants and the
makers can afford to go to greater en-
pense han we, as they do not have SO
many automobile shows, do not have
to do so much advertising in the news
papers and magazfnes--and, what is
more important, the advertising they dc
is highly effective, owing to the rela-
lively small and densely populated
areas as compared with the United
States.
''The point might be made that &
few of the racers built abroad for the
1908 racing season did not have alb
NORMALLY long strokes. 1t is reported
that the winner of the Grand Prix hat
cylinders of 6.09-inch bore and a stroke
of 6.6s inches. But 1t must be consid-
cred that 6.1-inch bore is large and
real racing dimension, and 1t was moi
found necessary to lengthen out thu
stroke very much. Now for 1903 tht
bore Is greatly reduced n in ride
to make a fast car the designer is al
most certain to build a, very long stroke
motor, like the cars in the 4-inch race
in England, or the Voiturette race In
France.
"What is the position Of the Amerl-
can manufacturer today who has a de
sire to build a car that can win the
Grand Prix Of 1909? Simply this. HI,
must build for racing purposes only
one or more freak cars. He cannol
compete with tho foreigners unless ht
does; if he does not lengthen out the
stroke to some absurd point his cars
will not have the speed of the foreign
cars. he will not be racing on equa
terms with them and he will be beaten
what Their will be the attitude o.
the automobile public toward Ameri,
can manufacturers who are in sym