The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-02
RECOMMENDS ALL
THAT FINISHED
Mr.. Hover Praises Cars
Covering Glidden Route
Regardless of Scores.

NEW YORK. Aug. There is ons
essential point upon which all who par
ticipated IN the 1893 and previous 4. A
A. reliability touring contests are in
perfect accord. and that is that the
gruelilg try-out recently terminated at
Saratoga was By far the most strenu-
Gus and exacting ever pulled of.
More mountains We're scaled in this
contest than ever before. More water
bars. notably the sharper and higher
ones OF the ALLEGHENY Blue Ridge.
White, and Green mountains, were re-
gafiated than ia any previous year. In
many instances there was one water
break 10 every other car length. Never
( before were the power brakes, and
staying qualities Of a motor car put
to a more rigid test one instance of
miles of the Eangeley 10 Bethlehem
run Long. steep winding, slippery
mountain roads we're traVersed that
. day and stony. deep, clay mud ruts IN
the lofty Saddleback Range were waded
and Dlowed through Never will the
participant IN the 1868 contest forget
The weighing humping, rocking, dip
! ping. ana skidding OF this nerve-rack-
ing and car-smashing trip.
Manufacturers Contest.
II addition to this the time sched-
u!es were frightened well up 10 the legal
/ limit. bringing the average speed up 70
nineteen or twenty miles per hour for
the entire journey OF 100 miles. Cars
were disqualified for the replacement
( Of the smallest part unless such part
J is included as regular equipment Of t''e
car when delivered 10 purchase, or
unless Il could be made from raw ma
tarlal between checking stations. and
/ the time TINS consumed was made up.
and the schedule maintained. That b.
u-1G manufacturers contest
I strictest sense became more and more
apparent as each observer was assign
ed day bv day 10 a leW seat in n rival
car. ending as it did in many hair
splitting questions arising for the con-
/ test committee 20 rule upon
Moreover. IL afforded q more rigid
standard OF comparison than was ever
given before from which The manufac-
turer viii gain the advantage of learn
/ ing the weak points Of his car so that
1t may be strengthened. while on the
other hand. the buyer VIII be convinced
that henCefoTth an auto,aobhe tour II
( 81 least 20Q0 or $3.50 miles may be con
Jemplated without any serious inter
ruPtions under average or even very
strenuous road conditions. As Chair
man Hover aprly said at Saratoga.
''Tt has, indeed. been a contest so ex-
acting and severe that I would not
hesitate TO recommend any car that
/ covered the entire route regardless OF
/ the number Of points il was penalized.'
Critical Analysis.
/ A critical analy sis Of the results OF
/ this great test Of the power. RELIABLE
( ity. safety and Durability of the Amer
/ lean car discIoses some very interest
( ing facts There were twelve shaft
I driven cars listing between $500 and
/ $500 that competed for the Glidden
I trophy Six Of these We're either heav-
{ ilv penaiized or withdrawn from the
I contest los reason OF broken rear axle
/ springs. wheels. or cracked cylinders
I on the other hand, the lowest priced
1 car in the Glidden trophy division was
/ a twO-cylinder Chaiu-dTiVen $3.50 REQ.
I Only one car OF this model was entered.
and ID finished at Saratoga with clean
/ score. Besides IL was i'm such peffect
( running condition that IL was selected
by the a. A. A. 10 PILOT the contestants
{ 81 the Hover trophy run-of- Not even
so much as a screw in this sturdy liz
{ lie car was replaced throughout the
! contest
! The results in the Hover trophy run
I about contest are interesting Not one
! or these ruuabouts of the four-cylinder
/ shaft-driven type listing under $500
[ finished with a perfect score. On the
other hand. a chain-driVen 8, COO REQ
! roadster outscored every car under 50. so
3 In the Hover trophy division besides
defeating two roadsters listing AT $500
/ and $3.50, respectively.