Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-14
+, SAVANNAH AUTO RACE
Fine Condition of Course for Gold Trophy and
Turns Banked

machines about earlier in the year.
way have been banked, so that ears
may take bends at almost straight
away speed with little danger TO the
motorists. The stretches have been
widened, so that at certain points q
number OF machines may speed
abreast. The surface has been rolled
and rerolled and scraped until 1t Is in
perfect condition for racing.
The roadbed has been constructed
with view to minimizing the wear
and tear of tires. The concrete con-
struction of the motor parkway por-
ton of the Long Island course was the
object of much complaint in this re-
spect on the part of drivers. who
claimed that the back stretch, known
as The Jericho turnpike. generally was
far faster than the concrete section.
The roadbed of the southern circuit
Is said to be similar to but in far bet
ter condition than the Jericho road.
and for this reason the Savannah cir
cut is expected to be more satisfac-
I tory for the drivers.
| The start of tie Thanksgiving day
race will be made in front of the
grand stand q structure seating 5000
! persons. erected on Estill avenue. in
/ the southern part of Savannah. For
something more than a mile the course
extends through Savannah streets to
| White Bluff road. where 1t takes &
right angle turn into the longest stretch
of the entire course, distance OF
1900 feet, or more than three miles,
without a turn in the road. At the
Montgomery croSsroad another right
angle is met. followed by stretch or
something under mile. when another
! ninety degree turn is met at Waters
road Alternating stretches less than 4
mile in length and right angle turing
bring the course to WhiteGeld avenue.
An irregular road more than two miles
long.
Swamps and small river inclose .
foot shaped circuit Of three miles or SO.
and an almost straight stretch of thret:
miles, followed by hairpin turn,
brings the road TO the Isle of Hope.
said to be the most dangerous point C!
the circuit. The cut turn here IS moi
especially sharp. yet extreme care
must be exercised by the driver. The
only accident IN the history of the
course occurred here last March, whey
a wheelman lost control of his car ans
shot with it up over the banking only
TO land uninjured in soft mud on the
other side.
| ,1-;yd IN nf
miles is next encountered. followed b:
two roads a mile In length, Joined witt
two wide turns, bringing the autoist 4
the home stretch. leading back to tht
grand stand This stretch, along Dial
avenue, Is 1880 feet, or more tina,
two miles, in length. 1t is a straight
away, Slightly up grade, so that tn
spectator in the grand stand may loo
down on the flying machines as the
come speeding up the course. Tn
roadway here is wide enough for 81
machines to run abreast, so that
close finish is certain to give the lool
ers-on plenty in the way of excitement
No railroad crosses the circuit at an
point. Trolley tracks cross at tw
1 quilts vi tIe uiyS u Tic races al
during practice hours, however, til
trolleys will not be operated across tn
course. All bridges have been col
structed without steep grades In pas
ing ever roadways and streams.
| When the Savannah Automobile clu
was Incorporated early this year an
Governor Smith of Georgia consente
to act as honorary referee ut the rae
In March the military organizations {
the state and city volunteered to p;
troll the course on the days of tt
races. This they did. and the roadwa
was kept clear for the autoists Whe
one of the machines overturned dGrin
the race none of the spectators We
permitted to go out on the course. tt
same state of affairs will prevail G
Nov. % and 26 The soldiers will
armed, and any effort on the part
lookers-on TO throns the course will
met with stern resistance.