Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-09
CARRIES OFF CLEVER
PRESS AGENT STUNT
MUcH-HERALDED STOCK CAR AT
LAST ARRIVES
Owner Is with 1t, but Refuses to Sign
for Race to Prove Superior
Qualities of His
Machine

w. G. Vaughan has pulled off one OIL
the best press agent stunts that has
come from automobile row lately, and
the Apperson Jack Rabbit is all to the
good on the free advertising.
Not long ago word was passed along
by the sales agent of the Apperson that
Edgar Apperson was coming to the
coast with a fast stock car. in fact 1t
was claimed it was the fastest stock car
of its rated horse power in America.
There was a sack that was to accom-
pany Apperson, and when the bottom
was reached there would be ten thousand
dollars in sight and any amount of it
would be placed against any stock car for
a race
AS Apperson has declared against any
further track racing, some of the local
speed maniacs got busy trying to arrange
a race on the road that would force APP
person to make good on the talk of his
press agent.
After bulletining the progress of APP
person and his car across the continent
the papers announced in large type they
were here.
Yesterday an authorized representative
of Captain Ryus and Billy Reuss, in fact
no otner parsonage than the old reliable
Charles Fuller Gates, went to Apperson
with the proposition to race on the road
for any distance from fifty miles up to
hundred or more for a purse of any
amount up to $4,000.
Did Apperson put up the money?
Not yet and maybe not soon. ''I GER
tainly am not willing to risk my life in
racing over roads that I do not know
said Apperson when asked if he would
take up the challenge.
Capable Drivers Here
When it was suggested there were
some capable drivers in the city who
would probably be better able to pilot
the car to victory than Apperson him
self, as they knew the roads and knew
how to drive, he claimed he wanted only
a driver who was acquainted with the
car.
Il am willing to race on a good stretch
for half or three-quarters of a mile if
It can be arranged" said the manufac-
turer, land I think if the car can show
speed for that distance it will be a dem
onstration the machine has it in it,"
There was no answer on Appersons
part to the argument that a road race
was the only kind that would demon
strate what his car would do on Califor-
MIA roads.
II would not be willing to enter into
bucn contest as tnat suggested With
out the authority of my people at the
factory, as I am only a minority stock
holder myself and l am sure l cannot
say what they will think of it. I will
take the matter up" continued Apper-
son, land find out as soon as l can what
they think about it,"
Apperson denies all knowledge of where
Vaughn got the authority to make the
statement that the car would be entered
to race with 900 to back 1t.
Mr.. Vaughn was out Of the salesroom
at the time, and could not be found to
learn where the proposition dame from
or If it was a clever advertising dodge
to get the arrival of the car before the
public for the least possible expense.
In the meantime the Gray Devil"
stands quietly in front of the White
garage for a good part of each day and
says nothing, while still flashes the long
roll of scrip that figures up $4,000 with no
takers.