Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-18
ALL AT SEA AS
TO Time RACE
GASOLINE ROW DISCUSSING
PROPOSED CONTEST
PROMOTERS CLAIM THEY HAVE
SECURED CONTEST
Dealers Generally Deny They Have
Agreed to Compete, Claiming Ex-
pertinent Is Likely to Be
Too Expensive

More questions are being asked about
the proposed twenty-four-hour race
than about any other one topic dis
cussed on gasoline row.
The promoters of the race claim they
have secured several entries, and have
named the Franklin, two Pope Hart
fords, a Tourist, a Locomobile and
White, with a prospect of Durocar.
They have got out the paper for pla-
carding the town. and state that they
will begin work on the track at once.
They plan to oil 1t and get the surface
hard enough to hold for the long run.
The oiled surface will prevent the
dust nuisance. They have perfected
their plans as regards the lighting,
and state that the contract has been
let, although actual work has not yet
been begun on either track or light
ing system.
When the various dealers were inter
viewed in regard to the probability Of
their entering cars in the event every
one stated that he had not made an
actual entry. Ralph Hamlin, however.
said he had promised to enter Frank
lin if the promoters succeeded in get
ting at least six other entries.
Mr.. Leavitt Of the Locomobile agency
said he would not enter q car under
any circumstances, as he would be
in Seated at the time Of the proposed
meet.
At the White garage F. c. Fenner
said he would not enter car, as he
did not think that winning such a race
would help to sell cars to- any extent,
and, as a publicity stunt, it was too
expensive for the results that could
be obtained from it.
At the Tourist factory it was stated
that they would enter a car If the man
agement of the race would buy the
tires, but not on any other condition.
w. r. Ruess, the new agent for the
Pope Hartford, said that he had rea-
sons for not entering his cars. even
if he knew they would be here in time.
He had been counted on for two en-
tries, but declared he would not have
even one.
1t was not learned whether or not
the Durocar people expected to enter,
but they were not claimed as a GER
tain entry.
Entertainment Too Costly
One of the dealers who was discuss
ing the proposed race yesterday said:
For my part 1 cannot see 1t that
way. Just why several of the deal
ers should put up five or six thousand
dollars in expenses, with a prospect
money, is more than can understand.
/ estimate that, if 1 went into this
thing, it would cost me at least $1,000,
with a possibility of running my car
by accident or maybe killing a driver,
and ] could not expect to get any
more than that if l won. / can get
a thousand dollars back if put it in
the bank without much risk, so why
should I take a chance of losing a
nd m
IF the dealers really want a race
meet why not get together and ar
range one and share the profits, in
stead of putting up show at our eX-
pense for the profit of an outsider?
''It is my opinion that a race for
500 miles, or even 200 miles, would de-
monstrate as well as a twenty-four-
hour race that the cars have relia-
bility and endurance qualities, and
the great expense and added risk of
the long contest would be obviated to
a very great extent"
Another dealer who had been men,
toned as a probable entrant pointed
out that the crowd that attends a
twenty-four-hour race is apt to be
composed of people who go merely for
the excitement and with the proba-
bility In mind, if not the hope, that
some of the drivers will be manned or
killed in the accident which is always
an inseparable feature of such events.
Such a race" said the dealer, "does
not demonstrate the reliability of the
cars, but rather the diverse, as most
of them drop out through no fault of
design or construction. In the recent
Brighton Beach race one of the best
cars was thrown out of the race be-
dause another car ran into it when
the driver tried to avoid hitting a
policeman who had Ventured on the
track. 1t was no fault of the car that
was retired, and it had up to that
time made the best showing.
1T is a matter of chance that de-
cides the winner of the race, and such
events do not help to sell cars, but
they are good drawing cards for NOR
bid crowds looking for spectacular or
dangerous exhibitions"