Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-06

slightest danger of an accident.
Since the course will have no COM
petitors in the United States 1t will
become national in the interest it Gre
ates, and thus Philadelphia will be the
center of speeding. and all the great
cars constructed in the United States
and abroad will be sent there to COM
pete.
For enterprise and daring Philadel-
phia has long ranked ahead of any city
Of the nation, and on the first signal
from the American Automobile assOcl-
alton, the controlling automobile body
in the United States, that racing on
mile or half mile horse tracks would
be discountenanced the American mo-
tordrome was organized and has now
proceeded to such stage that success
| is certain. No club affiliated with the
| American Automobile association with
any degree of respect for the lives of
competitors would attempt to hold a
race meet on q mile track now, and
| free lance promoters would not be
permitted to make the attempt, for all
who participated would be declared
|
| ing capitalists to undertake the great
task, and Philadelphia will have the
honor of inaugurating the first great
track the United States has ever
known and what will prove the fast
est In the world.
| A beautiful plateau just beyond LA
nerch on the West Chester pike has
| been selected from number of sites,
and there 213 acres of ground have
been purchased. The location is ideal.
4 1t is but little over half an hour from
the center of Philadelphia, the specta
tor taking the elevated to the termi-
nus and then the West Chester Trac-
ton company cars to the track. The
latter company is already making
plans to lay spur directly to the
course, which is but short distance
from the company's main line. So
short is the travelling distance and so
low the rate of fare that thousands
and thousands of people will take in
the great battles of motor cars that
are planned.
THE course will be between two
and three miles in length and will be
100 feet wide at the narrowest part"
said President Louis Bergd6ll the other
day, while the turns, which will be a
quarter of a mile long, will be 125
feet wide, with an elevation of 80 per
cent, which will make the greatest
speed absolutely safe.
Engineers are already at work on
laying out the track, and as soon as
their plans are completed contracts
will be let for the building of the
course. 1t is planned to have the track
made of concrete and cinders, the sur
face being just rough enough to pre-
vent skidding. Such a composition
gives the tires every chance TO take
firm hold, and with the splendid
grades wonderful time should be the
result"
Mr.. Bergdoll added that one of the
great features Of such track was the
absence of dust, which has caused a
} great many fatal accidents in automo-
bile races. Have you noted he said
that there has not been single ac-
| cident at the Brooklyn course? And
: there will not be If drivers use any de
.
course would be almost impossible"
f Immense grand stands and field seats
= are on the plans, so that a great thron2
> may be taken care of. Besides, there
: are two large public garages and ev'
+ cry other feature that will be welcom
ed by motorists.
E There is no one feature of the plans
more interesting than the formation OF
= a great automobile club, which will
have gorgeous building for a club
house and every convenience and pleas
ure that 4 country club could offer
| with the added advantage of the use
!, of the track at any time for members
! This club, now in the process of forma
: ton, will have, besides the automobile
features, a long golf course, tennis
and plenty of room. for all other fielt
sports. The clubhouse will contain
t bedrooms, so that members can reside
l. there throughout the summer months
/ There is to be a swimming pool sew
a eral hundred feet long among the 9th
I err features. For the benefit of thes,
members 1t is also said that there vii
d be a large garage, parking spaces fo
l. the automobile races and a complet,
/ machine shop where repairs will b,
= made at cost and small accessor.
e store where the members may buy a
It | cost.
n The locauon of the track will b'
ideal for motorists. surrounded as it i
# by several roads Entrances will b
q constructed at three or four points
, These will be subways, so that no one
n either spectators or cars, will have +
2 go across the track
Il RaNn Tn GIVE eipsr coNcEp'