Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-20
COURSE NEEDED
FOR ROAD RACE
AUT0ISTS DESIRE TO RUN
OPEN COUNTRY EVENT
FEW SUITABLE STRETCHES ARE
PRESENTED
San Gabriel Valley Offers Opportunity
for Constructing Speedway, Which
Is Considered Feasible Be-
cause of Nearness

Southern California motorists are
alive to the fact that an automobile
road race would be a very fine thing
from the standpoint of real sport, as
well as being good method of adver-
tisins, this section to one of the most
acceptable class of people of the east,
that is, motorists.
There is no lack of entrants in sight
for a road race, but the difficulty, SO
far, has been to find an acceptable
course that can be used and at the
same time be near enough of access TO
draw large attendance.
A number of possible courses have
been mentioned, but all of them have
more or less serious drawbacks. The
one at Santa Monica that has received
more or less publicity is said to be
dangerous in places and would con-
stitute a menace to public safety If
used as a race course, as 1t is the only
thoroughfare leading to that section.
Bakersfield, Hemet and other distant
places have roads that would permit
of a race, but are too far to induce the
general public to watch the events
and that is a. prime requisite for sue
cessful race.
A course that seems to be practical
and answers nearly every requirement
of an ideal one is one that bounds AL
hambra and San Gabriel without get
ting into the inhabited district of either
town. Starting at the Oneonta juno
ton, on the Huntington boulevard,
there is a long stretch, with only slight
curves, for exactly three miles to the
east. The road at present is rough,
as is most of the course in mind, but
resurfacing and the filing of chuck
holes would make it fast and safe.
Where the boulevard turns north,
toward Lamanda, a sharp turn would
be made to the south toward the San
Gabriel mission, which lies directly
south of that point. Less than half a
mile to the south turn is made to the
east again and a run made over the
Monrovia road to the road going south
from the old Sunny Slope" or Rose
ranch. 1t is IL miles east from the
intersection of the Monrovia road to
the point where a second turn is made
to the south. Down a beautiful lane,
lined on either side with palms and
olive trees a fast stretch is found that
leads past the Masonic home and
through a beautiful line of towering
eucalyptus trees. All of the Sunny
Slope road is fast now, and very little
work would be required, as it is up to
grade.
Az a point 81 miles south, the old
San Bernardino stage road is reached.
This is the lower road to Pomona that
leads past Ell Monte and Puente.
Leads Past San Gabriel
Directly west the road leads past
San Gabriel and Dolgeville, over road
that is rough at present but wide, and
could be easily repaired. 1t is just 3.5
miles from the eastern boundary of
the course to the Fremont avenue road,
that forms the west side and leads the
route directly back to the starting
point, passing on the left of the Dodge
VILE felt works. Near the northern
end of the west side of the course is
an excellent place for grandstand, as
there is a big unoccupied lot with
plenty of room, and nothing to obstruct
the vision for the mile and a half of
the finish that lies south Of the grand
stand site.
A slight depression half way down
Fremont avenue from the proposed fin
ishing point would add great interest
to the race, as the cars would be OBJ
scured for a moment as they dipped
down into the bottom of a small ar
royo.
All of the land, with the exception of
q very small part. is outside of in
corporated cities and in the control of
the county. so it should not be difficult