The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-12
AUTOMOBILE CLUB
! DEFINES POSITION
Long Expected Statement
Regarding Savannah Races
Issued Last Week.

Following the declaration Of war be-
tween the A. a. A. and the Automobile
Club of America il was 10 be expected
that the latter would promote an oppo-
sition meet to the Vanderbilt races,
which caused the trouble, because the
+ association would not comply with in
-ternationaIly accepted conditions.
: The executive committee TO make its
position clear makes the following state
uent. which is ali the more interesting
since the recent action Of the interna-
tionaI conference in refusing to recog-
1ize the delegates of the a A. A. at
fits annual convention.
The Statement.
r- The statement follows:
The delegates of the leading autOmO-
bile clubs of the world. constituting
tho International Association OF RecOg-
nized Automobile Clubs. meet IN con-
gress each year to discuss automobile
questions and to decide. based upon
the accumulated experience Of the ma
tons, upon the most practical formula
on which racing cars for international
contests shall be built BY agreement
between the automobile clubs Of the
world, all international races are run
under the formula adopted. In this
congress America has always been. and
Will continue 10 be, represented by the
Automobile Club of America.
This decision was reached at a meet
Ing of the congress at Dieppe on July
q. 1905, at which meeting. through Judge
F. II. Gary, president of the Automo-
bile Club Of America, President Roose-
welt sent his greeting to the interna-
a H.
meeting an unsuccessful attempt was
made by the American Automobile AS
sociation to supplant the Automobile Club
of America as the representative auto
mobile body IN America in the worlds
council Of automobile clubs. This action
Of the international congress was taken
with a full and complete understanding
OF the situation in America, and continues
In the Automobile Club Of America for
all time the control of international
automobile contests in America.
Reasons for Action.
Other action than this would scarcely
have been expected. and for the follow
ing reasons:
The Automobile Club of America was
the first automobile club formed -
America. IN 1899, and official recognition
OF the club as the national automobile
club OF America was promptly received
from all the national automobile clubs
Of Europe. To the early efforts Of the
Automobile Club Of America the Amer
lean motorist today is largely Indebted
for the rights which he now enjoys on
the public highways, in the parks, and
on the ferries. and from the date OF
its organization the Automobile Club or
America has organized frequent con-
tests Of reliability and endurance for
the purpose of developing the motor car
In America.
Early IN 1901 the Automobile Club or
America formulated a set of racing
rules. and assisted IN various ways the
furtherance Of competition throughout
the country, issuing sanctions there
under for various local race meetings.
It was under these rules that the first
straigntaway contest in America took
place on Coney Island boulevard in No
yember, 1901, when Henri Fournier in a
Mors car covered a mile in 81 As sec
ends. a worlds record at that time.
In Behalf of Motorists.
From the time of it's formation up to
the present day, much of its time and
money has been spent on the improve
ulent Of the highways, the secur-
ing OF reasonable legislation. the cree
ton OF sign posts. publication OF road
maps, and generally laying the founda-
ton for the practical and pleasurable
use Of the motor car in America
d. From the date of the foundation OF
the Automobile Club Of America up 10
the beginning Of 1902, various clubs had
been formed in some Of the larger cities
of the United States. and for the pUr-
pose Of bringing such clubs into closer
union, on March 4. 1902, a general con-
vention was held in Chicago. delegates
from nine clubs attending. The result
of this convention was the formation OF
the American Automob bile Association
which was to be a federation of clubs
with a central body Of directors to az
ford a bond of union between the clubs.
20 develop the interests Of the spor;
throughout the country at large, and 10
- give each club a snare IN this develop
ment.
To this body the Automobile Club or
= America coded the control Of local rae
ing 50 that It might be carried out un-
der uniform rules in all of the States,
but il never relinquished its position as
the recognized club or America and the
y American Automobile Association has
always since its formation. had It's for
Z eign representation through the Auto
mobile Club of America.