The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-16
GREAT SCOPE OF SAVANNAH RACES Worlds Greatest Drivers Are
 to Compete ENTERT AIN WENT OF GUESTS strang, Szisz, Wagner Mazzaro, De Palma, Robertson and Others of International Fame Have
 Been Entered.
ENTERT AIN WENT OF GUESTS

Been Entered.
 Savannah. Ga, November 15.-The prin- cipal sporting event in the automobile world this fall will be the race for the grand prize under the auspices of the Automobile Club of America at Savannah, to be held on Thanksgiving Day and the small car race which Is to be run on Mo- vember %. the day before Thanksgiving Both races will be run over the public roads of Chatham county, the short car race being over a course practically ten miles in length and that for the larger cars being a specially constructed course of 25 miles. The big race will be 400 miles in length and that for small cars 200 miles. The prize in the big car race will be a gold cup valued at $5000, donated by the Automobile Club of America. Both events are international in scope and there are now on the ground drivers from Italy, France Germany and America. The big race is known officially as "The Grand Prize Race and the smaller one as the international Light Car Race 1 me MaQniIicent CouTse' ! The greatest interest is felt in the grand prize race in which the most famous drivers and cars in the world will com 1 pete. There are 20 entries in this race and the drivers and the machines are | already on the ground getting in shape for 1t. The course is closed to the pub lie for two hours each day and during ! J-fr, who are learning it's curves and getting acquainted with it's general conditions. Camps have been located at different points along the course by all of the en- trants and from this date until the day the race is run there will be busy times in all of them. The course is a per fectly level one which was built by con- vict labor and surfaced with Augusta gravel, a composition that admits of very rapid speed. It is expected that several new worlds records will be hung Up on the course in the big event Those who have witnessed races over the Vanderbilt cup course and at Ormond beach declare that the best time on these courses will be readily eclipsed by the drivers on Thanksgiving Day. The ormond beach record is 77 miles an hour. It is believed that at least s5 miles an hour will be made by the winner of the gold prize over the Savannah course.
 Military To Guard.
 The course for the long and short races will be carefully guarded by state militia which have been ordered out by the gov ernor of the state for the two days. That this is the only practical method of guarding an automobile race course has been demonstrated. Last spring when there was an automobile race in Sa- vannah the course was guarded perfectly by the same body of men who will guard il for the events of this month and there was not the least trouble no inconveni- ence in handling the big crowds. There will be none this year, either. if the plans of the governor and the military commit tee having the event in charge are car ried out.
 Being international in character, the race will attract attention widely beyond the confines of the United States. Invi- tations have been extended the President i of the United States and members of his 1 i of Germany. the King of Italy and the President of France. There will be num- i erous visitors from all sections of the 1 United States. New York especially being well represented. Special steamers will run from New York and Philadelphia to bring the large crowds expected and there will be special trains from New York and other points in the east.
 Entertaining of Guests. A feature of the occasion will be the entertainment of representatives of auto- mobile clubs from many cities within radius of 800 miles of Savannah At lanta, Augusta, Macon, Charleston and other large cities will send representatives to the races and the smaller towns of Georgia will also have their delegations present The people of Savannah are so interested in making the event success that they have thrown open their homes to the expected visitors. A bureau of in- formation has been established at the union depot and all trains will be met by official attendants during the week pre- ceding the races who will give out cards which those who wish accommodations may fill out. It is hoped in this way to be able to tell readily where to send visitors so that they can be accommodated with the kind of rooms they desire This feature is expected to be of much benefit to all classes of strangers.
 The judges of the two races will be chosen from the members of the Auto- mobile Club of America and the Savan- nah Automobile club. They will be an- nounced in a few days.
 The Entrants.
 The following cars and drivers have been entered for the Grand Prize race:
 Italy. 1 Fiat--Nazzaro.
 Fiat-Wagner.
 Fiat--DePalma.
 Itala-Ca gno.
 | Itala-Fournier
 Itala-Piacenza.
 France. | Renault-SzisZ.
 Renault--Strang
 DeDietrich--Duray. | Clement -Bayard-Ha utvast Clement -Bayard-Rigal.
 Germany. Benz--Hemery.
 Benz--Hanriot.
 1 Benz--Erle.
 America.
 Lozier--Mich ener.
 Acme--Leonard Zengle.
 Chadwick-Willie Houpt
 Simplex-Seymour,
 National--Hugh Harding Buick
 Some of the Records