Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-12
TEN THOUSAND
DOLLAR STAKE
FOR WINNER
L0C0M0BILE AND STEARNS IN
PRACTICE
TRACK WILL NOT STAND FULL
SPEED CAPACITY
Ascot Park Circuit Race VIII Be
Largely One of Drivers Skill
Being Required to Hold
Down Cars

Tuning up their cars-and tuning up
themselves, trying out their machines
and their own nerves, the drivers of
the big Stearns and Locomobile racing
cars have been practicing on the Ascot
race track circuit, making ready for
the $4,000 stake to be pulled off next
Sunday. In these tryouts some very
fast time has been made by the con-
testants, indicating what may be eX-
pected when the cars come to the line
for the 900-mile grind for the big stake
itself and for the glory of the event.
If Bob" Evans was handling and
driving the Stearns he would undoubt-
edly declare his car "fit as fiddle
for Soules, who will handle the Stearns,
has been coaching and nursing his pet
into condition, until the big throb-
bing machine works to his liking. The
one great regret that will cling to
this fearless yet careful driver viii be
the fact that he will not be able to
turn her loose" as he loves to do,
owing to the condition of the track,
and will have to keep several notches
in reserve on his speed throttle.
Free at Wheel
Frank Free will be the man at the
wheel of the big Locomobile, ear
that is known to be very fast under
ordinary conditions, and Free has his
machine tuned to the condition of an
italian opera artist, but the same han
dicap, giving the car the capacity of
her speed, will for the same reason OF
the holding back of the Stearns apply
! to the Locomobile.
Soules comes from the Stearns fac
tory, and has been held on the coast
for any big races that might be pro-
mulgated. and being barred from the
Santa Monica race, the public viii be
given the opportunity locally to see
! the performances of the man with q
reputation" and Soules earned his by
taking some hard-fought battles on
the gasoline race tracks of the east.
Free. who will drive the Locomobile
Sunday handled the Stearns in the
Santa Monica races, made the fastest
lap of that race and made a showing
| that placed him among the top-notch-
ers in the racing game.
1t would be a difficult matter to form
choice between the two great cars,
the power and speed capacity of each
being so very closely alike that the
race will resolve itself into that OF
drivers, and by this is meant the most
conservative and consistent driver.
c. C. Slaughter the quiet but nervy
| representative of the Stearns, never
"bats an eye" when in his hearing mem
ton is made that there is possibility
of his pet losing the race. An instinc-
| tive reaching of the hand for his pock-
etbook pocket is witnessed, indicating
the immediate putting up of additional
coin to the substantial amount of $4,000.
and he already has up, keeping com
pany with Col. Leavit', similar pile.
! The same complacent, contented, self
satisfied feeling is manifested in every
look and act of R. ]. Leavitt, repre-
sentative of the Locomobile, as much
as to say, "the coin is mine now"
There are many wagers of consider
able AMOUNTS on the result of the race
by outsiders, and Ascot park will have
| a record d-breaking crowd when the
GO" is given at 10 o'clock Sunday
morning.