Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-16
SUGGESTION FOR
MANAGEMENT AUTO
RACING AT ASCOT
15O MILES TOO LONG AN EVENT
FOR THE PUBLIC
dom That-More 5o-MiIe Events,
Novelty Races and Women's
Contests Are Wanted

Probably no other avenue of publi-
ing the interest in automobiles, the
racing feature of it, than the Los An
geles Herald for the past three
months. 1t believes in the straight
legitimate racing features of the track,
and furthers it with sincere belief that
it is good for the people, good for the
automobile dealers and establishes fra
ternal but keen rivalry that cannot
but result in good all round.
To this end, it has never hesitated
to commend those participating so
long as these events are cleanly con-
Quoted. 1t will unhesitatingly and as
severely criticise the least indication
of other than clean sport.
1t is therefore a pleasure to COM
mend such events as are being placed
before the public at Ascot park by
the Los Angeles Motor Car Racing
association, who are better qualified to
promote such events than individuals
generally. But The Herald has sug-
gestion to make to the management Of
that association.
One hundred and fifty mile races are
entirely too long. Interest in such a
race is lost in the time ii takes to con-
clude them. If the competing cars
make the race evenly at mile min
ute gait there is two and half hours
consumed for the winner to cross the
home pole. If there are seconds and
thirds they must finish, and there is al
ways the element of accident to tires
present which can never be foreseen,
and if either of the second or third
cars in the race are held up for any
cause they must finish, and there is
more time taken of the public in the
grandstand.
Again there is nothing proved bet
ter in a 150-mile event than there is in
a 10O-mile race. One hundred miles
will be satisfactory proof to almost
any onlooker that car travelling
gait of a mile a minute will be good
enough for him to jog along with at
forty miles per hour with his family in
the tonneau. In fact 1t would be bet
ter still never to have any event ex-
ceed fifty miles, for that means near
ly an hour. If the cars are evenly
matched as to time, the race is eX-
citing to those who pay to see 1t. If
one cars meets with no bad luck and
is making fast time, but the others for
reasons are far in the rear, then the
race is tiresome, the people lose in
terest in the next meet because they
were tired out at the former event, and
they stay away and simply read The
Herald's account of it the following
morning.
Let the management take up the
matter of some novelty races for the
public and they will have a full grand
stand at every meet. There are a num-
ber of these they could introduce here,
popular elsewhere and create live
ly interest in such meets.
Why not get busy and make up u
list of women drivers and entries? Los
Angeles has some most accomplished
automobile drivers who would well
come the opportunity to display the
ability of their cars and their own
capacity to handle the wheel of car
racing around the track, and there
would be a vast interest taken in such
an event. The Herald can furnish the
name of one young woman who woIld
make a majority of the stronger sex
look like canal boat pushers alongside
her ability to pilot a fast moving car
and the time she has made over cer-
tain we'll known courses would as
tonish some of the male cracks.
Then there are obstacle races, good
sport, educational in the steering OF
cars, without danger at all and this
would be another feature.
Perhaps nothing, too, would attract
more than a race of electrics. This
class of car is becoming more num-
erous on our streets every day and
a race with electricity as the motive
power would certainly please many,
especially the women.
One hundred and fifty miles is too
long a race. hard on tires, hard on
drivers, hard on the public. Cut them
down, and the public will be pleased.