New-York tribune., 1909-01-17

SloAO IOT the start OF the race. Every rev TOuS
the spectators found their way blocked by high
wire fences. but even the women found,
rather made. no difficulty IN clambering over
them. Some chose the long level stretches
others the sharp curves, still others the two
bridges over which later the cars bounced If
they were on a scenic railroad in amusement
park. while stlH others perched on another
bridge. Under which the cars dashed with the
roar and thunder of electrical storm And
all the while the rain falling and the wind
sweeping across the plain, tc the utter destruc-
ton Of finery and feminine toilets But the
racer was king Long live the king
There was slight breaking In the east the
guards. with their slouch hats. long capes and
guns. began to clear the course a cheer rolled
across the plain from the grandstaad a moment
later the cry, Car coming" ran along the
double line OF spectators and then, with a slight
crackle which grew In volume until # sounded
ike a gatling gun in action, the first Of the
racers dashed up and whzzed by with the
tWinkling OF an eye. Before watch could be
consulted and time marked another car was
upon you, and SO it kept on all through the long
morning. every moment of which was filled with
the intensest excitement. And the crowd came
and the crowd stayed, and the crowd went home
sleepy but satisfied.
Thirty thousand persons saw an interesting
and thoroughly exciting contest in another
branch Of the same sport when aNhill climb was
held up the 1.900-foot incline at Fort George in
upper Manhattan during automobile carnival
week last April. From base to summit both
sides of the hin were hacked uIth automobile
enthusiasts who jumped at the opportunity of
seeing the various types of fight their way
up the steep grade at breakneck speed. plotted
by some Of the best drivers in the country
Though this contest lacked one Of the essentials
for exciting the spectators-that OF daring-it
drew a large crowd, and contained several novel
features.
AS each car drew up 20 the starting line at the
foot Of the hill it painted and puffed and .quiv-
cred Il il were alive. The moment the driver
got the word 10 go and the power was thrown
on, there H...s a roar, blast of smoke and fire
and the shot forward and upward like a
skyrocket. AS the gained momentum the
roar grew louder, until finally it seemed as
though the machine would be blown into thou
sand pieces Though the course was short, the
crowd got many thrill.
Altogether different conditions prevailed at
the Ormond Beach races in Florida The social
side Of these races is almost as prominent the
record breaking performances of the drivers.
Thousands OF visitors from all parts of the
country gathered along the broad stretches of
hard sand to some Of the fastest driving in
the world. These are the first races of the year.
Il
Fiat car, fell the honor last year of going a mile
in 30 seconds. a worlds record for a middle
weight car. Bernin also shattered the worlds
record for 100 miles by covering the distance in
a Renault in hour, II minutes and J6 10 sec
onds
1t is a beautiful and unusual scene at the Or
mond Beach races. On one side the course is
gently Tapped by the ocean, while on the other
are long, low grandstands and boxes. Though
the races in the winter the sun beats
down on the Florida sands with the warmth of
summer. Women with gay costumes and
colored parasols, and the men in their flannels
and Panama hats, stroll along the beach, or ind
places of vantage in the stands cars which |
are gathered around the finish. It is a grand |
general picnic. and hundreds of persons travel !
of miles to enjoy it.
giving Day really the banner event OF the |
American automobile year. and II drew It's thou
SANDS upon thousands. II proved great vic
tory for the foreign drivers. but aside from the /
wonderful driving of the contestants the feat
ure of the race the immense crowd which !
circled the twenty five mile course. 1t was es- |
tirnated that sixteen thousand persons were in |
the grandstand and fully one hundred and fifty
thousand others were gathered around tbs
course. Special trains We're chartered to carry
the automobile enthusiasts from New York, Chi
cago and other cities. while many others made
the trip by water, and still others drove to Sa-
vannah in their own cars