Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-14
ACTIVITY IN AUTO CIRCLES
Racing Season at an End and Plans
Inoubsting for Next Year.
ROAD RACING THE BIG CARD
international Event - Planned for
Opening Of the season Next
Year a. n strong Draw
ing Card.

NEW YORK. Nov. 13-The running OF
she Vanderbilt cup race marked the close
OF the 1909 auto road-racing season. While
there remain several track and motor
drome meets to be decided before the end
OF the present year, the curtain is down on
road events. Already the promoters Of the
sport are turning their attention TO the
big races OF 1910. and it appears almost
certain at the present time that the grand
prize race will open an auto-racing season
next year which win surpass all records in
point OF number OF events and increased
fields Of starters. Judging from the ex-
pressed opinions Of the auto clubs in vari-
Gus parts Of the country, there will be a
renewal Of all the events of this character
during 1910, including the Lowell, Cobe,
Vanderbilt, Paramount, Riverhead and
Portola contests. In addition, there are
understood to be several other cities whose
respective auto clubs are contemplating the
staging Of an auto race next year.
1t is predicted by both manufacturer
and close students of auto racing that the
sport will reach a higher plane next year
than It ever before achieved in this coun-
try. It appears to be a well established
axiom now that auto road racing is the
greatest advertising feature Of the mo
torcar business. with the renewal of the
grand prize race both here and abroad
early I'm the spring, It is thought that auto
racing will be started upon a boom which
will exceed anything of the kind ever wit
messed in this country. The idea OF an
international event as an opening feature
of the season is rapidly gaining in popu-
larity, and it appears almost certain thar
the month of May will see the staging Of
the biggest and most important of
Americas auto road races in 1910.
New Rules 20 GOvern.
Plans for the event are of course in an
embryo state at this time. 1t will be inn
possible to complete the details for the
contest until the new rules to govern the
international events are decided upon. This
code will be consideredNat a meeting of the
International Association of Recognized
Automobile clubs of which the Automobile
Club OF America is the United States rep
resentative. As soon as the 1910 code is an
nounced It is expected that it will be fol
lowed by the dates of the Grand Prix OF
Europe and the grand prize in this country
Americas international road race win not
be held until after the running of the
Grand Prix. 1t is the intention of the
American promoters of the sport to try
and secure the entry OF an American team
In the foreign race in order that thii
country may be in a position to solicit 9
full entry from the European clubs fol
the United States event.
1t has been demonstrated during the
past year that auto racing is no longer g
novelty in the east, and that to draw bis
crowds to the course it is necessary e
have something more than ordinary stool
car competition. Since the Vanderbilt cuI
race was stripped OF it's international char
acter. the attendance has fallen Of
steadily. Although there is no great diff
ference in the speed developed, the glamour
OF foreign entries wheelmen has been miss
ing and showed in the depleted attendance
But next spring will see a change in tn,
situation.
Less Interest in Europe.
The past year in European motoring
circles from the manufacturers standpoint
has indeed been i'll starred. The business
on the continent has fallen off to an ap
palling degree. Moreover, manufacturer
who made big populations through the rae
Ing gam found them melting away. TIL.
prestige Of many European machines Eel
off during the past twelve months. ThI
old world decline in the industry is sal,
to be due to but one thing-the temporar!
abolition Of the speed game.
Realizing this fact, the foreign maker
who formed a combine against racing
have dissolved and lifted the ban. The!
have come out strong for motor contests o