Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-25
.LOCOMOBlLE TO
RACE STEARNS
TWO RIVALS HAVE AGREED ON
THE TERMS
FOR $4,000 A SIDE OVER COURSE
OF 400 MILES
Word from Stearns Factory to Permit
Use of Racer Alone Stands In
Way of Return Match
of Giants

Upon the decision of the Stearns
factory, in the east. hinges the long
looked for return match between the
Locomobile. and Stearns racers, the
latter of which cars was defeated in
the Locomohile- Stearns race on March
28 last
If the race is cOnsummated, as it is
now quite certain to be, it will prove
to be for the largest purse ever driven
for perhaps, on the American CONT
nent, as the representatives of these
two cars have passed the word in each
others presence, before witnesses, that
they will each wager $4,000 on their
car, making a total purse Of $4,000 to
be raced for, together with the gate
receipts. The distance for the race, as
agreed upon between the LocOmobile
and Stearns agents, will be for 400
miles, and the date will doubtless be
Sunday, August Is. Present plans con-
template holding the race at Ascot
park, the scene of the last battle be-
tween the two cars, providing that
course can be secured. Otherwise, an
other course, to be announced later, will
be decided upon.
Both Checks Up
Both agents have drawn their checks
and agreed to a memorandum of agree
ment, which has already been drafted,
but have withheld their signatures
pending the definite decision as to the
date and the location of the race. The
date hinges not only upon the question
of securing the course, but also on d
still more important one-that of secur-
In 40 Of Factory
to permit its Santa Monica racer to
be sent back from San Francisco, where
it now is, and placed at the disposal
of Agent Slaughter for purposes of
racing. The racing car in question is
one that was sent to the Pacific coast
by the factory for the purpose of rae
ing and is under the control of the
well-known race driver, Charley
Soules, who is being held on this coast
for racing purposes solely. Because OF
the evident intention of the Stearns
factory to enter this car with Soules
behind the wheel, in all important rae
ing events on this coast, there is little
doubt entertained on the part of Agent
Slaughter as to favorable answer be-
ing received from the factory. This
message, up to a late hour last even
ing, had not been received, but will
doubtless be received some time today,
in which case the formal step of sign
ing the memorandum of agreement will
be taken tomorrow morning, and one
of the greatest races ever seen on
the Pacific coast will be a settled fact.
Race Talk Renewed
With the acquisition of the local
Stearns agency by c. c. Slaughter,
wealthy banker and mining man of
Ell Paso, came renewed talk of a return
match between these two splendid cars,
despite the determination of Ralph j.
Leavitt, Southern California agent for
the Locomobile, to entirely drop the
matter when he failed to secure a
match with the Stearns for 500 miles
some six weeks ago.
The outcome between these two cars
at the Santa Monica race, two weeks
ago, was watched with considerable
interest by thousands of spectators as
an indication of the relative merits of
the racers in competition, and the de-
feat of the Locomobile at that time
by minute and a fraction over the
200-mile course had the effect of re-
Viving gossip as to what the two cars
might be able to do in a match race.
Charley Soules has always stoutly
maintained his faith in the ability of
the Stearns car to defeat the Loco
mobile racer at any distance and his
counsel has undoubtedly gone a long
way with Mr. Slaughter in reaching
a determination to race the Vanderbilt
cup winner car.
During Friday of the past week
Messrs. Leavitt and Slaughter got to-
gether and spent the better part of the
afternoon in discussing the details of
the proposed race Leavitt, as has