New-York tribune., 1909-06-19
MATSON CUP WINNER
TAXES INDIANA TROPHY.
Light Car Preliminary to Cobe 4ato
Contest Thrilling Race.

Crown Point, Ind. June 1s.-FIrst honors in ths
opening of Western Vanderbilt" automobile races
to-day went to Joseph AIatsou. who piIoted a
ChalmeTs-Detroit -Buebjrd- brilliant victory
over fifteen rivals for the Indiana trophy The
race was for light cars only. and preliminary
to the longer race Of the big cars Tor the Cobs
Cup over the same course tomorrow. Perfect
weather and the. absence Of any save the most
trivial injuries to drivers were fortunate crcum-
stances attending to-day's race. The field num-
bered sixteen ears at the start. the Ford and
Renault machines having been withdrawn.
George Robertson. winner of the Vanderbilt Cup
race last fall was second. in a L0comobHe. and
Monsen, in Marion. third. No others We're
allowed to finish. 1Iatson's time was 2I Rob
ertson's 429.03, and Monsen's I.l293. AIatson's
average speed was a little over ffty-three miles
hour.
Burman in Buick led at the end of the first
lap covering the distance in 22.r-the fastest lap
of the race.
When 1t became apparent, as the first race in
t.e two days contest drew to finish that the
victory lay among Matson. Robertson and Mon
sen, the affair increased in dramatic intensity "A
each OF the leading candidates was deserted on the
miltop TO the south. where the oil stained road
1rlnged by tive gray streaks of lighter earth at
tne SIDE seemed to meet the horizon. the cheers
OF the spectators began. They reached a climax
Wheh the SrIIn-visaged pilots and their ao-alI,- h.
eLiled mechanicians swept by the srandstand in
some instances almost neck and neck and disap-
peared up the rise to the north
The race, which was am bor,~ 1s+. ~ ...
OWING 10 the beIatsd arrival ot the au+o +rIlr-s
for the transportation Of the r1fIirfsr,sD ~. 80
S,aLioNS around the course. finally got under v-av
when Fred Wagner slapped lIaisoDvfre rbe 60
driver. on the back and the machine sbo- s,~,s,
minute intervals. -
Burman. driving a Buick. was the e,-r,- h.-,
lie covered the first lap in 23.4I the fastest tf,s
Ior one circuit registered during the entire race His
eXcelient work was continued on the second ro1rf
as ne led the field past the graudstand in 49-4s
His triumph was short lived. however. as he met
with difficulties on the third lap but completed
II IN good time He was put out Of the running
on the fourth lap by the loss Of a valve
The second IMP brought about the downfall OF
Lewis Straug- the fCy0rite before the race FIs
covered the first lap in 1882 So. but half way
round the second he was put out of the con-
test by the suIIe1 necessity for using his brake.
He had pursued q ear for several miles. and think
ing he was about 10 have opportunity to pass.
he turned loose with his best speed He had not
room TO go by, however. and to avoid crashing
into the ear ahead applied the brake so suddenly
that Lis transmission gear was stripped from the
rear axle Burmau brought StrauS back on the
rear of his machine
In the mean time lIatsou. who finished the first
lap an appareutI. hopeless position. steadily
forging the front AZ the end of the second
round he had advanced TO fifth place in point OF
elapsed time. IIe registered his best time on the
third lap. covering the distance I'm 25-f;. and this
timely squirt placed him I'm first position Iie was
closely messed 10y his ChaIUers-Detrotr team
mates Kripp@r and Poole Hardy minute
separated the three cars
Matson was forced to r7linquish his lead Tor a
brief period at the end OF the fourth lap, Wnen
Knipper forged ahead by the scant margin or TWO
seconds with Poole close third From tliS tllls
ON IIotson was never tn danger as he steadily IN
creased his lead until at one time ne was eiSht
minutes ahead Of the field. His car ran with pre-
cisio. and he was able to continue on the track
without stopping until the end or the e-SHll up
when he halted the repair pit 70 repIenish ms
s,r,r1,- o. oil water and gasOleue- The excellent
work Of Frank Vaughan. his mechanician- at this
stage reduced the loss Of time to Jrine moIs
than half a minute.
The halfway mark Of the race saw the Stod-
dard-Davton. driven by Wright. and the CoTbin.
gllided bv NIaisonviIIe. far in the rear The two
cars continued until the finish. but they were at
all times two or three laps behind the leaders,
Stutz in a Marion made a desperate race ana
,,,s we'll r1p when he blew out cylinder, Just
no~tb Of the grandstand, during the eighth lap.
his car ran into the shallow ditch at the side OF
the track but he and his machinist escaped WIN
a few bruises He had little chance to win even
had there been no accident, as ne was aooul ha--
an hour behind the leader.
Wells in a Moon. and Wiseman at the steering
most Of a Stodddrd-Dayton. struggled ealnsSly
along but were not able to secure a commanding
posttion. although they fingered on the course to
the finish
The interest in the last lap centred in the racs
for second place between Robertson. in his Loco
mobile. and lIonsen. at the wheel OF Marion
Robertson drove with experienced coolness and
was we'll up at all times IN the early stages hs
was never better than NTH. but after the halfway
mark was reached he moved up TO third position
and snatched second place from MOnsen IN a ter
riae hattie on the last lap Robertson stopped only
once at the repair pit and his lightning Work ana
that OF ais mechanictau IN rehiins us IdLlAS
r....,.rbt rnrrnd of annIa-Ise