Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-04
RETURN RACE IS
NEARLY ASSURED
FORMAL CHALLENGE FROM
STEARNS LIKELY
EXPECTED THAT NEW Def WILL
COME THIS WEEK
Leavitt Tells All Challengers other
Than Stearns to Go and Get
Reputation by Defeating
His Rival

The past week was developed many
phases of the recent Locomobile- Stearns
race which are believed to be healthy
signs for a quickened interest in hoth
track and road racing for the coming
summer. One thing now looks to be
definitely certain-that there viii UNI
doubtedly by a return race between
these two cars within the near future.
Indeed, 1t is not unlikely that before
the week has ended a formal challenge
for a return race with the Locomobile
will be made by the Stearns managers,
with every likelihood of the challenge
being accepted.
The conditions of the challenge. 1t is
expected, will not go much beyond the
specific stipulation of distance or ouO
miles, professional drivers allowed and
extra tank equipment permitted. Pro
viding this kind of challenge Is made,
with only minor restrictions added, II
would look to be a reasonable posi-
bility that Manager GeaVitt of the Los
Angeles Motor Car company, the local
agency of the Locomobile. Will prompt
ly accept, inasmuch as he has always
desired a race of this length and has
expressed his willingness to have any
driver back of the Stearns wheel that
they desired to put there, just so long
as the race were for 500 miles or more,
1t is not probable that any side bet
will be made a part of the Stearns
challenge, although this is entirely
problematical, as the managers of that
car have not clearly formulated the eX-
act details of the challenge they may
make if the challenge is actually made
at all. Providing side bet is made, 1T
will probably come as an after consid-
Grafton, when the formal agreement be-
tween the two cars is signed.
Challenges Are Made
A number of informal challenges
have been more or less seriously
preached during the past week, in most
cases directed against the Locomobile,
instead of the Stearns. the challengers
evidently preferring to race the win
ming car of last Sunday, rather than
the defeated car. One challenge was
very seriously brought forward through
James Morley, the billiard hall mag
nate of this city, who acted as princi-
pal for an unknown capitalist who de-
sired to race an unnamed car against
the Locomobile. This challenge was
informally made and has not been
pushed with much energy.
Such challenges, regardless OF their
| sources, however, will not be consid-
cred by Mr.. Leavitt. on behalf of the
Locomobile, under any circumstances.
regardless of their nature, Leavitt
feeling that he has earned the right 20
hold aloof from challenges until the
challenger shall have, as he puts it,
gone and gotten reputation" In
other words, he has determined to in
form all challengers that before they
| have earned a right to race the Loco
mobile they must defeat the Stearns
car in the same kind of gruelling race
as that in which he defeated that car
last Sunday.
Leavitt has a very high regard for
| the Stearns car, which was his prin-
cipal reason for wanting to race that
car at all, and while he appears entire
| ly willing to give the Stearns a return
race in order to give it the fullest OPP
| portnuity to test the question of SUI
| periority between it and the Loco
mobile, he does not want to be under
stood as being anxious to engage in
racing just for the sake of racing.
He believes that automobile racing is
designed to serve but one purpose-to
prove the questions of speed and en-
durance-and having proven, as he be-
| lieves, that the Locomobile has de-
cided these two points so far as the
local public is concerned, he is willing
to rest on his laurels until some COM
petitor has proven at least as much
by racing and defeating the Stems car
Then and only then, he says, will he
not merely for racing's sake, but to
prove the same two questions at issue
speed and endurance.