Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-01
RACE DETAILS
ARE ARRANGED
FORFEIT POSTED FOR LOCO
STEARNS MATCH
AUTOMOBILE RIVALS QUICKLY
AGREE TO TERMS
Greatest Event of Its Kind Ever Held
In Los Angeles to Be for Purse
of Ten Thousand
Dollars

Ascot park will be the scene of the
greatest match automobile race ever
arranged, August Is, when the Stearns
and Locomobile cars will be pitted
against each other to settle long
standing question of superiority.
Although R. j. Leavitt, acting for
the Los Angeles Motor Car company,
| desired 500-mile match it was finally
decided to make the distance 800 miles,
1t being thought that such a run would
prove ample to test the merits of the
contesting cars.
| c. c. Slaughter, the new Stearns
| agent, was anxious to have a time
limit set on the match, but this was
compromised by Mr.. Leavitt consent
| ing to a 300-mile race instead of a 400
or 500-mile match.
The purse of $4,000 is the largest ever
put up in the United States for SINH
lar match, and in addition the gate
receipts will doubtless be large, as the
arrangements for the race are con-
sidered ideal from the spectators point
of view.
Arrangements Ideal
The race will start promptly at 10
o'clock on the morning of August Is,
and should be completed by 4 o'clock,
as it Is not expected that the racers
will average much better than fifty
miles an hour, although this same argu-
ment was made and disproved in the
| Santa Monica contest.
! Both machines will be the same as
contested in the Santa Monica match,
as the Stearns which was shipped to
| San Francisco shortly after that match
| is now on it's way back to Los Angeles,
| having been purchased by Mr.. Slaugh-
ter especially for the match race.
Both machines will be seen at Ascot
park this week, preparing and tuning
up for the long struggle, that will mean
much both financially and from busi-
ness standpoint to the winner.
Drivers Not Known
Both Mr.. Leavitt and Mr. Slaughter
are reticent in speaking about the
drivers of their cars. Who the drivers
will be will not be known, in all prob
ability, until the day of the race.
Mr.. Leavitt stated that he did not
believe that Murray Page, who piloted
the Loco across the line first in the
last match race between the two cars,
will drive in the coming contest, be-
cause of personal and business reasons.
That Charley Soules or Frank Free
will drive the Stearns is probable, al
though Mr.. Slaughter states that he is
rot certain who shall guide his car.
The terms of agreement leave the
matter of drivers open.
The coming race will really be the
third meeting of these cars, the Loco
mobile having been successful in the
first match race and the Stearns car
winning third place in the Santa
Monica struggle with the Loco finish
ing in fourth position.
1t is expected that thousands of dol
lars will be wagered on the result as
both parties have a strong list of fol-
lowers in Los Angeles and vicinity.
All of the officials for the race have
not been selected, but this matter will
be settled during the week.
Eddie Maier, the stakeholder, has in
his possession two certified checks of
$1,000 each, the amount of forfeit money
agreed upon. The remaining $4,000 will
be placed before 10 O'Clock on the morn
ing of August IA, the day before the
race.
Agreement Signed
The agreement as drawn up and
signed is as follows:
"Entered into on the Goth day of
July. A D. 1909. between the Los An
geIes Motor Car company, through It's
authorized agent, Ralph j. Leavitt. and
the Stearns Motor Car company,
through its authorized agent, c. G.
Slaughter both firms doing business in
Los Angeles, Cal, whereby the two
said firms agree to rate their respective
Locomobile and Stearns cars. said cars
to be the identical cars that raced in
the so-called Santa Monica road race,
July 10. 1909, said race to be held at
Ascot park. Los Angeles. Cal, August
10 1909, the following conditions, and
these conditions only, to govern said
race, unless otherwise mutually agreed
to between the said above mentioned
firms through their authorized agents,
who shall sign this agreement.
"The distance of the race shall be
three hundred (300) miles. the car COW
ering this distance in the shortest
length of time to be decided the win
ner.
"The entry fee shall be $4,000 Give
thousand dollars), to be deposited as
follows with the stakeholder, Eddie
Maier: One thousand dollars ($1O0O)
upon the signing of this memorandum
of agreement by each of said entrants,
and the remaining $4,000 -four thousand
dollars) to be deposited by each of said
entrants on or before 10 o'clock a. M,
August IA, 1909, and said $1,000 Zone
thousand dollars) first deposited shall
be considered as a forfeit in case either
of said entrants fails tc make the last
mentioned $4,000 -four thousand dollars)
deposit on or before the dates specified,
or in case either car shall fail to APP
pear upon the track and complete one
circuit of said track on the day set for
said race, such forfeit to be turned
over by said stakeholder to the oppos-
ing entrant providing said last named
entrant shall have fulfilled all terms OF
this agreement regarding deposits.
"There shall be II restrictions as to
drivers or as to equipment, stripping
or gearing of cars.
"The entire entry fee of $4,000 (ten
thousand dollars) shall be turned over
to the winner of the race, as shall
also the total net proceeds from said
race after the expenses of conducting
said race have been deducted from the
total proceeds of said race from what
ever source raised