Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-09
ROBERTSON GOES
TO HOUPT CORPS
TAKES CHARGE OF RACING
STRING
OLD LocoMoBILE DRIVER TAKES
IMPORTANT STEP
His Engagement Is First Move in Big
Campaign Planned by Energetic
Promoter of New Name
Plates

George Robertson has been engaged
by the Harry S. Houpt company to
take charge of a newly organized rae
ing department, which it Will conduct.
He will race its cars exclusively and
give his time solely to it. Associated
with him will be two of the best known
drivers in the country, while 1t is pos
sible that Montague Roberts may take
the wheel occasionally. Roberts work
with the company, since he took charge
of its mechanical department is such,
however, that Mr. Houpt is unwilling
to risk losing his service through any
accidents and Roberts will be kept out
of racing as much as possible
The engagement of Robertson is the
first step in a big campaign in racing
contemplated by the Houpt company.
For five years Harry S. Houpt has
been one of the most conspicuous fig
ures in racing. He has entered cars
in all sorts of competition and raced
consistently His expenditures on this
score were generally considered prodi-
gal, but they were made with a view
to securing data about motor car con-
struction that could be secured in no
other way. This racing, together with
his Investigations in the repair shops of
his extensive garage were steps lead
ing up to the introduction of his own
car this year.
In these Investigations he secured
data which has been extremely valu-
able in producing the new cars which
he has brought out. While they give
him confidence in his product he has
determined to demonstrate his conf
denCe by entering the cars in actual
competition, as frequently as possible.
He will, therefore, race the Herreshoff
cars in all stock events for which they
are eligigle and expects to get excep-
tional speed from the car when it is
geared for racing. He will race the
Houpt car in all events, open or stock
contests, as soon as it is ready to go
on the track.
George Robertson visited the Bristol
factory of the Houpt company last
week and there gave instructions for
the special Houpt car that will be
built for him for track racing. Work
on this car will be rushed through so
that it is ready by June for cOmpett-
tion. Robertson will spend much of his
time in the interim at Bristol prepar-
ing this car.
He also visited the Detroit factory
last week and there saw the little
Herreshoff car fitted with racing gears
and believes it to be exceptionally fast
"While the car is not built for speed,
it is so light in proportion to its power
that geared for racing 1t should make
a splendid showing. 1t will be raced
exclusively in stock car events, hill
climbs and track races
Robertson Is probably the most pop
ular driver in America. He has had
an extended experience covering six
years of racing and has steared record
breaking cars again and again. He
made his most conspicuous success last
year by winning three consecutive
races, in a different car; first, the
twenty y-four hour race at Brighton
Beach. making twenty new world rec
ords: then the Founders stock car race
in Philadelphia. and finally the Van
derbilt cup race To this versatility he
owes his frequent appearance In races.
He has driven nearly all racing cars,
both foreign and American, and knows
them thoroughly.
In the recent races at Ormonde' Beach
he made new world records in the
Grand Prix Benz. He has established
in the course of his racing more than
thirty records, most of which stand
today.
He drove his first race at Empire
City track in 1908. and has been driv-
ing continuously since. He has met
with several accidents, but has never
been injured except when thrown in
an Apperson car in 1906, when he broke
his collarbone.
He is known as a fearless driver, care
free and good-natured. He will race
either on the track or on the road with
equal abandon. He feels no fear in
competition, and considers the only
danger to be the uncertainty as to
what some other driver may do at
critical time Robertson will select his
team mate and will announce his Sc
lection within a few days.