New-York tribune., 1909-03-14
FUTURE OF AUTO RACES
MOTOR WORLD DIVTDED.
Dangers of UnuiSe Contests Pointed
Out Once More.
BY Il. p. ChaIfont.
General Manager A. l. A. n.

The public must realize that automobile con-
tests are in their infancy However, the most ex
pert men in the business cannot tell what turn the
sport is going take next. The whole manufact-
urfng world is divided the subject OF racing
One maker says the sport is Of benefit the
industry: another says it helps more than any
thing else Soma favor speedway, but urge the
Importance of practical contests.
Racing undoubtedly has a very material function
in mechanical progress. 1t develops the art of
driving specifically and executive ability broadly.
II has great human interest, which will and
should rot be suppressed. It is undoubtedly the
supreme test for one thing, and It's excitement and
interest have proved of such a nature TO draw
the biggest crowds ever at any sporting event.
The road naturally stimulates the strongest
efforts Of the designer the craftsman and
ufacturer. To improve the result continually TO
limit OF skill IS 20 gain for the factory and the
industry
Healthy growth and development can. however
proceed on other than rational lines. The mem
bers of the Association Of Licensed Automobile
Manufacturers have done much 10 encourage
tional contests keep them within proper bounds
Recently in various parts Of the country. chal-
lenges TO speed and endurance contests on the pub
lie highways have been issued. Wherever such
contests involve q violation OF the village town,
city speed laws obviously they should not
be tolerated. The inhabitants OF the territory
passed through Illegal OF speed may very
reasonably have feeling OF bitter and retributive
resentment which may very possibly record Itself
in positive legislative action, which will oppress
the feir-rninded motorst and initiate against the
interest of the automobile industry as a whole and
impede the normal development of mechanical road
traction. Such short-sighted affairs can only tend
strongly 10 precipitate contemplated adverse laws
in the form OF bills proposed In the various state
halls OF legislature. or. unhappily. defeat the
passage OF such liberal legislation may nave
received some encoura cement. There was an in
stance of the last mentioned kind in a state near
by recently.
1t is impossible 10 foreteI what may be the re-
suit of any 'cross-country road race at speed. 1t
is difficult to run race in which speed is not used.
matter how the driver may be limited In action.
Invariably speed laws Will be broken.
Let consider the worst effect OF all. Motor
fists in this country assisted by a good many other
people doing their utmost 20 get good roads
appropriations through state legislatures and Con-
gress. The violation speed laws only ALLEVIATE
friends in this field and prevent the making Of
ones. It should only be necessary recall 10 any
forgetful mind that good roads largely the sine
qua Of motoring.
II road races must be run, twenty thirty or
forty mile course should be arranged for by con-
sent and according to Law. and be properly pro-
tected and policed during the conduct of the
Doing anything else IS worse than unklndness TO
a dumb animal. The automobile easily sur
vive conflict with its legitimate enemies. Never
theless. it should be protected much possible
from its unwise friends. Many Of the members OF
the Licensed Association have consistently support
ed sensible contests and will continue do so.
Incidentally, special challenges are seldom justi-
fable There opportunities enough TO race on
properly guarded in due observance of law.
reliability contest. OF not more than days
duration. over recognized automobile thorough
fares, conducted by promoters who oblgate them
selves that speed laws Will not be violated (safe-
guarding this obligation by proper contros), can
result in the fair promotion Of the sport and In
properly testing out models for manufact-
urers, particularly when such contests are held un-
der difficult road conditions. A notable case IN
point is the contest held between New York and
Boston this month"; the controls being so well
placed as TO make it practically impossible 10 ex-
ceed the country speed laws Of twenty miles an
hour