The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-05-31
By Associated Press.

CLUB OF the AldSkd- uhOn-fdclHc IA
position which is to open its gates OF
June /, ten high-powered automobiles
of American manufacture viii leave
New York next Tuesday on a 1900
mile trans-continental speed and en-
durance contest which had the ex-
position city as its final goal
The start is to be made at 3 o'clock
in the afternoon from in front of the
city hall, with Mayor Mcclellan Off
ciating at starting. A special wire
connecting the White House at Wash
ington with a special stand on the
steps of the New York municipal
building will transmit the word to
start from President Taft to Mayor
Mcclellan The same button which
the president will press to throw the
Seattle exposition open will tick the
hour of the start of the ocean-to-ocean
contest.
The race promises to be a huge
success in point Of general public
interest In order to guard against
violation of the speed laws OF the
various states through which the con-
testants will pass, the Automobile
club Of America, under whose sane
tion the run will be held, has arrang-
ed to have one of its representatives
act as pacemaker between New York
and Kansas City. Beyond Kansas
City there win be no restrictions as
TO speed and the contestants may roll
off the miles at top notch. Until that
point is reached, however, no car will
be permitted to pass the pacemaking
car. In the event of any mishap to
the pilot car the pacemaker will
transfer mis- flag to the first car arriv
ing at the point where he has been
halted and continue to the next check
ing station where a new pacemaking
car will be provided.
The contesting cars will be controll |
ed between New York and Kansas
City at checking stations where they
will be required to stop for twelve |
hours. These control stations will be /
established at Poughkeepsie, SYRIA I
cuse. Buffalo. Toledo, Chicago and St
Louis No contestant will be allowed |
to check out of the control points be-
fore the advertised time, and car
arriving at control point late will
not be allowed to leave until the con
troll period of twelve hours has elaps-
ed.
The cars entered for the contest are
a Stearns, Simplex, a Welch, an
Acme, Shawmut. a Garford, two
Fords and two Bucks Although the
race is open to foreign entries, it is
doubtful if any but American cars
viii participate. There is, however
some question of Renault, Benz
and an lsotta starting other elev-
enth-hour entries may be made of a
Thomas, Franklin and Matheson,
The prizes offered for the contest
consist Of a $4,000 trophy given by
Mr.. Robert Guggenheim and a $4,000
casn prize for the first car reaching
Seattle. The entrance of the second
car making the Pacific viii receive
81 500 While $1,000 will be given to
third, $500 to fourth and $500 to
fifth
As the strain of driving a car con t
tinuously from New York to Seattle
might be too great for one driver, any
member Of the crew of a contesting
car who shall have ridden in that car
continuously from New York may ,
drive. There viii be no observers OF :
the cars. The technical committee of {
the Automobile club of America will |
stamp each car before departure Con !
testants will be allowed to replace :
without penalization. twice during the i
contest. the front and rear axles, the E
engine base and cylinders and the a
case and steering gear a
These spare parts must be stamped y
by the committee before the contest I
however, and held in reserve at Chi
cago and Cheyenne. Wyo.. where they
will be in charge Of an official appoint
ed by the Automobile club of America.
No contestant can carry on his car I
or use at any point during the race, I
wheels equipped with fanges suitable l.
for travelling on railroad tracks.
Il is not expected that the race will v
furnish any degree Of excitement un. i
I'll st. Louis is reached. as between L
New York and that point the journey d
across the continent is to be made v
by comparatively easy stages. The f
schedule, which according to the rules S
the contest must be rigidly S
observed, calls for a run OF 70 miles s
on the first day, 2O7 the second, $50 p
the third. 296 the fourth, 244 the fifth a