Evening star., 1909-08-22
BY HOWARD FISK.

eHE opening OF the Indianapolis
motor speedway attracted the
attention OF the automobile
world the past week. Several
worlds track records were
smashed the opening day of the meet.
thus proving that the track is one OF the
speediest In the country. The attend
ance each day was large, and with the
aid of miitiamen of the Hoosier state
excellent order was maintained through
out. Tie speedway management looked
carefully after the interests OF the pa
irons. The star drivers OF the word
were in attendance. crowned with VIC
tories from other meetings ana deSlrous
of securing further laurels.
\ sad incident in connection with the
meet the death of William 4.
Bouruue. driver of a Knox car, ana ms
Inccbarician. Harry HolcomDe, both OF
whom were instantly killed the opening
day while racing at the rate OF eighty
miles an hour in the two-hundred-ano-
fifty-miie event The thousands oil spec
tators who saw the big machine turn
over and bury its occupants beneath IL
We're stricken with horror. Bourqae was
a man who would never enter a race
unless everything was working perfectly
and without signs of trouble. Unless
magnetic and carburetor were efficient he
would change type, and then II the trou-
be was the power plant he would aban-
don hope and refuse to race. With these
attributes he was feared by all drivers
who knew what IL meant when he ap-
peared at the motor speedway with his
big Knox, ready to ride, with an eX-
cellent chance of winning in his battle
with death and destruction that awaits
that daring in racing life.
Everything is in readiness for the in
ternational twenty y-fourhour contest and
the six-hour light-car race. which will be
the feature events of the thirty-six hours
continuous racing at Brighton Beach
Friday and Saturday of this week. With
a record entry already assured for the
"twice-around-the -the-clock'' race, and the
prospects of big fields in the six-hour
contest and shorter events, the east will
be furnished. it is believed, with the best
automobile race program every wit
messed. AS much interest is being mani
tested in the six-hour event as in that
OF four times the duration. Preparations
for the former will be as thorough and
eSacting as for the bigger contest.
The hardest-fought contests ever seen
on the track by the sea are expected.
The six-hour race Will be started at II
o'clock Friday morning and end at 5
o'clock in the afternoon. The Other
races on the card are one. five and twen-
ty-five miles, together with special events
that may be arranged, to be sand"icned
in between the completion of the light
car contest and start of the twenty-f0ur-
hour race at 10 o'clock at night.
The reconstruction of the Brighton
Beach Motordrome will be even more ex-
tensive than for the initial meet last
lnonth. The new alteration of the con-
tour of the oval will give wider and
easier sweeps into and out OF both
stretches and with the increase of bank
ling on the turns will permit of much
ata
macadamizng of the turns also will add
10 both the speed and safety or the
course. With favorable weather. it is
confidently expected. the distance of
I,o9I miles Travelled in the last twenty
four hour race will be easily eclipsed.
\ new spirit of rivalry will be injected
into the big contest by the re-entry into
track competition Of Maurice Bernin. the
daredevil French race pilot. who Will be
chief OF the Renault crew. It will be
his first meeting this year with his old
time opponents. George Robertson. who
vii handle the new Houpt machine. and
Ralph de Palma, the star OF the Fiat
forces. These three are rated as the
most fearless trio Of motor race pilots In
this country, and the issue between them
will be bitter. Each of the three. how
ever. will be forced every minute 10 look
TO his iaurelS IN cOmpefltiOn Win Sucn
track tacticians Ralph Mulford. who
goes from the Lozier to the Stearns team
II. A. Vantine. the driver of the Acme
six who hereafter must be considered
among the dangerous factors, and Louis
Disbrow, the Glidden Tour contestant,
who surprised his friends and the public
alike by landing the Rainier car in Sec
ond place In the last twenty-four-hour
race, which also was his first track es-
say. There is every reason to believe
that fourteen cars will go to the start
ing line with the most imposing galaxy
of nervy drivers that has ever been got
ten together upon an American course.
4
With the incentive OF $500 cash prize
to the driver who scores the greatest
mileage for any hour during the progress
of the international Neutrality-suspicious.
contest. which will be the feature event
of the card. 1t is assured that there will
be no tagging at any part of that terrific
conflict, and barring only unfavorable ele-
seems certain 10 go by the board. En-
trants of cars in this event also will have
an incentive TO speed by the award of a
handsome silver trophy for the greatest
tventy-four-hour mileage. The offering
of prizes. averaging In value 500 an hour
IS expected to nave a similar effect in the
six-hour contest for moderate power cars