Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-21
CODE RACE IS
Epoch MAKER
MARKS THE DAWN OF A NEW
WESTERN ERA
Course Located In Indiana, Forty
Miles from Chicago, and Large
Number of Entries Have
Already Been Made

Rivaling in magnitude and inn
portance all other racing fixtures for
stock cars on the 1909 calendar, the
first national stock chassis race for the
trophy given by Ira M. CODE, president
of the Chicago Automobile club, Will
mark the dawn of new era IN the
history of western motoring. AS an
all-essentials. it is confidently antict-
pated that the first contest for the
new cup will duplicate the history OF
the first battle for the Vanderbilt
trophy, as regards the display of
public interest.
The contests committee of the chi
cago Automobile club is devoting It's
energies toward arranging the pre-
liminaries for the coming event, which
it is proposed to hold on May ~ ana
June /. Decoration day falling on Sun
dey. The committee has been handi-
capped somewhat thus far by the lack
of definite information as to the classi-
fication and formula under which the
event will be conducted, but tentative
entries have already been made by
surprisingly large number OF makers:
AS soon as public announcement OF
the exact entry requirements is mace
by Chairman Frank B. Hover OF the
contests board of the American Auto
mobile association. it is expected that
the entries will begin to pour in.
The manufacturers have given the
event their unqualified Endorsement
and the western field is so alluring
from a sales standpoint that this OPP
portunity to bring cars of speed
prowess to the attention of the pubic
cannot probably be overlooked.
Location of Course
The course selected for the race is
located in Lake county, Ind, just over
the Illinois line, and about forty miles
from Chicago. 1t is twenty-five miles
in length, with three straightaways and
one sporty, zig-zag leg. There Is no
railroad crossing at any point, al
though three railroads skirt various
sections of the course. 1t is believed
TO be as fast course as any IN the
land. and will require only snsht
amount of banking and oiling to be
placed in lightning condition.
Among tentative entries already In
hand are included Knox car, two
Locomotives, two Thomas Flyers, two
palmer and Singer Simplex, two
Bucks. three Apperson and two Dia-
mond It's. Some of these cars are
planned as candidates for the small
car race which will be run as curtain
raiser. Steps have also been taken to
secure the importation of the French
Berliet which won the Fargo boioSHt'
The contests committee of the Chi
caeo Automobile club. #. Gunther,
| A. ]. Banta and c. c. Sinsabaugh-
has already begun preparation for
adequate police protection. The state
! militia will be secured if no insuper-
able obstacles are encountered. FAIL
ing in this however. private individuals
will be engaged and sworn in as depu-
ty marshals. 1t is determined to leave
no ground for criticism as regards the
adequacy of the protection afforded
both racers and spectators.
President CODE. donor of the cup,
| has expressed the belief, based on the
assurance of entries already given,
| that it will be necessary to limit the
number of entries to be accepted. Early
! application is therefore advisable.
At the close of the Boston show the
Vanderbilt Locomobile was shipped
to Chicago and A. j. Banta will send
the racing monster over the course to
ascertain at what points preparation Is
needed The present roadbed is in ex-
cellent condition, but the turns are too
fiat for fast work and will require
alterations.