The San Francisco call., 1909-06-27

side. out OF sight. up the cany on, into
Vandercook's bend which is 1000 feet
from the start The car is then turned
toward Tribulation Point another
hard. sharp turn. almost as bad as that
OF Skid Point
When around this point the car IS
again sent into canyon and runs
right close along the mountain side
The road is very narrow, there being
not over three feet leeway on each side.
The turn has gained a reputation. for il
is known as SardOu's Despair
SARDOU's DESPAIR
SardOu was making great time up
the hill at the last contest until he
skidded around this point and lost a
tire, which was picked up on the road
after he had finished. The other end Of
this bend is somewhat of a wider turn,
and then the car goes ont 10 WatsOns
Point which is $500 feet from the
start and a 65e foot rise. Watsons
Point Is easily made. and into another
canyon again. around what is known
as Easy Bow. Then the course leads
out TO View Point
IT is at this place that the gallery
congregates TO watch the contests
OF the automobiliStS. as one can get
the most perfect view from this point.
Turning View Point the last bend is
made around the Hairpin. which is in
ana out OF a Wavy road. and around
what is known as Relief Turn
1T is hard 10 describe the sensation
of such climb. to go winding I'D.
golng at such a rate of speed. swerv-
ing around the bends. with death ever
IN attendance. looking down hundreds
OF feet many times being but a few
inches from going over a grade. then
10 feel a tire rip on and the car come
IN he ~
OF the course humping along. not know
ing AT what second something may
give way and oblivion come
The cheers and applause as one
crosses the line is somewhat soul sat
isfying, but il is nothing in comparison
with the feeling OF relief 10 be expe-
rienced as one steps out of the ton
neau. the feeling TO be on good. firm
ground once again. They crowd around
you. tell you how brave you are. ad-
mire your car, but little appreciate
your feeling of relief You feel salts
fed that you have made the trip. but
equally satisfied that you viii not at
tempt it again. They think YOU a
hero.
PLEASING To BE HERO
1T is pleasing 10 let that impress
sion remain. but at the same time YOU
know that the gift OF q car or a num-
ber OF cars could not induce YOU 10
make the trip under the same cOndi-
tions again 1t is well for racing men
and those inoculated with the speed
germ. who like 70 daily with fate and
the reaper. 70 take part in such events.
but for those who follow the ordinary
walks of life one ride like this suffices
for a lifetime.
In harmony with this is the sensa-
tion experienced by another owner who
q
ed to make Lakeport before dark. as
he had run out of carbide for his
lights.
The sun was making close for the
mountain tops. and he realized that il
would be but a short while after when
the evening shades would settle down.
Down over this same course. wind
ing. turning. il was one OF the most
sickening of sensations Time and
again the car would bound up against
the side, swerve toward the outer edge
/ and he asserts that but few inches
were between him and going down
the mountain side Several times dur
ing the descent the outside wheel
would be over the edge. but the mo-
mentum Of the car would carry him
forward and that wheel again come
( back to the road.
IL was noticed as the car struck the
last grade that she was swaying some,
and il was not realized until that time
that both tires were fat. Down at
the bottom OF the grade the car was.
stopped and new inner tubes put In.
but the worst part of the journey was
over and with the assistance Of the oil
lamps, which a short distance behind
were filed through the kindness OF
farmer. Lakeport was reached with
safety.
AWFUL SINKING FEELING
The great sensation was that sinking
feeling as one shot down the mountain
side.
A feeling of numbneSs grips one
about the heart. and il is hard work
breathing Time and again the owner
tried to take a good. long breath. Just
for relief. but only TO ind that il was
Impossible. The only sensation equal
to this one can experience in fast
/ elevator.