The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-12-23
INDIANAPOLIS AUTO
SPEEDWAY IS SAFE
Howard Marmon in Writing to
Motor Age Tells Reasons
for Accidents There.

laid down an article tha violently said,
In most emphatic terms, that Climatic
heat. dust from the track and its in
herent roughness which resulted in the
physical exhaustion Of the drivers, were
the sole cause Of the unfortunate casu-,,
alties that marred the opening OF this
mo1t brilliantly conceived and executed
speedway. 1t has been freely and
widely said that the strain of driving
a 100, 200 or 30O-mile race at the go
called terrific speeds that were incident
to this race were beyond the powers
OF human endurance n that to safe
guard both h public and the drivers,
the drivers should be changed every
miles in length should be abolished
Where the Wrong Was.
That the accidents happened cannot
be gainsaid, but to one who lived in
side the paddock during the races,
knew what was happening to the ma
chimes, was acquainted with and UNI
derstood h temperament and physical
capabilities Of the men. and was in
Intimate touch with all the incidents
of the meet, the analysis of the results
that places the burden on such and
similar use as those cited above.
seems to be incorrect and misleading
To h Onlooker standing idly in the
sun during the three days, it was hot.
The heat, however, q no effect or the
utlSSIS 4uS luelIlDeFS OL one OIL Lne
best organized teams at the meet wore
sweaters while driving and commented
afterwards that they were glad they
a them. While the dust was bad, 1t
was not sufficient to in any way inter-
fere with accurate and precise driving.
Though after a number of hours the
drivers eyes began to smart from the
dust, 1t was to no such extent to in
any way suggest blindness. One dra-
mntic and widely blazened case of lust
blindness came directly under the writ
er's notice. A machine was rumored
repaired thereto ana found ruI'"p the
derelict a right side up and the
driver and mechanician struggling with
the bonnet. After this and other inn
padimenta were removed it was seen
that a vagrant connecting rod had
made "a role ia the crankcase hat one
could almost walk through. Shortly
after, the driver-now blind from dust
-was led by the grandstand-which
where an uncannily wise physician
gave him a glass of water to drink
thereby restored his eyesight.
The track was rough, they say, aud
brought the drivers to q state OF phys
ical exhaustion. After the longess
clans promptly reports to the pits to
help remove the supplies for the night,
ON naivsly remarking that to hos
not actually dE the ace It must be
rather |tiresonie to keep track OF it and
wishing TO give the pit attendants 9
n .~relaxations. This, which was said
in perfect good faith by a driver in
the longest race. does not sound Like
physical exhaustion.
Novel Conditions.
1t was said, before the completion
of the speedway, by those Intimately
familiar with available cars in this
country, that there were but few that
could go wide open on it for a couple
prophecy seems to have been fulfilled.
The speedway presented conditions
novel to this country. Road races have
permitted high speeds on straights,
hut the numerous turns have brought
constantly recurring relaxation to the
driver-and the nature of mile circular
tracks has prevented wide open throt-
tie conditions. But the speedway con-
ditions were such that permitted a car
to continuously develop Its highest
possible power until, in the
speedway were not deterrent. In fact,
due to firm surface conditions on the
curves, moderate powered cars that
could only DO So to so miles on tine
comparatively heavy pulling on the
straights would promptly jump up to
40 and rs on the TURNS. The point is
thai after q a once started In the
long races 1t had no rest or mercy
until several hours later when the
black and whitechecked Tag was
waved at 1t.
Ne Boys Game.
Driving a racing car is a mans
game and q peculiarly constituted man
at that. There are those who can
drive a car at any speed It will 20, 60.
20, 80 or 80 miles an hour around
curves, dodge a bad point in the track.
pass other cars, for hours with the
noncha1ance and assurance that a mo-
torlnan Will drive a street car around
a corner on steel rails, and with no
in lids car keeps up. II his motor
continues to run sweetly ard every
organ about the a functions properly
he win drive surely and accurately
as LONG as timers can stay awake to
watch him But IL he discovers his
radiator Is losing water too rapidly.
an alarming thump is developing in
one cylinder, an unnatural and moi
some sound is coming from his rear
axle. or an ndu amount OF play is
developing in his steering gear. he will
oe, unless an unusually phlegmatic
sort, worn out in an amazingly short
time. II his motor stops on him in a
race and he has to crank his heart
out to start 1t, the nervous fear that
he won't be able to start it will wear
him out long before the physical ex-
ertton will exhaust him.
Not the Track.
The drivers were merely a vehicle
OF expression. II the track had been
smoother, speeds would have been
higher and results not much different.
1t was not the track or the drivers
who were not ready. But the MAJOR
ity Of the cars were not ready for the |
terrific break down test that the long !
races afforded. Weak points in con-
structton that reveal themselves more 1
or less as accidents in normal service |
loom up with prominence in sustained |
high speed work--only possible on,
such a place 10 the speedway-that |
demand instant attention from the !
factory. During RE meet many cars