Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-13
HITCH COMES
IN FERRIS CUP
DONOR STANDS FOR WIDE
OPEN RACING
WANTS TO SEE BIG STARS ON
PACIFIC COAST
Association Takes Strong Counter
Position, and New Cup May
Have to Be Looked For
by Dealers

The $1,000 trophy offered by Dick Fer
ris to the Santa Monica road race COM
mittee is hanging in the balance with
a good chance of it's being entirely
withdrawn. The point at Issue between
Ferris and the members of the racing
committee is as to whether or not 1t
shall, be a wide open" race, with the
bars let down for all the famous drivers
of the United States and from abroad
or whether 1t shall be confined to Cali
fornia drivers who have lived in the
state year. Ferris stands for the
wide open" race, and has taken pro-
nounced stand in defense of his posi-
ton, alleging that he offered the trophy
with an idea of encouraging interna-
tional contests in Los Angeles. Con-
siderable correspondence has passed be-
tween Ferris and the association which
explains the situation. This correspon-
dence follows:
Correspondence Passes
Extract from letter to Capt. H. d.
Ryus, who represents Dick Ferris i'll
the trophy matter, Ferris now being in
Minneapolis:
81 am glad to know that Mr.. Reagan
called upon you with reference to the
race trophy and hope he will be able
to submit satisfactory design. / re-
ceiYed from Conwell one of the applica-
ton blanks for the race and am not at
all pleased with the manner in which
they seem to minimize this cup. Now,
Jack, when / made this offer it was
with the distinct understanding that it
would be treated the same as the Van
derbilt cup, and l must insist upon its
being so received and published. One
thousand dollars is a whole lot of
money to put into a racing trophy that
can only be run for once year, and |
wish that you will insist that they treat
the donation publicly and in every
other way with the respect and pub
licity that is due such a liberal con-
tribution Another thing, must abso-
lutely insist that this cup or trophy be
the prize for the big racing cars only,
the same as the Vanderbilt cup, and not
awarded to the winner of lot of stock
cars. Please explain to the committee
and to the press that this trophy was
given with the sole intention of attract
ing the same big racing cars that par
ticipated in the Vanderbilt cup race to
the coast.
"When this race was being discussed
and the course outlined the principal
similar event as the Vanderbilt cup
race near Los Angeles, and my dona-
ton of this trophy was made absolutely
with this idea in view, and I do not
propose to have the racing committee
or anyone else change these plans into
a competition between the several diff
ferent makes of stock cars, which kind
of race the public of Los Angeles
and everywhere else have grown
weary Of I do not propose therefore to
offer trophy to be won by some par
ticular dealer whose factory has pro-
vided him with a little better running
stock ear than the other fellow.
leave the matter entirely to you, Jack,
and wish you would handle it as above
stated, and let's see If we cannot get
one real, great big automobile race in
Southern California once year. Do not
let them be satisfied with a mere repe-
tition of what everybody has seen so
often, for l would certainly not con-
tribute more than 800 for such an
event. My contribution of $1,000 was
made as an inducement to the big
foreign and eastern cars"
The following letter was sent to Sec
rotary ConwelI of the association by
Ferris:
MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, June 81.