The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-01
MUNSEY RUN CARS
ATTRACT ATTENTION

To the thousands OF spectators who
lined Pennsylvania avenue to view the
floral parade no feature OF the spec-
tacle claimed so much attention as the
Munsey reliability cars-those mud-be-
spattered, travel-stained veterans OF
this years premier event OF the automo-
bile world
It was happy inspiration that
prompted the organizers of the pageant
10 give them the place Of honor-the
center of the stage, SO to speak-for the
public interest that has for weeks fol-
lowed each preparation for making the
main event an undOubted success reach
ed the hlEhtst pitch OF enthusiasm s
these thirty-three kings OF the highway
passed IN review.
Each OF the cars seemed to effect it's
own, its individual. halo Of interest, for
hadn't each just emerged triumphant
from one Of the severest tests to which
man-made machinery was ever submit
ted?
All In Line
And wasn't there in that line OF eager
thousands a little group whose affections
were centered in one or another Of the
makes OF machines that survived those
strenuous, ne-ve-racking eight days OF
the Munsey rum For each and every
one Of the 1,2S0-odd miles OF highway
reeled off through sun, rain, mud, fog
and disbursement. there was a thou
want-to-welcome-yOu home kind of
cheering. II swelled from the throat OF
man, woman and child, from young and
old, the weak and vigorous; and TO the
ears Of the tTavel-weary Munseyites IL
was the sweetest music Of the day.
And all OF the survivors were in
line-they couldn't have been enticed
away with a handspike or a derrick.
From the big high-power Studebaker
car, with Bob" Yeager ia the drivers
seat and "Hypo" Reed, the Official NOV
ing picture man, and F. ]. Byrne, pencil
and writing pad In hand, as passengers,
20 the diminutive Hupmobile. with r.
". Keeler as steersman, and not for
getting the doughty Maxwell. contain
ing Official Starter Dick Covert; the
f. NJ F., with Pilot J. r. Quirk and
Driver William Stark; the classy Chal-
mers-Detroit, the Pullman. the Mary
land. the Columbia, the Winton-Six. the
and endurance; the Gilmore and our
own WaEhlnRtOu-they all answered the
bugle call, and passed along two miles
or more OF historic Pennsylvania avenue
20 stir the enthusiasm OF those 'onlook-
ing thousands
50 that the spectators might better
realize that a reliability run claims no
kinship 10 a city-bred 10y ride" and
highways mean discOmfoTts unnumbered,
the Munsey machines entered the
pageant clothed in all the spectacular
glory OF war paint
NO Cleaning up
No cleaning up 90 speak Of was at
tempted by the wearied tourists. and in
consequence the crowds saw plasteTed
glistening, polished bodies OF thirty
three automObils, some red, other blue
black, or green, the mud and dust,
OF Maryland, Pennsylvania. New York
Massachusetts. and New Jersey. the five
States over whose roadways the flying
cars chug-chugged and honk-honked.
And 10 helghten the grimy effect Of the
spectacle, the passengers OF the cars
wore. like true reliability Campaigners,
the same soiled, oil and mud-stained
toggery that clothed them on the run.
The Munsey cars assembled for the
parade az O'Clock IN front OF the War
ner Garage, In New Hampshire avenue,
which has been the headquarters for the
reliability entrants. They were arranged
Chief Checker A. @. Newmyer, who led
the way IN the biz National car that
served as the chairman's car during the
entire run.
Signal Comes At Last
The signal 20 start 70 join the pageant
was given at 3:45. and as the long line
OF machines. extending over more than
two city blocks, moved down New
Hampshire avenue, swung around Wash
vanla avenue, the hundreds hurrying to
get the best places along the line Of
PROCESSION paused 10 see ana 10 cheer.
That mile or 50 between the Warner
Garage and the paReant's starting point.
near the north entrance OF the Ellipse.
was perhaps the sloWest these space
9nnihilating machines had done in days.
They were passing along a crowded
thorouEhfsre, not a wide roadway, with
fnflexible police regulations barring the
way. and even ~ those throbbing en-
gnes voiced metallic Clamor 20 rush
ahead there was the drivers soothing
hand 20 hold them in checK
AS the Munsey cars took the head Of
the procession, moved slowly. and pass
Cd the Treasury into the roped-0f in
closure Of Pennsylvania avenue, the
popularity o. the reliability run could
hardly be doubted. 70 found expression
In huzzas. Ia hand-clapping. and IN an
those noisy forms with which a holiday
crowd, bent on appeasing its heighten-
ing humor. manifests its pleasure.
Some Of the YeIls.
"Hy. ny. you Maxwell" You're all
right. REQ or Great work, you Ford %
we're among the passing comments that
few from those eager spectators 20
cheer the Munseyite ears. And TO the
car owners and drivers, All Of whom had
lust staked their regulations on the me
chanical powers Of their cars, this food
Of comment from an intent keenly OBJ
servant multitude seemed Ike a declara-
ton that their mud-stained charges
we're made OF the quality Of pure gold.
That the Munsey autos appeared IN
such striking contrast 10 the beautiful
spectacle Of the flower pageant. with
it's decked floats and its bunting and
Tags from the spectators point OF
view added greatly 10 the zest Of the
DAVIS big event Beside the sleek. we'll
groomed autos that moved I'D and down
the streets filled with merry kers
the Munsey tourists were as battlc-scar-
red campaiEners returned from war.
Nor was there a detached aufOisf nor
NsaN let II