Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-08
AUTO CRASHES
AGAINST CURB
BIG STUDEBAKER FIGURES in
PRACTICE ACCIDENT
TWO WHEELS ARE BROKEN BUT
DRIVER NOT INJURED
Change Is Made at Dangerous Nevada
Avenue Curve for Saturdays
Santa Monica Auto
Races

with a crash that startled the hun
dreds OF spectators who were watch
ing the racers practicing yesterday
morning for the big Santa Monica road
race, the Studebaker car, No. 5, skid
ded into the curbing at the corner or
Ocean avenue and California street.
The crowd rushed forward expecting
to find a demolished car and the driver
and mechanician severely injured, but
they had not counted on the durability
of the Studebaker for outside Of two
broken wheels the car was found In
perfect condition.
c. w. Newcomb, who was at the
steering wheel, escaped without injury
and j. Huge, the mechanician, suf-
fered slight bruises and scratches on
his right hand and arm. The perfect
control of the machine by Driver
Newcomb was all that prevented a
serious accident.
Owing to the fact that repairs are
being made on the dangerous Nevada
avenue curve, the racers yesterday
were obliged to temporarily change the
course, turning into California street,
thence along Second street to Nevada
avenue.
Studebaker Proves Durable
Newcomb was not aware of the
change of course and was going away
from the starting line at high speed
when he turned into California street.
The car skidded at the turn and
brought up against the curbing. The
right forward and right rear wheels
collapsed as the result of the hard i'm
pact, but the rest of the auto was
found on inspection to be intact.
1t was a severe test for the machine
and the fact that with two new wheels
the heavy Studebaker will be able to
line up for Saturday mornings race,
is source of congratulation to the
Studebaker manufacturers.
A peculiar feature of the mishap was
that neither tire on the broken wheels
was injured, the spokes and rims of
the wheels simply collapsing.
The machine was fitted with new
wheels and went on it's own power to
a Santa Monica garage, where minute
investigation showed that the mechan-
ism had not been deranged and the
car viii be out on the course for prac-
tice today.
Although the course yesterday was
temporarily changed, many of the
heavy cars and a number of the lighter
machines were out early for practice
spins. The Thomas, Chalmers Detroit,
Lozier, Stoddard-Dayton. Stearns and
Locomobile machines were on the
track early.
Fast Practice Time
The Lozier was in the limelight yes
terday and reeled off several laps at
a speed considerably under nine min
utes The showing of the Lozier car
In practice has made IL a warm favor
ite with the railbirds, and If this car
does not finish well up among the lead
ers. the sporting fraternity of Santa
Monica and vicinity will be greatly
disappointed.
The Stoddard-Dayton also made the
course in hair-raising time. and the
consistent performance of the Loco
mobile elected favorable applause.
The Locomobile was the first machine
on the track yesterday morning and
kept the early risers on their nerves
by the manner in which the laps were
reeled off.
Among the light cars that will par
ticipate in the second event Saturday,
that were on the course yesterday,
were the Maxwell, Buick, Mitchell and
Studebaker EMF. The latter machine
breezed over the course in fast time,
and took the three unbanked curves
with remarkable ease.
Already the village of tents, which
will mark the camps and repair shops
of the contestants has sprung up, the
space between California street and
Nevada avenue on Second street hav-
ing been set aside as the paddock,
The Maxwell camp was in position ear
ly yesterday morning and by tonight
it is expected that the paddock will be
dotted by the camps representing the
various entries.
Nevada Turn Embarked
There is still much speculation over
the final arrangement for the danger
Gus turn at Nevada avenue. A score
of workmen were busy yesterday rails
ing the embanlSment and extending 1t
further along Nevada avenue. For
this reason none of the racers were
able to practice on the full course,
the machines being steered up Cali
fornia street.
The race officials desire to have the
danger curve in perfect condition and
believe that by extending the board
planking and raising the embankment
the great element of danger will be
eliminated.
A suggestion that has been made to
the Automobile Dealers association
and which doubtless will be approved,
is that the course at the turn at Me-
vada avenue be left open. 1t is con-
tended that il this is done, drivers
about to make the sharp turn, realiz-
ing that a collision would be inevita-
BILE, can keep straight ahead. SIS
Although to do this would mean leav-
ing the course, no disqualification
would happen, as long as the machine
again reached the course without cut
ting any part of the scheduled distance.
This plan of precaution is credited
to Manager Conwell of the Maxwell
company and 1t is believed that the
suggestion will be acted upon.
With enough patrolmen on duty the
crowd could be restrained at the dam
gerous curve, and the result would be
the lessening of the possibility of ac-
cident both to the drivers and spec
tators.
Road In Fast Condition
Yesterday the final repairs were
made on the course, a score of work.
men under the direction of the Santa
Monica street superintendent filling in
and repairing the bad spots. Two
steam rollers were used over the
course, and the track is in condition
for record breaking stunts.
1t is expected that the pedestrian
bridge, which will be across the Ocean
avenue at the corner of Idaho street,
will be finished today This bridge
win allow spectators to get off the
electric cars and enter the enclosure
without crossing the course.
The bridge allowing automobiles to
enter the enclosure is already in place,
having been erected at Nevada avenue
and Third street
The majority of the cars that are en-
tered in both events are expected to
be on the course today and most of
them will remain until after the
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