Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-07-12
THIRTY CONTESTANTS
TWENTY AUTOS BEARING !,
FlclALs LEAVE DETRo :
RIGID RULES GOVERN S
RUN OF OVER MILES
Cars Will Run to Chicago, Thence to
Madison. Minneapolis, Fort Dodge,
Council Bluffs and Denver, Thence to
Kansas cty-WiIl Complete Trip
July 80.

filled with confetti to mark the cross
roads and misleading points. Dai II.
Lewis. pathfinder for the sixth annual
reliability run of the American Auto
away from the Hotel Pontchartrain at
1880 this morning. At 10 o'clock the
first of the thirty automobiles, swathed
In canvas and rubber coverings, started
to follow the pathfinder of the 2,636-
mile journey which is to take them
thru Chicago Minneapolis and Denves
to Kansas City.
The initial car AWAY Moline--it
was followed by twenty nine others at
minute intervals. Twenty minutes be-
fore the first car was sent off Chairman
Hover and Charles j. Glidden, donor of
the Glidden trophy. entered the pace
making automobile. which none Of the
contestants can pass. and followed
Pathfinder Lewis toward Kalamazoo.
the first STOP The getaway was w.t.
messed by q great multitude Of people,
who cheered vociferously as each Car
Was sent away.
Nom Contestants Follow.
Twenty non-contesting cars carrying
newspaper men and officials followed
the last contesting car on the long
journey Under the rigid rules govern
ing the contest no machine could be
touched by it's owner or driver until
half hour before the start OF the tour
Upon given signal drivers and me-
chanics went to their respective cars
and made them ready for the starting
signal. Luggage was placed in the tom
neaus and the passengers took seats
nhe cars had passed from the control Of
the owners several hours prior to the
start and were in charge Of the contest
committee and observers, the latter
representing committe on each ma
chine. The chairman, however had
given final Instructions to the observers
and handed te each a sealed bag OF ex-
ira parts, which Ia carried on every car
under the supervision OF the observer.
who will see that the machine is penal
lied If 1t becomes necessary to break
the seal and use. any OF the contents
Of the bags.
Not an accident marred the start
Every car was in perfect condition and
every engine working perfectly.
Arduous Tour in Prospect.
This years tour will mark the sixth
competition for the Glidden trophy.
which. under the deed OF gift. is a
perpetual prize, the third for the
Hover cup and the first for the De-
troit trophy, both of which become the
permanent possession of the winner.
When the tourists reach Kansas
City. the objective point OF the tour.
July 30, they will have traversed In
part ten states and ridden a total dis
stance of 2.636 miles, thousand miles
further than was ever attempted In
previous years.
The first days run will end tonight
at, Kalamazoo, a distance of 1879 miles
over roads which are generally good
Tuesday night the Gliddenites reach
Chicago. leaving again Wednesday
morning on their way to Madison. the
third stop of the tour. The next con-
troll is La Crosse, and then Minneapolis,
where extensive plans for entertain
ments have been made during the two
days the tourists will be there.
After leaving Minneapolis the tour
proceeds thru Fort Dodge Council
olullSs hSdtlCS anu JuIeSDuTS 10 Len
yer. where another stop of two days
will be made The final stage of the
trip will be thru Colorado and Kansas
to the finish a. Kansas City July 30.
That the tour will be an unusually
arduous one this year. owing to the in
creased distance and length Of time me-
cessitated seems to be the general
opinion Of most Of the men Interested
The difficulty Of securing perfect
scores will be further increased this
year by the strict rules in force,
which are considerably more exactng
than In previous years. Each car will
carry an observer. who will keep track
of all extra parts and tools carried and
note any work done upon the cars.
There will be careful examination OF
the cars and their listed parts at the
finish and perhaps during the tour.
SEQ Hard Test for Cars.
With the present system OF penaliza-
tions, which is worked out to the
tenth Of point, the cars wlrich go
thru the long. grueling trip unscathed
! to nerfect score will hold certifi-
cate of unusual endurance. The 1900
tour will be the first scheduled for the
west since It's inception in 1905, and.
In contrast to previous years, the great
majority Of the cars listed this year
are of western make. Another contrast
from former years will be the absence
OF team competition, which has been
a feature of past tours While more
than one car represent factory In
many instances. they are all entered as
individuals. !a