Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-07-29
AN EXCITING
AUTO RACE
BETWEEN A MASON AND MITCHELL
Made a Trip Of Thirty.Three Miles Over
the Hills of Audubon County in
Little Over an Hour

The dizziness of the harvest season
was enlivened a little last week by an
automobile rae over the hills and valleys
of the western part of this county. 1t
is well known that much is claimed for
the ability and facility with which all
machines offered for sale can climb the
hills found in this part of the state. 1t
is limited that some of them have a ma
chine in preparation that will climb the
old fashioned cats ladder of the log
cabin of pioneer days and run up the
ice clad peaks of the Matterhorn. So a
contest was arranged between Ed Beas-
on, agent for the Mitchell, and James
Law, for the Automobile Supply Com
pany representing the Mason, for "a
purse of two hundred dollars, and the
time fixed for Friday morning. The
route chosen for the run was out to
Fiscus ten miles TO the northwest, thence
back over the same route for a mile,
thence south to a mile below kimball-
ton and thence back V e the ridge road
to Audubon, making a tatal distance OF
about thirty-three miles.
The judges agreed upon were JOIN
| Weighton, John Mcclure and James
Hart, and VIM. Cloughly acted as time
keeper. The Mitchell, a 30-horse power,
four cylinder car, was driven by Ed
Beason who was accompanied by Il. Nj.
Johnson. The Mason, a 2S-horse power,
two cylinder car, was driven by Grant
Jacobs who was accompanied by Victor
Nelson. The start was made from the
crossing west of the Green Bay Lumber
office where a large crowd had gathered
to enjoy the relief afforded 10y the a +
iety in the days program. The Mason
drew the long straw and got the first
start. When the hands of the watch
marked 500 and Cloughly said "go"
there was a ''chug, > a streak and the
Mason was gone. Exactly - minutes
later the word ''go" was heard again
when there was another "chug,' a cloud
of dust and the Mitchell was climbing
the hill. Each party reports three sep
arate stops caused by teams in the way,
but Just who lost the most time we do
not know as no provision had been made
to determine this matter. When the
Mason appeared on top OF the hill, a
long, loud cheer went up from the crowd
on the street who watched for its arrival
and it came under the wire at the end
of / hour, Ii minutes and 10 seconds.
Word had come by telephone that Beas-
on had gained two or three minutes be
|, tween here and Fiscus, so it was expect
ed that he would come in before the end
of the fifteen minutes. The excitement
was intense. How slowly the minutes
do go when you are waiting, no matter
on which side your sympathy may be.
presently another cheer went up, a blue
streak was seen coming down the hill
and the Mitchell crossed the line at l
hour, 8 minutes and As seconds and won
the race by a little over 5 minutes.
The boys made a terrific run when the
roughness of the roads and the steepness
of the hills are taken into consideration.
The strain on the men running the cars
al such a pace for such a time under
such conditions was extreme. The dan
ger of accident to life or limb was APP
preciated by their friends and many
men said they would not have gone with
them for a hundred dollars. Hence there
was great relief when they returned in
good order and many congratulations
given bothparties on having made such a
successful race.