Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-28
AUTOTRACK HERO
ISSUES Ills Def.
0LDFlELD SAYS HE CAN MAKE
MILE UNDER 40 SECONDS
GENERAL CHALLENGE SENT OUT
TO ADvERsARIEs
Declares That If Course Is Once Re-
paired Los Angeles viii Have
Fastest Circular Track
In World
By d. w. sEMpLE.

geles Motor Racing association. What
1t has to say Is because 1t realizes all
the chances the management took when
II secured the lease of the park, con-
slsting of possible delays and post
ponements at this season of the year
on account Of rains and the difficulties
of overcoming the bad odor which had
l attached itself to the contests of speed
and endurance on the racing track by
local automobiles and the general eX-
pense which attaches to a successful
meet, such as publicity, police protec-
tion and supervision, track repairs and
III the many lesser details which ac-
company any well regulated entertain
ment-for such these meets are-simply
entertainments, but they are of the
practical order, for the prospective
buyers OF automobiles, because on the
track the would-be owner of q machine
has the opportunity to see with his
own eyes practically demonstrated be-
fore him the speed, capacity and en-
durapce of the several cars partici-
pating in these contests. The Herald
desires further to commend the most
excellent management of the affairs
they have scheduled at Ascot PARK.
They have been conducted methodical-
ly I'm a businesslike manner and in
truth IL may be fully said that the
events OF the past, and especially or
Christmas day and Sunday last, were
of the highest class, and the public re-
oeived full value for their admission
price.
It has been fully and most clearly
demonstrated that if the management
puts forth attractions such as were
given ON the two days meet on the
park track of Saturday and Sunday II
win receive the hearty support of the
people of this community. Horse rae
ing is dead as the mumnies or Egypt
From the Atlantic TO the Pacific the
obsequies OF the horse track are being
said with but little satisfaction to the
deceased. A new era has dawned
Speed In other forms such as the motor
cycle and motorcar have made their
way into the notice of the pubuic, and
1t is as certain as death itself that
wherever you have speed you Will have
competition. And competition breeds
excellence, the perfection of the thing
that gives speed, consequently out of
these contests grows the good they ac-
complish to the automobile dealer and
to the persons who patroniZe him.
But there must be something done to
the track to make 1t speedier, for one
thing, and, what is more absolutely
necessary, made safe for the car driv-
ers. The last corner at the half mile
post Is not safe for any car to travel
at any speed, and on Sunday the Dar-
racq while competing with the Benz in
to the tracks of Oldfield, which time he
never made up, and IL is on the turns
the cars make their saving of seconds.
Oldheld lost the Dutchman at that
point; and when the Dutch Kerseher
says that spot is bad, take his word for
II it is so.
The writer made the rounds OF Ascot
park on the Darracq, travelling at
faster rate of speed than any car that
has ever been upon the course, and
therefore speaks from personal knowl-
edge when 1t is suggested that no
driver should be even permitted to
make a race on that turn until 1t Is
completely placed in a safe condition,
and in connection with this statement
The Herald is authorized this morning
to make an announcement that will not
only awaken the dry bones of Los An
geles but startle the world in it's width
and scope.
Barney Old1eld, who has returned to
his old-time racing form, has author
ized The Herald TO say that he will un-
dertake the contract of placing the
curve In question and the track at AS
cot park as a whole In a perfectly safe
condition for the sum of $3.50, and If his
offer is accepted agrees to return to
Los Angeles after his Mardi Gras en-
gagement at New Orleans where he
receives a big sum for an exhibition
break every circular track record in
the world from one to fifty miles
thereon, except those he now holds;
and further-and this is a broad chal
lenge backed by his own money for
any sum that may be named-that he
will take his Knox car, drive it himself,
and beat any stock car in California
on Ascot park track, regardless Of
name of car, class or power He goes
further, and makes a special offer to
meet the car he most prefers to race
with the Knox. and that is, Charlie
soules in his Stearns, and for any
reasonable sum promises to show the
hustling Charlie the way around the
track at all times in the game.
Barney has started on his campaign
laid out by him early in this year of
laying up every record there is on cir
culan tracks on the American side of
the Atlantic, and if the work he has
been doing thus far is to be taken as
a criterion there need be no fear but
Oldfeld will make good all that he
says.
Barney Oldfield has demonstrated
that in the manipulation of a car de-
voted to racing he is the past master
of them all. In a conversation with
him upon the subject of selecting his
cars for racing he is clear as to the
business in which he is engaged. He
never permits one of his racing cars to
run a mile other than when engaged
In a race. Said Barney MY cars are
always in condition. You never see me
go out and make any preliminary
spurts. / am ready to go when enter
the grounds, and to run a racing ear
one mile unnecessarily is to hurt
her. Therefore 1 am good to my
cars and never abouse them nor allow
an employe of mine to abuse them. My
big Benz Is human-human as / am,
sensitive as q woman. So delicately
has she been adjusted and so carefully
cared for that she responds to almost
my own thoughts and wishes. When
she is through with the effort called
upon her to perform and her work has
been accomplished, not stroke of her
engines moves until the next time she
is called into the track. l tow her to
her garage that she may rest as does
the weary worker at any toll. 1 can
take my seat at her wheel, start her
out and tell in a moment whether she
Is right by the way she sings, If there
Is the smallest matter wrong I know
lust where to find that trouble, and in
a moment the big car seems to realize
that her masters hand has adjusted
her affairs, and quick as a fash she
acknowledges her care and comes to
the work set for her with ravenous de-
light