The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-02-20
MANY minor Events
BOOKED FOR The DAY
American Cars Have Always Been Vic
torious, But Both Participants in
Great Race Will Drive Foreign Cars
This Year.
Associated Press.

NSW OIlSduSy reUludly VAIN
nearly 10000 visitors in the city, in
Guiding hundreds of prominent mo-
toring enthusiasts who came in spe-
cial trains from all sections of the
land, the Mardi Gras Automobile
Speed Carnival opened here today
promises to be the greatest affair OF
its kind ever held in America. A doz-
en- big events will be run during the
meet. which will continue through
Monday, including twenty-four hour
worlds championship race beginning
tonight and race for the woman's
championship of America.
Six minor events, of from three to
twenty miles and for various classes
Of cars, were on todays schedule. The
biggest contest of the meet, the twen-
ty-four hour race for the champion
ship of the world, starts tonight and
is attracting much attention. Some
of the most famous drivers of the
world are entered and the race will
doubtless be of the hair-raising varie-
ty.
Among the famous drivers who will
be seen in the various races is Lewis
Strang, winner of the Savannah.
Griercliff and Lowell road races.
Strang will drive the famous Isotta
car which he piloted in each of these
road races and in which he has never
been, defeated. He will meet Ralph
De Palma, driver of the famous Flat
Cyclone and holder Of the worlds mile
track record of 81 seconds, in three
match races at varying distances and
will also go through the 24-hour race
for the worlds championship.
He will compete in every race for
which his cars are eligible, and ia con-
fident of showing a few new world
records. He is especially confident Of
beating the record made at Brighton
Beach last fall of 1,117 miles in the
twtnty-four hour race, for he has
driven over the local course and is "a
miliar with its wide turns and long
stretches. He drove many miles in
November with stock car in IS sec
onds fiat, when no particular pains
had been made to pack the track for
great speed.
With De Palma and Strang compel
ing against Bob Burman and the other
stars here, some wonderful record
stunts are sure to follow The Buick
company built for Burman high
speed car and is counting on his low
ering some Of the records now held
by DePalma. There is great rivalry
between these three stars. and they
will battle for blood when they meet
in the Mardis Gras events. They form
a small percentage of star drivers
who are to compete in the races.
The woman's championship is at
tracing wide attention and number
Of the best drivers in America are
sure to STRAIT for the title.
Both Strang and De Palma arc
, Americans, but, as they have done
, before, each will drive a foreign car
| De Palma made his mile record in thu
, Flat Cyclone, and It is this car which
he win drive at New Orleas, whil'
strang won his reputation in J. A
Tyso1 Isotta. never having been de
/ fee,ed h 1t. He will drive the ca
asain. both In match races against d
Palma and in the 24-hour event.
1 The present record for a race o
this length in this country is III
: miles made last fall at Brighton
Beach by the Simplex, and De Palm
and Strang both predict that this rec
ord viii be lowered or rather increas
! ed. The race is for stock cars, as wa
} the one at Brighton Beach.
i 1t is peculiarly Of track racin,
in America that an American car ha
, always been victorious, with the e,
ception of the one race at Morris Parl
> when the Renault won. Whethe
America will continue to hold THU
| nrasfioo 10 q nuaofinn aa Au,arioa,