Arizona republican., 1909-10-21
PILOT CAR
 GETS HERE Buick is First Gar Over 1. 4. Phoenix Course ROADS WORSE THAN BEFORE The Course of the Great Desert Race for The Re publican Cup is Described By Joe Mikrent in Strong Language
ROADS WORSE THAN BEFORE

The first car to make the prelim-
 mary trip of the Los Angeles-Phoenix
 course arrived in this city yesterday about o'clock It was the Buick.
 driven by Joseph Nikrent, with his
 brother. Louis Nikrent. as mechani- clan As a passenger in the car was
 Charles H. Bigelow. who drove the Kisseikar in the race last year.
 As the car. covered with dust and dirt after its journey of over 500 miles. came down Washington street it ran out of gasoline within two blocks of It's destination and the Nikrent brothers had to obtain more before they could reach the garage It was simply an accident in the trip, but it spoke volumes. It showed bet ter than anything else how closely the men had figured. on their supply of gasoline. The same judgement and foresight was exhibited in every other detail of the narrowing journey.
 Charles Bigelow has been over the road many times. In fact, he knows Arizona and California roads better than almost anyone else. He piloted the first car over the course last year and repeated the performance again this year But neither of the Njkrent brothers have ever driven an automo- bile in Arizona before. They have been running in track races on the coast and this summer have won nine out of the ten races in which they were entered. When Joe Nikrent was asked what he thought of the course, he said in the same works that Gen eral sherman used when asked what war is. "Is is simply hell"
 He was corroborated In his opinion by Bigelow, who stated that the road is infinitely worse this year than last. This is due entirely. to tire rainstorms. which were of sucIi tremendous force that they ashed out the tracks of the Southern Pacific for miles. The storms have washed out the roads by the mile From Mecca to Dos Palmas last year the old railroad grade was followed. It is now cleaned out and the car had to be driven around it. The Chuckawalla wash for forty miles west of Eherenburg is a mass of boulders. ravines and sand dunes Nothing but the very slowest time could be made crossing it The roads on lulS- sue oI lile OOiOfduo are m better condition.
 The Buick came through without an accident of any sort There were no repairs required on the car and no tire difficulties The worst experi- ence of the Nikrent brothers was at the Colorado river. Four hours were required to make the crossing. rne ferry got stuck on a sand bar and would not budge. There was nothing else to do but get out into the water and push the ferry off. The boys | were in the cold water up to their i necks and finally the ferry moved and ! a landing in Arizona was effected. \
 The Buick started from Los An geles late Saturday night There was no attempt to make any time on the l trip. It was the purpose simply to look over the road and remember as well as they can the more treacherous | spots in it. The car made the easy l run to Banning and there the night | was passed. The secopd night was | passed at Chuckawalla springs. There | are no hotels al this spot in the desert. | but the men had a camping equip l