Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-25
ALL EVENTS TO
BE ECLIPSED BY
OLDFIELD TODAY
GREATEST SATURDAY MATINEE
OF HISTORY MAKING SPEED
oLDFIELD AND HIS STABLE OF
CARS IN GREAT EXHIBIT
Track Put In Fast Condition by Man.
agement, and Ascot Will See
Some Desperate Time
Made Today
BY d. w. sEMPLE

Today is the day. This afternoon the
time. Two o'clock the hour that Is
to mark out all past records of speed
made on Ascot park with automobiles.
Never have the people of this section
of the country had the opportunity to
witness such festival OF speed-making
as Barney Oldfield brings to thrill
those who are fortunate enough TO be
able to attend the sure to be crowded
pavilion at Ascot today and tomorrow.
The Los Angeles Motor Racing asso-
ciation at last struck a chord that
will appeal to every admirer of the au-
tomobile, which today is assuming the
most important position In all the COM
mercial enterprises of the world. But
a few years ago and America looked
with longing eyes to the tracks of the
old world, and amazed, stood appalled,
at the feats of speed presented through
the little motors which buzz and whirl
in the hoods Of the cars as they tear
around the tracks Milan, Italy, held
up to young American manufacturers
speed quotations which irritated the
ambitions of the producers on this side
of the water, and gradually the manu-
facturers of the United States have
bent every effort to meet the condi-
tions of the old world. 1t is frank
that a statement be made that even
at this moment the American manu-
facturers have not as yet been able to
meet the speed or the construction of
the foreign car on the race track, al
though very close to the limit at this
time.
Therefore II is rare that such cars
as the Benz and Darracq are ever seen
in these parts, although the opening
wedge having been pluckily entered by
Manager Hempel more of these events
may be expected in the future with
some of the great eastern drivers whose
names are emblazoned throughout all
the civilized world today as absolute
ly fearless, daring pace-makers who
will open their machines to the limit
for glory and the emoluments which
come to the brave, upon our local
track.
All day yesterday William Pickens
assumed the role of farmer and road
constructor, and was husily engaged
the major portion of the day "bossing'
a couple of four horse track scrapers,
and if there is any accomplishment OF
which Pickens boasts most, it is his
ability to make q track the real thing
for fleeting automobiles and in this In
stance he has most ably succeeded, Tor
Ascot park will be faster today and
tomorrow than it has ever been known
for the automobile.
The crowds that will be on hand to
witness the work of Oldfleld and his
cars will be the record-breaker un-
doubtedly of all similar events at this
now famous track. The moment Old
field appears on the streets from his
hotel, it is a question with a wonder
ing crowd whether Jim Jeffries has re-
turned unexpectedly to the city of his
home. IF he appears in his enormous
racing car, that is the signal for d
perfect jam of people to surround the
huge machine and investigate it's con-
struction.
And with all that has been said of
Oldheld and what he will accomplish,
he is somewhat nettled at Bill Pickens,