Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-06-23
MATSON WINNER OF 3
INDIANA TROPHY
PILOTS cHALMERs-DETRoIT CAR
TO VICTORY OVER FIFTEEN
RIVALS.
TOTAL DISTANCE OF 1924 MILES
COVERED BY WINNER
IN 4:31:21.
FEW ACCIDENTS MARRIED RACE
AND NONE OF SERIOUS
MOMENT.

Vanderbilt automobile races yester-
day went to Joseph Matson, who pilot
ed a Chalmers-Detroit, Blue Bird, to
victory over 5 rivals. The race was
for light cars only, and while of great
Importance in itself was generally con-
sidered as preliminary to the race OF
the big cars for the CODE cup over the
same course today. Perfect weather
and absence of any save most trivial
injuries to drivers were the fortunate
circumstances attending the winning
of the Indiana trophy by Matson. The
field numbered Is cars at the start.
Ford and Renault having withdrawn.
The leading trio finished as follows:
Chalmers Detroit, (Matson) 4:31:21.
Locomobile, (Robertson) 4:39:01.
Marion, (Monsen), 4:42:03.
The time of the other cars was not
taken as they were tagged off the
course after the first three had fin
ished. The total distance was 232.74
miles, each lap being 1927 miles.
Burman in a Buick led at the end
of the first lap, covering the dis
lance in 23:41-fast lap of the race.
Rurman also led at the end of the sec
ond lap in 49:46. Knipper, in a Chat
mers-Detroit led at the end OF the
fourth lap II: As: 27-two seconds fas-
ter than Matsons time. However, he
lost a valve and was oblibed to retire.
When it became apparent, as the In
itiaI race in the two days contest
drew to finish, that victory lay De-
tween Matson, Robertson and Mon
sen. the affair increased in dramatic
intensity. and as each of the leading
candidates was described ON the hill
TOP to the south, the cheers of the
enectatore began. They reached a
climax when the grim visaged pilots
and their equally begrimed mechan-
iciars swept by the grand stand IN
some instances almost neck to neck,
and disappeared up the rise TO 'he
north Even when the relative posi-
tons of The winners was known, al
mos to a certainty, barring sudden
mishap. the enthusiasm did not di-
minish uutil the last of the victorious
tro had crossed the finish line and DIS
appea1ed 90 weigh in.
A Fal car, driven by Ruehl' re''[eo
on the first lap. and the second zap
was the last for Louis Strang, VINO
anulied his brake too suddenly 70
avoid crashing into the leading car
that his transmission gear was slrip-
nod from the rear axle. The iouf n
Ian saw the end of the race Tor CheVro-
let in a Buick. for his apparatus Went
wrong and he was obliged to withdi a"'
Meantime Matson, who finished the
erst Ian in an apparently hope'ess po-
sition was steadily forging TO the
f,.ort Al the end of the second ROUND
he had advanced to fifth place III
roipt of elapsed time, and was run
nira smoothly He registered MS oes'
ti,,e on the third lap. covering the
distance in a5:43 and this timely squirt
nlsced him in first position. HE was
i,osalv messed by his Chalmers-De-
trnit teammates, Knipper ana roo e
Hardly a minute separated the thfee
cars. ;.n ,,is
uatson was forced to ielinqulsh hls
,aad for brief period at the enc ~
,be rourth Ian, when Knipper forgeo
ahead nv a scant margin OF TWO see
onds with Poole a close third. FROM
his time on. Matson was never IL
.5snaer as he steadily increased nus
Lad until at one time he was elshs
r,inutes ahead of the field. His car
AN with perfec precision and ne was
able 10 continue on the track without
st-0pne until the end Of he eiSn Z
Ion when he halted half minute AT
renair nit 20 replen sh his supply OF
oil water and gasoline. Matson
teammates were unable TO MAINTAIN
the terrific pace. Knipper dropped ou'
Of the race at the end of the firth lap
and Poole encountered many difficult
ties in his sixth round which occu-
niel ff minutes He continued on
he track until he was tagged after
the first .hree machines had finished
hut he was hopelessly in the rucS
after the fifth Ian.
The half way mark of the rare saw
2 Standardization. driven by Wr'gn1
and the Corbin. guided by Ma sonvlile.
fer in the rear. The two cars contin-
ued until the finish of me rao" HI
were AZ ell times two or three
behind the leaders. Stutz. in Mar
ion. made desperate acc -
vel, ~, who, - ,',-- -,+ . CYL nder.
inst rn~th Of the grand Stend
the eighth len. nc car ran :
shallow 5.1eh = the treell.
hut he and his machinist esesren
with : few hrs-ies~
Wells in Moor and v-'r"-',, :"
the steering post of a Stodiard- 0av-
ton, struggled earnestly along hui