Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-16
.GRANDEST RACE
WASFORA TLANTIES
BEAUTIFUL TROPHY
Louis DisbrO and George Robert
son Give a Magnificent Exhibi-
ton of Daring and Skill in the
>,s 20o-Mile Run. ..
BY WALTER TAYLOR.


closed Saturday afternoon with the most
perfect record ever made on any track
in the world both as to time and free
dom from accidents. 81.
The great agony OF automobile race
promotion is the fear of having men
killed or injured so as to incapacitate
them for life. -. e.. ....,.
While the speeding oars were whirlinS
around the Atlanta course breaking rec
ords, they did not break q bone, did
not injure person so as to. even leave
a scar, nor injure, one man SO that ne
had to go to bed. ana
The closing day was as brilliant as the
opening. The weather was almost per-
feet for the week, and nothing more
could have been asked by the Atlanta
Automobile association tor the public.
THE BIGGEST. RACE. ,.
OF course the race for the City Of At
lanta trophy and the 900 in gold was
the feature of the five days of rare
sport. -,as--.. 80 ---- '.-.~
To say that It's winning by Louis Dis
bro in Rainier was not a surprise would
be misake, for 1t was. His good fortune
however was a source of pleasure to the
thousands who saw him come in ahead
for he made good fight and his car went
r The distance without a hitch.
George Robertson had been picked to
win and he was the favorite after Louis
Strang was forced to take his Fiat from
the track. While Strang was on the
course he and Robertson divided honors.
Until Robertson lost through the break
ing of his chain. he made a procession
of the other cars. There was nothing to
IT but the boy with the smile that ever
ripples, but he had his troubles coming to
him. -'.r .7 -T ttsr
After he had lost the lead Robertson
knew that 1t would be impossible for him
to ever gain 1t as the race was then
mar its end, but he gave a grand exhi-
bition of driving. and finished in front of
the grand stand with fire flying from the
right wheel on they rear of his machine.
Nor was this all, for he, made next to
the last mile on a fat tire and the last
one on the rim of the wheel. 1t was
about the most daring and brilliant piece
of driving that was seen on the speedway
during the entire meet. -G
Robertson got as great an ovation as
the winner. although Disbro got every
thing to which he was entitled for he
really deserved credit, for the way he
stuck. gamely to the race when it SEEM
ed Robertson was a sure winner.
IMMENSE CROWD, CHEERS
AS Robertson and Disbro would pass
the stands the great crowd would stand
and wildly cheer first.-one car and then
another as the men jockeyed along theh
course. Robertson had his first trouble
with a tire and stopped for a new one.
This was quickly adjusted and he was
off again, but the last accident was far
more serious and caused him the loss
of the race, the trophy and $1,000 in gold
en- coin. . ,, .,...t. 81.
This happened on the turn nearest the
club house. The chain broke and with a
leap from his car the driver ran to the
top bank and signalled for help. s>
In half a second a, dozen men were
running to his aid. Others went to the
repair pits and grabbed first one thing
and then another in the hope that they
had the one article he wanted 1t took
time. however, to make the adjustment,
and during the interval between his stop
ping and starting again the race was
lost. ,...... :-,.. .
AN IMPOSSIBLE. HANDICAP,
When Robertson got under, way again
he had eighteen miles to go while Disbro
had but twelve. The, handicap was. too
much and he had to! be satisfied with
second. go ..s -r .-
with just two miles to go Robertson
burst before the grand stand with tire
signal for one as soon as his fingers could
be seen by the men nthe pits Louis
Strang was the first man to, see the dis
tress sign and began to shout for help.
But as Robertson got In front of him
Strang, screaming like, a wild man, yelled
to him to finish with what he had. The
advice was taken and the Fiat, under the
pressure Of his hand on the wheel, made
its last game squirt around. 1t fairly few
around the course and finished in front OF
the stands with fire squirting from the
steel rim as it ground over the surface.
MAGNIFICENT FINISH.
IT was a gruelling finish for both spec
tators and driver and Robertson was
given an ovation. -, 50 ~ 49,.
One of the first things Robertson did
after stepping from his car was to walk
over to Disbro, who had quietly lighted a
big cigar and was smoking away as
though he had just taken a trolley ride
of about half a mile.
Robertson extended his hand. Louis,
old boy" he said, II am mighty sorry l
did not beat you, but you got it fair and
square" ..
Disbro laughed, shook hands and then
began helping to load. his winning car
with old tires and other junk from the
repair pits in order to take the outfit back
to his garage. ......