The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-10
Louis Chevrolet Makes Remark
able Time in 200 Mile Race.
Averages 70 Miles an Hour for
Entire Distance.
ONCE WAS ON FIRE.
Stopped His Car to Put Out the
Blaze.
Other Records Are Smashed to
Smithereens at Atlanta.

Atlanta. Ga. Nov 10.-Louis Chev-
role+. the sturdy Swiss pilot, who mas
leaned into racing prominence during
4ba last wear, annexed another nara
earned victory here when he captured,
the 200 mile stock chassis race, aver
aging about 70 miles an hour. Chev-
ro1et's victory came as a climax IN
record breaking contest, in which AT
lanta's new two mile speedway was
opened.
Two of Barney Oldfeld's records
were lowered, one of them by Louis
Strans who reduced OIdfeld's one
mile mark of :43:O1 by more than five
seconds. To do it, Strang used the
big 200 horse power Fiat which has
had worlds record of % seconds
over the ID mile track at Brook-
lands Eng last summer. OidHeld
took the limit out of his hitherto I'M
beatabIe Benz and took nearly three
seconds off his own previous RECORDS.
"Strang has the fastest ear IN the
world at present" Oldfie1d declared
after the race. The second OF Old
fields records to vanish was beaten IN
the 10 mile handicap when John AK
er in national sixty starting from
scratch forged ahead to third poslt1on
in the field OF eight cars in :0S:02:4l
OldfeId who made the distance at IN
dianapoIis in :0S:15:09 also started
from scratch in this contest, out
broke a steering knuckle IN the nrse
lap and was compelled to Withdraw
Chevrolet's winning of the big race
of 900 miles in 2:46:4S was a brilliant
exploit, lowering Burman,s record OF
3:24:13 40 made at Indianapolis.
The big pilot stopped but once IN the
100 laps, and then only Wneh MS Gil
CINE caught fire.
chevrolet assumed the lead in the
first lap and increased It SLOWLY but
steadily for ~ miles AS the STURDY
Swiss flashed past on the 73rd mile
the trained eye of Harding, who was
in the press box detected the fire. lg-
noring the thunder of cheers, which
drowned all other sounds. Harding
cried in his excitement, you're on
fire; you're on fire, Louis" Chevrolet
apparently was ignorant of the fact
at the time but when he had gone
about mile the smoke belched into
his face. Then he experienced his only
delay.
During the few minutes it required
to extinguish the blaze Dingley regain
ed the lost laps and took the lead by
about 30 yards. His triumph was
shortIived for Chevrolet took after
him and passed him during the next
lap. He was never again in danger
Car Goes Into Ditch.
The nearest approach n an acct
eighty-fifth lap when Harry Stillman
whose Marmon had not experienced
single delay ran into the inner gutter
of the track. The accident occurred
on the back stretch when an over
strained rear tire softened and sent
the car into the ditch. Although three
wheels flew off neither Skillman nor
his assistant were hurt beyond few
bruises.
At this time Stillman seemed GER
tain to beat out the Chalmers-Detroit
drivers, for second honors.
Stillmans withdrawal left the two
Chalmers-Detroit to fight it out for
second place Charles Basle's Rem
au1t stayed hopeless1y to the finish
many miles behind; but the other cars
had gradually been eliminated in the
fierceness of the struggle. Both Ma
tionals, C1iquot, Renault and the Ran
Ter had been gradually worn down
and quit.
Summary:
One mile time trial-First: Fiat
(Strang) 1871; Second: Benz odd
field 40:13; Third: Christie, (Chris-
tie) :43:s2; Fourth: Stearns (Ruther-
ford) 50:S5.
Ten mile stock chassis. 451 to 500