The San Francisco call., 1909-05-10
DRIVERS WITHOUT
FEAR OF DEATH
Men at Wheei of Motor Cars
Take Great Chances in
Racing
Wonderful Exhibition of Skill
Displayed in Road Contest
at Santa Rosa
By R. R. L'HOMMEDIEU

The automobiles that raced over the
road course at santa Rosa yesterday
bear striking resemblance to the
chariots that were driven for the
amusement OF the old Roman kings
and their courts in the coliseums when
the Roman empire was in flower.
Never did a chariot driver lash his
horses into a gait with fury more
determined than did the drivers of the
automobiles yesterday. when they
forced these modern chariots over a
course where the chances OF death
were multiplied in a ratio equal to the
advancement of the modern motor car
over that of the chariot Of the Roman
empire. When one quietly thinks of
the way these drivers fiirted with
death yesterday and yet live TO receive
ne homage OF the present day auto
mobile enthusiasts. the only conclusion
is that what IS taken 10, be matter
or course would be in past Enlightened
ages considered miracles.
That u of these pleasure vehicles
stripped TO juggernauts and sent
over 8 course that put six Of them out
Of the running from tire and mechani-
cal trouble so that they could not fin
ish, and that Of the remaining six only
one kept I'D its headway from start to
finish without the gladiators which
drove them being numbered among the
dead and injured must be considered
marvellous. 1t is safe to say that in
no place in the world have dozen
men in an automobile contest dis
played such skill keen judgment and
lack of any visible sign Of nerves.
NONE Il INJURED
The slightest misjudgment on the
parL Of the drivers at the many critical
moments yesterday would have closed
his life story and that of his mechan-
ician. Yet with i out OF Il cars
practically coming TO grief some
time during the mad race over the 40
mile course. not one Of these men re-
ceived a scratch The exhibition as
given yesterday over a course which
any one who has driven an automobile
would say was practically unsafe for
such q contest must prove that road
racing is the only practical speed dis
play for the automobile.
i more than half OF the accidents
which had occurred yesterday had
taken place in a speed contest on a
track. il would be safe TO say that
none OF those in the motor cars would
have come of as luckily as they did.
The crOWning glory or the contest
was that an amateur driver, an owner
Of an automobile in his maiden con-
TEST. snstched victory from the pro-
fessional and seasoned driver 1t was
4 great victory, won on nerve. cool
judgment and superior knowledge of
the course. The latter racuor was an
advanta &c that showed forcibly in his
case and that OF Wiseman. botn OF
whom are Santa Rosa bred. The course
was ~ miles long. The first 15
miles was heralded as straight away,
but 81 was a straight away that was
badly twisted. 1t had several turns at
an angle OF 45 degrees. with the en-
bsnkments pitched at the wrong angle.
That none Of the cars rolled over on
these turns is hard to realize. Then
came the loop. running from Geyser-
Vile. through the Dry creek country,
back 70 the so called straight away
above Iealdsburg.
ROAD FULL OF TURNS
This serpentine road was fun of
turns. sharp and acute at the apex of
grades that would make ordinary tour
ing trying on the driver. 1t was well
known by the contestants that there
was no hope on this part Of the course
10 pass one another. and so before the
first car was sent away, il was decided
10 make the II mile dash the field on
which the contest would be won and
lost. With that object in view. it was