The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-18
First Event Is Pulled Off Under
Auspicious Conditions.
THE BEST DRIVERS
Appeared in Contest Which Is
Limited to Light Cars.
First Lap Is Won by Burman's
Buick in 23:41.

Crown Point, June 1S.-Joe Matson
in a Chalmers Detroit, today won the
Indiana trophy for light automobiles.
going the 232.34 miles in 4:31:21, an
average of 51:2 miles an hour. He was
wildly cheered.
Robertson finished second in
4:S9:O3.
Monson in a Marion was third in
4:42:03.
Crown Point, Ind. June 1s.-The first
of the Western Vanderbilt" automo-
bile road races was run today in per-
smooth as time money and men could
make it. The withdrawal Of the Ford
yesterday was filed today by that of
Art" Greiners Renault.
Today's race was over ten laps, ap-
proximately 23.6 each or total distance
of 232.74 miles for the Indiana trophy
The specifications limited entrants to
light cars. Tomorrow II big cars will
contest for the Cobe cup, the big event
of the meet
Practically all the best drivers of the
country appeared in today's race, the
entrants being as follows:
1. Corbin, A. J. Masonville.
2. Buick. Robert Burman.
3. Marion, Charles Stutz.
5. Chalmers Detroit William Knip-
per.
g. Marion. A. Monsen.
T. Locomobile. J. w. Florida.
g. Buick. Cheverolet.
g. Fall-Car, w. P. Pearce.
TO- Locomobile. Geo. Robertson.
IL. Moon, Phil Wells.
IA. Buick Lewis Strang.
is. F'all-Car, John Ruehi.
16. Stoddard- Dayton, Wiseman.
IL. Chalmers Detroit. Al Poole.
GtodHard DAYTON WRIGHT
10. Chalmers-Detroit, ]. Matson.
The machines were started by Fred
w. Wagner, who officiated in similar
capacity in all the Vanderbilt runs on
Long Island.
A s. faint, of Minneapolis, acted as
referee.
The Course.
Leaving the grandstand, the ma
chimes flashed away over straight
away north of IA miles where
sharp turn brought them into one OF
the principal residence streets of
Crown Point, for a squirt of 4 miles,
at the end of the first stretch they
turned to the northwest for an ire
gular run of four miles to Cedar lake.
On this leg there are three sharp
corners and three easy ones, including
the picturesque "S.' At Cedar Lake
there begins a straightaway of 81
miles. The road is rolling, but the
grade is gradually descending all the
At Lowell, after passing under via
duct, the road takes a sharp turn to
the east. Half a mile out it turns
sharply around a cemetery and then
is a straightaway for three miles.
Turning north again there is
straightaway of IL miles, which
brings the cars past the grandstand.
The Start.
As Starter Wagner gave the word to
send the drivers on their way, he slap
ped each driver on the back. The rear
wheels slid in the oiled dressing of the
road for an instant, there was sud
den rush and the machines. thunder
ing their exhausts, disappeared over
the low rise north of the stand. The
intervals between the cars more than
gave time for the leading cars to van
ish before their respective pursuers
were sent after them.
Burman in his Buick overhauled and
passed Maisonville, in Corban. haif
way down the Cedar Lake-Lowen
stretch. otherwise known as the west
leg. Burman held his lead and sped
past the leader in the first lap which
he made in 23:41.