Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-30
MATCH RACE OF
AUTOS ARRANGED
L0C0M0BILE AND STEARNS IN
300-MILE RUN
CONTEST FOR PURSE OF $4,000
AND GATE RECEIPTS
TO Be Held at Ascot Park August 15,
When Long Standing Question
of Supremacy viii Be
Settled

A direct aftermath of the Santa
Monica road race will be a match race
between the Stearns and the Locomobile
automobiles at Ascot park, August 15.
At meeting yesterday afternoon be-
tween Ralph j. Leavitt, acting as gen.
eral manager of the Los Angeles Motor
Car cocpany, and G. c. Slaughter, who
recently acquired the Stearns agency
terms were quickly arranged, and as a
result the motoring enthusiasts or
Southern California will have an OPP
portunity of witnessing one of the
olassiest and most important races ever
promulgated by Los Angeles motor
dom.
The winner of the race will take
down a purse of $4,000 in addition to
the gate receipts, and the conditions of
the match are such as to gratity the
most ardent desires of the motor fans.
After a short discussion IL was de-
cided to hold a 3O0-mile race, regard
less of time limit. Mr.. Leavitt de-
sired to make the race for 400 miles,
and Mr.. Slaughter seemed anxious to
have a time limit set on the match,
but after the various phases of such
contest had been exploited, 1t was de-
cided that 300 miles should be the dis
tance, no time limit should be set, and
the first car to negotiate the 300 miles
is to be the winner of the race.
Forfeit Posted
A forfeit of $500 was posted by Mr..
Leavitt and Mr.. Slaughter to bind the
match, and in all proba ability Eddie
Maier will be the stakeholder.
The plan of making the race an open
one was discussed. but 1t was decided
that 1t should be a match race, and that
in the future any cars desirous of COM
peting against the winner could do so
by formal challenge.
Mr.. Slaughter was anxious to com
pete against the cup which was do
mated by the Elks in the last match
between the Stearns and Locomobile,
which race was won by the Locomobile.
Mr.. LeaVitt declined. to stake the cup,
and It was decided to have the race
for $4,000 a side and the gate receipts.
The match will be one of the greatest
ever pulled off in Los Angeles and ow-
ing to the keen rivalry between the two
agencies. the greatest efforts will be
put forward to land first place.
Stock cars, the same as used in the
great Santa Monica race, will be used,
as Mr.. Slaughter has purchased the
Stearns car which finished in third
place in that race. The car at present
IS at the Stearns San Francisco branch,
but will be shipped at once to Los
Angeles.
The same car that captured fourth
place for the Locomobile concern will
be pitted against the Stearns car. No
provision for drivers was made, but It
IS understood that Charles Soules and
Frank Free will guide the Stearns, and
that a new driver will handle the Loco
mobile.
~ New Driver for Loco
Mr. Leavitt stated yesterday that
owing to business engagements 1t was
doubtful If Murray Page, the veteran
driver, would engineer the Locomobile,
but promised that a driver, fully as
capable, would pilot his car.
For a long time there has been rival
ry between the Stearns and the Loco
mobile, and after accepting the Stearns
agency Mr.. Slaughter decided to make
an attempt to retrieve the recent de-
feat at the hands of the Locomoble.
This race was held as a benefit by the
Elks. and the cup offered for the win
ner was won by Mr.. Leavltt.
During the Santa Monica road race,
when 1t became apparent early In the
contest that barring accident the APP
person Jack Rabbit would be the win
ner, interest centered in the Stearns-
Locomobile contest. The Stearns fin
ished in third place with the Locomo-
bile a close fourth. both cars averaging
over sixty miles an hour for the dis
tance of 202 miles.