The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-11-10
By Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
Atlanta, Ga, Nov. 9.-Louis Strang
in his 200-horsepower baby Fiat shat
day in the almost incredible time OF
37.7 seconds in the initial event OF
the opening of the automobile races.
About 5000 people, sprinkled through
the grandstand, saw the smashing
race. Following is the order in which
they finished and the time:
First-Strang, Fiat, 37.7 seconds.
Second-5arney OIdfieId, Benz, 4o.1 9
seconds.
Underwater Christie, Christie,
1882 seconds.
Fourth John M. Rutherford,
Stearns, 5O.S5 seconds.
The first event, the One-mile time
trials, fTee-for-all, had nine entries,
but only six cars started. Basic in a
Renault, DiSbTow in d Rainier and
Fitzpatrick in a Hotchkiss, did not line
up. When they heard of Strangs
time, they frankly admitted it was
useless for them to try.
Strang got away first. 1t was a fly
ing start, once and a half around the
track and then off. The big Fiat NOV
ed out easily, gathering momentum In
laundering jumps, Then, as it cross
d
the grandstand, it seemed to take
wings and fly.
The prizes are two cups, with the
5000 offered for a smashed record.
The 10-mile stock Chassis was won
by John aiken, driving a National, IN
S:27.22. His teammate, Tom Kincaid,
was second in 8:27.71.
THE RACE IN DETAIL.
The worlds track records were
shattered at the opening of the new
twO-mile speedway here today Louis
Strang, in a 20O-horsepower Fiat, low
cred the worlds mile record by ga
seconds, making it in 37.7 seconds.
The 16mile track record was shat
tered by John Aiken, in a National,
S:02.41, 1-49 seconds better than the
previous record, held by Barney Old
field.
Two Chalmers-Detroits took first
and second money in their class for
10 miles. Aiken in his National won
another 10-mile event for larger cars,
with his team-mate Kincaid second
Stillman and HarToun took first and
second money in the 10-miIe handt-
cap.
Strang in 1888 defeated OldieId,
Aiken and Christie in the two-mile
fTee-fOF-alL There were nine entrants
in the 2O0mile stock Chassis, 301 TO
$50 cubic inches, two Chalmers-De-
troits, two Renaults, two Nationals, d
Buick and a Rainier, and a MarmOn
John Aiken, starting from scratch
in a 60-hOrsepOwer National, lowered
the worlds track record for 10 miles,
going it in S:O2.41, as compared with
the previous record COldfieId's) or
S:15.9.
In the mile speed trials the con-
49,
They took one lap each to secure a
flying start. The clocks were stopDed
with the machines going at the top O.
their power. Strang was first away. !
Strang from a standing start won |
the Emile fTee-fOr-all in 1853.
Oldfeld, driving his big Benz, was |
second in 1913. Aiken in a National |
was third in 1:43.72, and Christie, who |
had repaired his injured valve, was |
fourth in 1:51.O4.
Strang's time was 81 rs seconds, |
lowering OldfeId's by seconds.
John NJ Rutherford, in a 3O-6D |
SteaTns, made the mile in the slow |
time of 50:35 seconds
With the highest powered automo- |
Diles ever built threatening all the eX-
sting track records, with nearly all Of |
Americas most famous drivers pres /
9nt to pilot them, Atlanta's new $780, |
boo automobile speedway was opened |
% the public today.
The program for the day called for
an attempt at the mile track record /
Of 43 seconds, held by Barney Old
field, a 200-mile stock car race, and |
Jour other events of nearly equal in
-eTest- The anticipated feature was
he meeting of Oldfield, with his $50
horsepower Benz, and Lewis StranS,
with a Fiat registering 20O-horsepow-
sr. in the mile time trial
The man who wins that race Will
lave TO go faster than I did at Indian
apolis,' said OIdfield. He'll have to
let a new record
L Clicquoit, entered by Asa C.
Gambler. Jr., owner of the track, in
/ Pope-Toledo 90-horsepower, had ig-
lition trouble and withdrew.
Oldfeld went the distance in 4OIS
seconds. better than his INDIANAPOLIS
-ecord, but not nearly enough to beatt
Strang. He drove alone, holding a
big black cigar between his teeth
Christie took 1882 seconds for the
nile.
Six drivers entered the next event.
ten-mile stock Chassis race for cars
# piston displacement of 451 to 800
cubic inches. Strang, IN a 6O-horse-