The San Francisco call., 1909-03-29
Big HILL CLIMB
ATTRACTS CROWD
Nineteenth Avenue Course Is
the Scene of Very Fast
Runs
Watch Race Between the White
Steamer and STANDARDIZATION
Is Declared No Contest
By K. K. FHommedieu

Between 1000 and 5000 spectators
witnessed the initial event OF the San
Francisco motor club yesterday after
noon, and from the enthusiasm evinced
Al the success with which the hill
climb was pulled or. many times that
number viii be on hand TO take in the
next event under the control OF the
organization- From start TO finish there
was not an accident. or a delay. and
the program was carried out almost 10
The letter. This in itself speaks well
for the management and the interest
shown.
The sun which had been clouded over
during most OF the hours OF the fore
noon, came OUT about - o'clock and
shooe until the cars were again on
their way back 70 the city Every
owner Of q car, and every one who
could get a car for the occasion, seemed
70 oe IN attendance, ard the course in
Nineteenth avenue was lined on both
sides by cars Of every description for
distance OF several blocks. Those who
could not attend in a motor car, and
had a horse and carriage available.
drove out. and hundreds went by way
Of the trolley car, none the less en-
rhuslastic, and cheering Justify when
ever car sped up 10 the finishing line
ENCOURAGE CONTESTANTS
Each make Of car had its own par
licular group OF friends. and from diff
terslt quarters would sound the cry Of
encoura cement as the cars sped up the
hill The course up the Nineteenth ave-
nue. hill is particularly well adapted for
a contest Of the nature OF that held
yesterday afternoon. on both sides OF
~ q .-r-1 - E-FT
finishing line, are sandy hills the road
lying IN 2 natural valley, and these
hl-ls served as a grandsLand for those
who did not occupy motor cars There
were no accidents TO mar the pleasure
II the day. which, however. was not
cue 70 the care % the people who, IN
-heir eXcitement and enthusiasm often
crowded down on 10 the course when
"a car cOuld be seen speeding toward
them. The efficiency Of the police de-
partment at the finishing line did much
20 avert accidents IN that quarter, and
the patrol Of mounted police did splen-
did work in keeping The course free
from spectators.
The electric timing apparatus which
was stationed al the starting line. and
was operated by the breaking of
string as the car passed the start and
finishing line. was found 70 be the most
accurate method Of timing Z race or
hin climb that could be devised.
NEW TIMER a SUCCESS
The timing apparatus was a new
scheme. II being the first time il was
used in California. having been de-
signed by q local enthusiast. Il is one
cf the simplest schemes that could be
devised. being nothing more than E
press button like what IS used on
1ront door. In the latter case there
IS & series Of rings but the bell Taper
used yesterday gives one stroke when
the string IS broken Instead OF q bell
e stop watch IS placed where the bell
would be- ard the Taper strikes the
stop watch as the car goes over the
starting lire, breaking the cord and
starting the watch going. Then when
the car breaks the cord crossing the
finishing line Il stops the watch. Il is
mechanical, and there can be no oues-
zion about its accuracy. Besides. il is
possible 10 use q telephone on the same
lines. 50 II was possible for the Judges
~ the start and finish 10 keep il touch
with one another With this system
ir is easy 10 keep the cars lined up al
the starting line, and just as soon as
one car reaches the top 10 send the
next car on on the race NJ the hill
The officials conducted tae contest in
very quick time. There IS ere six cor
tests and Eve attempts al lory ering the
record. -Four of them were made by
motor cycles and one by an auto. 1t
took just TWO hours 10 run of the
events. Another tine the same officials
could carry cut g similar program II
one nour and Z half
DECLARED No CONTEST
The match race Of the day between
the White and the Stoddard- Dayton did
not turn out 10 be a contest. The two
cars went over the course. the White
making the fastest time OF the day.
going the mile in / minute u 2-5 sec
onds- After the events a D. PIughor
fled protest against the White. II
was taken up BY the judges after they
had adjourned 10 the club rooms Here
IL was found that neither Of the own
ers Of the contestfng cars had signed
sn agreement for the match race. nor
lad any verbal agreement. but the
match had been made through Tony
Nichols. the chairman of the contest
committee. K was seen by the evf-
oence that both parties 10 the chal-
lenge had formed z different idea OF
The conditions. Under these circuua-
stances the judges declared il no con
test This VIII leave IL open for Haw-
klns q the White company and Leav-
III. who handled the SradGa ~ T7e ,-+r,-,