The San Francisco call., 1909-02-13
HARD TEST FOR
AUTOMOBILISTS
Contest Committee of the San
Francisco Motor Club Plans
Strenuous Run
Select Course Over the Noun
tainS to Santa Cruz and
Return
BY K. r. PHommedieu

The endurance run OF last Sunday
has started something in autodom. The
enthusiasm displayed at that, time has
created desire on the part Of those
who did not participate in the event
to take a try at a midwinter contest.
This desire has. been expressed so
strongly to Tony Nichols. chairman OF
the contest committee OF the San Fran
cisco motor club. that he has decided
to hold a contest during the latter part
of March 1t Will be one in which
there will be no chance OF any OF the
contestants complaining that the rules
were not stringent enough. The mem
bers Of the club, although in some
cases connected with the automobile
trade, are determined TO make this
event one of the hardest ever held on
the Pacific coast. 1t Is going to be hard
work for the drivers and the machines.
The run is to be to Santa Cruz and
return in one day. A time limit OF
four hours has been placed on the
run down. the same time being re-
quired in coming back to the city, To
make the contest all the harder the
cars will have to go over the Santa
Cruz mountains instead OF going
around by the way OF Watsonville.
This will mean very serious journey
If the roads are anyway wet for the
Santa Cruz mountains are not the
easiest to cross In the winter time. The
time limit viii mean that the ears viii
have to travel about % 1-6 miles per-
hour for the whole distance. It Is im-si
possible for them to cross the moun-l
tains at that rate Of speed with safety
so they will have to make Los GatoS
in hours 15 minutes. This win be
travelling some. for it will mean an
average Of 30 miles per hour to that
place. Thirty miles per hour for the
distance also means that they viii have
to go beyond the 40 mark in the clear
and good roads. There are many towns
between San Francisco and Los GatOs
where the automooilists VIII have to
slow UP.
This is not the only trouble that Is
staring the contestants in the face.
On each car will be placed an Observer
who win be selected by the contest
committee. This observer will be one
who is well acquainted with the auto
mobile and who viii make note OF
everything that happens on the trip.
The observers card will be one that
will tell the complete story OF the run.
The cars are to be thoroughly sealed
and there viii be penalty for every
time the engine is stopped.
All repairs and adjustments must
be made by the driver
Each car will start out with 1000
points for the car and 1000 points for
tires, and for each adjustment and
each minute late or early at the check
ing places they will lose points. Com
bined with this test will be added an
economy test. in which water, oil and
gasoline will be figured.
When the cars return to the start-
Ing line they will be required to run
a block at the rate OF 20 miles per
hour and then stop in a given distance
with the assistance Of the foot breaks.
Then they viii be required to repeat
the performance and stop with the as
sistanee OF the hand break.
Then when all these requirements
have been fulfilled the cars will be
turned over to a technical committee
for thorough examination. While at
Santa Cruz there will be an hours rest
for luncheon. during which time the
cars viii be under a guard.
The full details will be completed by
the middle Of the week by the contest
committee, which will then open the
entry list This list will be closed i've
days before the contest and no other
entries will be received.
George Wooton OF Tacoma and
Thomas Elmer OF Eugene. Ore. agents
!. ----.s. cars ca IN tbsIr si1in4ser sser
Predict Big tions OF the coun-
Trade In North try. have been in
= the city the last
week purchasing cars. stock OF tires
the largest agents In the country, ex-
poets big trade this season from the
present outlook. He expects to put out
150 Ramblers in the southern part OF