The San Francisco call., 1909-05-10
NOONAN wins IN
STODDARD- D-DAYTON
FOrty-nine Mile Contest Is
Marked by Thrilling
Incidents
Sheets Displays Great Nerve in
Going Last Third With
Tire Missing
Especial Dispatch 10 The Conl

Especial Dispoioh 10 The Call
SANTA ROSA May with l.
speedy stock chassis struggling for
supremacy in the 40 mile road race
over the Santa Rosa. IIealdsburg, Gey-
serville and Dry Creek course, Ben
Noonan Of Santa Rosa. in his Stod-
dard Dayton. carried of the honors
thls morning. c. OntanI. in stevens
Dur,zea. finished second. Fred J. Wise
man in a Stoddard Dayton third. Fay
sheets in an Acme fourth, Frank Muir
ray in a Buick fifth, and E. B. Ely
sixth.
Although some of the best drivers on
the coast were competing in the race
two santa Rosa men succeeded in m
ishing first and third. The race was
essentially q triumph for Rose OItE
drivers. Noonan, the victor in the nerve
racking race had never before particl-
pated in race. but he, like Wiseman,
lad the advantage Of knowing the
course almost perfectly lie aptIF re-
marked after the race that he could
have taken a sandwich on any ot the
difficult turns.
NSooran mace 4he course in 1:05:iS.
which is considered exceptionally fast
lime in view Of the condition OF the
roads With The cars started minute
apart Noonan fought his way from
tenth position at the start to third at
the finish His elapsed time was less
than that Of Wiseman and Sheets, who
preceded him, however, and so TO him
was awarded the $500 trophy. Ontank,
by taking second place. won the Moore
motor supply cOmpany's $3.50 silver cup
Skill and daring marked the driving
or all the racers The course. Wnicn
is extremely hazardocs in places, was
negotiated by the men without a SIN
glc person being injured. The cars
themselves. however. were not so Tor
tunate. only of the u being able 10
complete the race. Noonan's was the
only car TO cover the course without
z mishap ali the others having tire
or mechanical trouble as q result OF
the trying roads. Tire trouble elimi-
mated the Thomas Forty, the Speedwen,
the Comet the Stearns driven by D. y.
Bonney and the Packard. The Stearns
driven by Charles Soules had 10 quit
- miles from the finish IS the result
OF 2 break in q patched frame.
Sheets displayed wonderful nerve by
going the last third of the distance
without the front left tire. He pluckily
kept up his speed, despite the fact that
he was running on the rim, and I'm
ished with a great burst Of speed
When he brought his car to stop it
was discovered that the rim was badly
shattered and the wheel on the verge
Of colispsing. This game driver I'm
ished in fourth position. but he took
the life Of himself and mechaDician in
his hands by going 50 Tar on rim.
Ontank also did nervy work on the
curves He came near meeting with
disaster on the loop when he ripped
two posts out Of a small bridge. He
succeeded in getting his car back into
the road. however. and completed the
course in second position.
Large crowds We're gathered at the
starting and finishing line al the edge
Of tie city at the dangerous turns
where there was the most likelihood
of a spill. and on the streets of the
towns through which the course lay.
on several OF the turns such like the
one at Mark West school the machines
did sensational skidding, sending
clouds Of dust into the sky, but the
drivers skillfully avoided losing con-
troll The great test OF ability was on
the loop. where the roads were mar
row and the turns tr-acherous. In sew
ersl instances the cars jumped from
the road 10 the grass, or grazed the
inner embankments