The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-10-04

I'm view of the fact chat de Palma
again Won the Vanderbilt Cup race
decided Saturday last on the Long
island motor Parkway the views of
SO noted a driver are Of particular in
torest at this time.
DE Palma who ranks with the
greatest Of automobile race drivers,
has written for the Herald his opin-
ion concerning the effect of high
speed racing on the man at the wheel
With Fiat car DE Palma drove the
two fastest laps in the grand prize
race at Savannah in 1908. and in doz-
ems of other important contests he
has been one Of the leading figures
His article says:
Not being a physician, I am hardly
qualified to speak with authority upon
the effect of long continued high speed
racing on a driver. However, from
my own observations and experience
! am of the opinion that driving at
extreme speeds mot taking serious
smash-ups and accidents into con-
sideraiOn) does not have the bad
effect upon ones system that ordi-
nary athletics, such as running, jump
ing, swimming, &C., have when fol
lowed professionally. You will find
that the majority of athletes who for
their livelihood depend upon their
proves in competition for any num-
Der of years sooner or later are-striCk
en- with heart trouble or other physi-
cal ailment. This is true Of many
runners and bicycle riders; and,
speaking Of the latter, I know some
thing Of the game, for from 1899 I'M
iii 1882 ] was one myself.
"I attribute the fact that | have no
ailments dating back to the bicycle
days to my early retirement from
the game. When ! quit pushing the
pedals | took up motorcycle racing,
and as was the case with my first
attempts at bicycle racing had my
share of spills and accidents, none
serious enough, however, to leave bad
effects. In fact, the only trouble l
have is due to a broken right thigh
caused by a bursting tire of the Cy-
clone in a race at Danbury year
ago.
Headwork counts for more in rae
ing than most people imagine. Not
only the muscles but the brain as
well, must be developed, quick think
ing and a keen. clear mind playing a
big Dart. Having been through the
mill. I do not believe that the strain
of high speed has any harmful effect
upon the mind or body.
one thing might be mentioned as
Speculiar. Racing produces prema-
turelv gray hair. Nearly every rae
ing driver | know has some gray HAIR.
Caleb Bragg, the cleverest OF the
amateur drivers, for instance, is but
twenty-three years old, yet he sports
number of gray hairs about ms ears
Louis Strang, Bob" Burman, Eddie
He9rn Edward Parker, Harry f..
Grant RAY Harroun and many other
vo,na drivers have some silver hair
and to this rule I am no exception
Frank Lescault has more than his
share-whats left is all gray. EVl-
IDENTITY high speed has some effect on
fine hair. but / cannot see that it dam
ares the nerves and muscles
have read that drivers after long
road races suffer from stomach trou-
lie and acute Indigestion for several
DAVIS No instances of this have ever
come to my attention As for me, ar
fer a long race I am frighttully hun
or,--a regular starved feeling
It is true that racing Will have a
raralvzing effect on muscles at times
lint tbis is due to the condition OF the
course and not the high speed. In
fine last Brighton Beach twenty-four
bour race my wrists became paralyz-
ed and forced me to quit because
could not steer. Haweyer, it was the
severe vibration of the steering wheel
caused by the rough ruts and bumps
that did it,
AS far as speed having an effect on
the mind is concerned, it certainly at
times causes bad temporary effects
At the indianapolis Speedway drivers
have became dizzy from the contin-
uous whirling while in a twenty-foul
hour race not long ago one of the
drivers went temporarily out of his
mind and, upon noticing the grand
stand asker his meChanician: "Wherc
did that house come from? ! never
saw that before" Following which