Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-16
OLDFIELD RACES
AT MARDI GRAS
MEETS WORLDS CRACK AUTO
DRIVERS
Carnival Committee Arranges Exten-
.siVe Program of Events Cow
ering Two Days, Be-
ginning Feb. 6

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 1.-THE auto
mobile races to be held here during
Mardi Gras week give promise of fur
nishing some of the best exhibitions
of motor speed contests this city has
witnessed since the inauguration Of
the automobile carnival, which termi-
mates the great French festivities here.
The program, which has just been
announced, heralds sensational racing
and the events are sufficient in num-
ber to attract the motor world. The
race list is made up of twelve events.
But only one Of them may be classed
as even a near-long distance race.
That is the fifty-mile race, open
to all stock chassis classified as to
piston displacement The other events
are of the sprint variety, ranging from
five miles to twenty-five. Several
other contests will likely be added To
the program before the opening day
of the racing, which is February 3.
The second half of the card will be
concluded on the following day.
While the distances of the events
are in no way near those held at auto
races in the north, that fact does not
have a tendency to decrease the inter-
est among speed pilots over the ap-
preaching competitions. This city can
only boast of small track, and many
enthusiasts here claim that auto track
races as far as the spectators are con-
cerned. In an inclosed track the spec
tators claim they can see the contest
ants in action all the time, whereas in
a good road contest the cars are lost
to view most of the time.
Since the list of events was sent out
to cities throughout the country many
letters and kilograms have been re-
ceived here asking about the races The
fact that the races come at a time
when the north is besieged by cold
weather sends many persons here to
escape the cold as well as TO witness |
the motoring events and Mardi Gras
carnival. Since the week of festivities
included automobile races it has be
come apparent that more persons have
been visiting the city than has been
the case in recent years.
The program includes the following
events:
February 5
Five miles, for stock chassis, 161 to
2S0 cubic inch piston displacement.
Ten miles, for stock chassis Of all
kinds, open only to amateurs, chauf-
feurs, mechanics and non-professional
drivers.
Twenty miles, for stock chassis, 3O1
to 450 piston displacement.
Five miles, free for all.
Ten miles, free-for-all handicap.
Twenty-Five miles, for stock chassis, !
in three classes-161 to 230 piston dis
placement 9O1 TO 450 piston displace-
ment $50 to 600 piston displacement.
February 6
fen miles, stock chassis, 301 to 450
and 451 to 900 piston displacement
Five miles, amateur, stock chassis,
Twenty miles, New Orleans cham
pionship, open to local cars.
Ten miles, free-for-all handicap.
One hour or fifty miles, for all stock
chassis classified as to piston displace-
ment.
Dealers purse to first three men in
two days racing; decision on points,
each first counting five, seconds three
and thirds one.
Each year the manufacturers have
appeared to take an increasing interest
in the races, but the carnival is held
more for the spectators pleasure than
from an automobile advertising view
point Word has been received from a
number of automobile firms throughout
the country that they wish to enter
cars, and this is taken as a good indiCa-
ton that the meet will again be sue
cessfully contested.
Local auto followers are elated over
the news that Barney Oldfeld will
come here to take part in the races.
Oldfeld is a favorite here among auto
mobile track followers, and he generally
supplies interesting exhibitions of dar-
ing speed. Ben Kirchner also has an
nounced that he will be on hand to
compete. Lewis Strang, Louis Chew
rolet, Bob Burman, George Robertson,
Raw Harroun, Jack Aitllen and Charley
Merz are also expected to come here to
compete,