New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-01
AUTO RACER TO Retire
Louis Chevrolet to Quit After
Vanderbilt Race.
HIS CAREER AS A DRIVER
Factory Organization Needs Him
to Design Automobiles, In
stead of Race Them


man invaded The American motor speed
uavs about three years ago. and to-day -
ranked as one of the best and most intrepid
drivers OF racing automobiles in the world
Yet his racing career is said by those who
knovv him best TO be hearing IT'S end
A remarkable man is this Chevrolet and
his ability seems unlimited Some would
refer TO him as the greatest of living motor
pilots
During his three years as a winning
driver Of the Buick racing and stock cars
Chevrolet has proved his fearIessness, me-
chanicaI skill and track seueralship-
Chevrolet and his mechanics are now pre-
parinv bis machines for the great Wander
bilt Cnn race and other events this fall, AMI
II M, no hat the great Franco Swiss pilot
will eS~nis career at the wheel when tha
finishing line Of the Vanderbilt Is crossch
by his big white bonneted car
Chevrolet was born In Switzerland His
first Job was leading a blind man ThiE
man was a wine buyer, and young LOUIS
was assigned to take him to the various
wine establishments in Paris and other
cities IN France While winning living
he also acquired a knowledge Of rare wines
There are few better judges of Burgundy
than Chevrolet
The man who owned the shop had A ons
and one-quarter horsepower single cylinder
motor tricycle.. But the thing would not
work for him. and ne finally became dis
gusted and made Louis a present OF ths
machine.
This misunderstood machine really
started Louis on his career. He was poor.
and this motor tricycle. was a bit above hts
financial reach SO he spent his evenings
studying the machinery trying TO find out
the cause Of the trouble. After much ex-
perimenting he located it. fixed il and rode
the machine, something which his employer
thought impossible
Automobiles attracted him. and ne served
Tor a short term with the Mors COMPANY
IN Paris The automobile game was boom
ing IN this country. and he came here For
seven and one-haif years Chevrolet drove
automobiles in New York, and during that
time he did not have single accident.
me automobile racing game became moro
ana more appealing to him. and he sec,rrsE
d JOB with an automobile firm. The Buick
people saw IN him an invaluable man, and
ne entered the employ OF the Michigan firm
MS man knows probably as much about
machinery as any man in the automobile
chimes he is working in the factory doctor
ing the machinery that drives the ANTONIO
bile He improves IL constantly MAKING
slight changes here and there. increasing
the worth Of the autos
On the track. in actual racing ChevroIer
often carries mechanician with him. bur
when break really occurs nine times our
of ten it is the driver and not the nechani-
clan who nends it.
Il guess this is the last year on the tract,
for Louis" remarked a member of the firm
He's too valuable man to take chances
on We can use him in the factory. and I
guess he viii stay there after the next
Vanderbilt Cup race. We are making three
cars for him TO run in this event, and Re
expects to win this year. After that he
will be turning out automobiles instead az
racing them -
1t is rather remarkable that a genius Ike
Chevrolet should be risking his life every
week on the track when he could make a.
much money, and possibly more. sittin.
quietly at a desk designing and planning
This condition was suggested to the French
driver. and in reply. with his white teeth
glistening beneath d stubby brown mus
tache, he said:
Il couldn't sit at a desk unless the desk
had tires and motor. I am used 20 going
fast and seeing the world reel backward
beneath the wheels of my car. I feeI Z
would be very much like caging a wild bird.
for 1 never could stand life of inactivity
now"
When Chevrolet prepares his car for a
race it is much like a mother dressing her
favorite daughter who is programmed 70
deliver an address before the kindergarten
class. Not bit OF the machinery escapes
his touch: he tries out every part of it; he
tightens a screw here. IoosenS another
there; he tears out a few old wires and in
serts new ones; then the machine under
goes a thorough examination and general
read iuStment. His meChanicidnS become
mere helpers; Chevrolet always is the
master.
All this is only part of the reason VIZ
Chevrolet stays in the racing game rather
than return 70 a life OF quiet work: the
rest of rhe reason IS told readily when the
through space in one OF his performances.
Why don't | quit racIng2 Why do l
risk my life when l could make more
money doing something else in the auto
line? We'll, it's hard 10 say
1t seems that Chevrolet always has re-
serve speed. and seldom does another driver
pass him when once he gains the lead. A.
he crosses the wire and the CheCkeTed faE
waves him the victor, on Chevrolet face
again appears the smile that has won him
motor enthusiasts through the country. He
brings his car back 10 the paddock. releases
his clutch and let's the motor hum meT-
rily-
doesn't it 1t sounds grand, That is grand
opera to me- That is why do not quit
the game