New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-30
STARTING FOR SAVANNAH
Exodus of the Grand Prize OIL
Gals Has Begun.
DE PALMA LIKES COURSE
Pleads for Fiat Turns, Which He
Says Are Much Faster
than Banking.

Automobiles interested in the two great
international road races to be held al Sa-
vannah on November Il and Il are begin
ming TO journey South. The exodus OF en-
thusiasts is well under way. as many nave
left by motor car. boat and rail. to be on
hand when practice starts. on Tuesday.
Robert Lee Aiorrell and his associates OF
the contest committee CT the Automobile
Club Of America leave for savannah thls
morning in g special car on the Atlantic
Coast Line. Chairman Morren will have
with him E Rand Hollander. S. B. Stevens
aue A. II Whiting, OF his committee; A
]. MeNurtry, OF the Automobile Club Of
America technical committee. and S. n.
Butler. chairman OF The contest board OF
sbe American Automobile Association Mr..
5S,,tIer. who was associated with Chair
man MorreT in the conduct Of the first
Grand Prize race at Savannah two years
seo. goes as the guest Of the contest COM
rnittee and Will act as judge Of timing at
Savannah.
Chairman Morren. Mr.. Stevens and Mr.
Whiting shipped their cars TO savannah
yesterday on the St Louis, Of the SaVan-
nah Line. T. T. Moore, secretary OF the
club division Of the Motor Racing Associa-
ton, goes with Mr.. Mo-relL F. J. Wagner
who viii act as starter for the races, left
for Savannah last Wednesday.
Ralph De Palma. who is a factor to be
reckoned with in the coming races at Sa-
rannah. thinks very highly Of the speed
possibilities Of the course, and tells Why
Il viii be recalled that De Palma travelled
faster over the Old circuit than any other
driver ever did, and inasmuch as tbs
wears course includes large portion OF
that Of 1908, it is quite probable that he VIII
even do better for De Palma has improved
greatly in two years. He VIII nave la'
Of practically the same type as that with
which he scored the two fastest laps at the
last Grand Prize race
i an in hopes that the committee VIII
not decide to bank the turns" said the
italian crack. on trying out the course. I
much prefer TO have the turns fat, and
this is r-hy: \ driver knows Just how fast
lie can take z fat curve. whereas no mat
ter how well q corner is banked, taking II
st sreed IS always uncertain If the bank
Is hard. gravel is hound 10 loosen Up, caus-
ing slzids. which strain tires, 10 say moth
Ing of becoming dangerous. Then, too'
never yet saw . DIRT bank on course
which cid not become torn and chopped up
with r1ts before the race was half over,
causing drivers 10 slow down about as
much as if the turn were fat. As soon as
q turn becomes rutted it causes the car TO
bounce and power has to be shut on and
brakes applied more than should be nee
essary. II banking could be built on the
turns like THAI al BTOCklands Il would De
different.
Banking such as is constructed on cir
cults for road races is invariably INSULT
Gent. from q scientific as well as practi-
4
perience with such banking, too. a couple
Of weeks ago ! drove the Cyclone on
one-sixth-mIle board bicycle track at Cliff
ton, Y J., doing a lap in Il seconds and
three laps in AZ seconds. The incline at the
turns was 80 degrees, making high speed
absolutely necessary IN order TO stay on
the track. Any one who watched me Will
admit that my car did not skid percepu-
blv at any time after I got properly start
ed ] believe II turns on road course are
built I'D at all the banking should be at
45-degree angle at least 10 admit Of fast
safe swing around the bend, else not ct
all"
De Palma admits, however, that his ex-
perience in gaining the worlds mile track
Championship has much TO do with this
opinion. as he has driven a great deal on
tracks with little or no banking at the
turns.
Three new entries for the light car race
10 be held on November Il have been an
nounced by Robert Lee Morrell, chairman
OF the contest committee Of the Automobile
Club OF America. The new contenders are
q Lancia, entered by c. II. Tangeman, OF
the Hol-Tan Company, and two Cole cars,
entered by the Cole-Stratton Company,
both OF New York The cars are entered
fn the 1Gl 70 go cubic inch piston displace-
rnent class, for which the Tiedenlan trophy
in offered The LanCia, which viii repre-
sent Italy in the race, is rated at . horse
power and has a piston displacement Of
2lOS5 Inches William Knipper, who drove
the car IN the Vanderbilt Cup race this year,
win be al the wheel Of the Lancia.
The Cole entries VIII be piloted by the
Fndicott brothers. William and Harry.
William, better known as Bill, finished
first IN a Cole in the Massapequa Sweep
stakes race, which was run In conjunction
with this years Vanderbilt He has won q
number Of races on tracks and speedways
and has participated in several twenty
four-hour races.
A6vices received from the Savannah Au-
tomobIe Club state that the exact mileage
Of the race circuit is I7-2 miles. instead Of
ts6 as was originally announced. The
start Of both the Grand Prize race and the
light car race has been set for o'clock.