The San Francisco call., 1910-12-06
WHAT MECHANICS
DO in AUTO RACES
Francis Lundgreen Quits When
Witt Sets Fast Pace in
EMF
By R. R. L'HOMMEDIEU

The essential nature of the work per-
formed by the mechanics of the various
racing cars was remarkably empha-
sized during the grand prize meeting
at Savannah.
A mechanic in road race is a busy
man. even though his name appears
more often in the list of casualties
than in the headlines announcing the
prize winners. His first duty is to keep
a sharp outlook in the rear. warning
his driver regarding the approach of
faster cars He is also supposed to
keep track of the condition of three of
the tires. He watches the fabrication
system, and regulates the flow of oil
through the pump which he operates
He keeps track of the speedometer. and
renders report whenever needed. on
the speed attained on various portions
OF the course. In addition, he hangs to
the car-in itself feat which would
require the entire attention of q nov
Ice. IN an accident, the driver has al
ways fash Of warning. The mechanic
usually has none, and for this reason
Is almost always the worst hurt of the
two when something goes to smash.
The mechanics job DIS one that re-
qUires lot of nerve.
Once In a while one of them decides
that the clip is a bit too fast. An in
stance occurred at Savannah on the oc-
casion of the EMF 80" cars final
Atlanta, who had always ridden with
Witt. descended after "A lap at faster
than a mile a minute clip. including the
three showdown turns, and offered a
Frank said he to Witt, you're
nice fellow and good driver I'd as
soon go over the bank with you as any
body I know. Your car is a bird;
don't blame you for thinking a lot of
her But, Frank, ! don't want TO ride
with you in that race. You're going too
60 -
your speedometer for six miles stuck
right between so and 81. You took all
those turns back there at e6 or faster.
When you passed that 40 horsepower
car back there I sprained my wrist
hanging on. I'm through"
1t is cardinal principle of all racing
hVe6 fo 10 urge ana man wh9 Is re1netaant
was duly accepted. SO, In the Tiedeman
Trophy event, in which the EMF go"
led all its American rivals home. at
substitute rode in Francis place while
Francis cheered yaliantly from the
EMF pit and stood ready with a gas
oline can, which was never needed.
To remove from public view the
unsghtly impedimenta of the running
boards of motor
PSs1fHis ddia%Dia Sf Car tie attention 3
builders from the very start. Yet in
each season cars have been produced
with the long running boards marred
by the presence of tools and battery
boxes, gas tanks and other accessories,
for which no other available place
could be found
IN the new Columbia for 1911 this
difficulty has been adequately met. In
stead OF the running board pan taking
the form of an inward curve and fol-
lowing the line Of the step iron from
the frame to the running board, the
sheet metal housing extends outward
in straight and horizontal line from
the top of the side frame member to
point directly over the inner edge of
the running board, to which it falls
directly below and is attached. This
is a permanent metal housing, and into
this housing there is built the tool and
battery storage boxes. and behind this
protecting guard there is, as well, the
Prestolite tank.
This arrangement gives the car a
very neat and clean look and adds to
the appearance of length in the car
since the length is unbroken with
needless up and down lines.