Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-02

Garden, January to 81, 1911. the most
important in the history of motordon
was made evident last week by the is
suance of floor diagrams showing the
arrangement of space for exhibitors at
the double show.
distant, the show committee, cOnSiStin 6
of Col. George Pope, chairman; Charles
Clifton, Alfred Reeves ana Merie Il.
Downs, secretary, will leave no st----
unturned to make the forthcoming eX-
hibitions minutely typical OF the
gigantic industry they now represent
The automobile industry is now one
of Americas foremost keystoneS. and ii
is proper that the great annual display
of all that is latest in the automobile
world should be fittingIy set forth in
comprehensive order for the editication
of the American public. The automo-
bile industry long has passed the en-
bryonic stage. The forthcoming show
will be the largest in the history of
the trade.
The body may cover multitude OF
sins, and yet the automobile may look
as spick and span Il new creation
just from the maker.
X
That the motorists of this country are
getting wise to the situation and are play
ing prominent part in the political game
is evidenced by the fact that the plat
form of the New Jersey democratic state
convention provides for the adoption %
an amendment to the present motor law
which will establish reciprocity and eX-
tend to automobiliSts OF otner states The
same privileges and the same fees thai
other states extend to New Jersey auto
mo no
vention has also placed itself on record
as favoring reciprocal laws.
This is the first result of the activities
instituted by the New Jersey Automobile
and Motor Club. The big Newark clut
recently held an enthusiastic mass meet
ing at which remedial legislation Was
discussed, and its efforts will, in ali like
lihood, be rewarded when the next legis
lature cOnveneS at Trenton.
At that time the 1900 motorists of the
state will request that the lawmakers
shall pass reciprocal motor laws. Other
changes desired are in the light laws
which are at present ineffective: the rat
ing of cars by the a. l.. A NJ. rating and
not upon the manufacturers rating: the
right OF appeal to the supreme court
from the decisions of the commissioner
of motor vehicles: the enactment of a
law requiring gates at all grade crossings
and the erection of siSnpostS upon the
highways of the state.
Barney Oldfield, in addition to holdine
a large bunch of automobile records on
track and road, has added a number of
records of different nature to his lfe's
by any other speed king on this CONT
nent. He is credited with killing more
spectators than any other knight of the
wheel and has been through more fences
than any of them ever dared to at
tempt. He began his exciting career
back in 1902. and has never missed a
year since he began his sensa tonal work
behind the wheel \ slight idea of some
of his accidents include:
1902, Detroit-Turned around on Crosse
Point track while driving the '999' a
mile a minute. Thrown from car and
badly bruised.
1903, Detroit-Crashed through fence
with ''Winton Bullet and killed two
spectators. Car smashed and OIdfield's
ribs and arm broken.
1G04-Blinded by clouds of dust. ran
through fence with Green Dragon in
races at St Louis worlds meet. Killed
two spectators. OldtieldS leg broken
head badly cut, chest crushed and other
wise hurt. In hospital three months.
190fRan off track at San Bernardino
Cal. Car shed and Oldfeld's arm
cut and head struck by falling fence rail
1805-Cut off by competitor at Crosse
Point track. in Detroit. Went through
inner fence with Green Dragon Shout
der broken. arm smashed and face cut.
1905-Ormond Beach, Fla. Tire eXplod-
ed and Green Dragon" ran into ocean
Oldfield thrown out in water and nearly
drowned
1aO6-Craslled through fence with
Green Dragon" at Harlem track in
Chicago. Side hurt and hip dislocated.
1GO7-Driving racer on road race course
at Lowell, Mass. Struck tree at junction
of roads. Badly hurt about head and
ankle broken.
19OStAscot Park, Los Angeles, Cal. Ran
into rear of competing car. which skidded
In front of his car Back sprained and
cut about the arms
19G-Arms paralyZed while driving car
on indianapolis speedway. Thrown from
seat and badly bruised. Mechanic grab
bed steering wheel and prevented car
from capsizing
91O-Steering knuckle of car broken
while it was going 100 miles an hour on
indianapolis speedway. Car struck pro-
lection wall and was thrown back on to
track. Oldfield was cut about the les
Oldfeld has also figured in many minor
accidents not enumerated above
Ralph De Palma. who, in his ninety
~S' ~ PS"Si AoNSir SCI lie" teIl-lllle
American track record and a new one
mile Pennsylvania track record at the
Norristown Automobile Clubs meet at
the Belmont Driving Club track near
Pa. last week, startled some
Of the other crack speed kings by his
and they are on his trail
His time for the ten miles was : min
utes 81 ID seconds, which is 40 seconds
better, than the previous mark for this
established over the course al
st. Paul, Mimi De Palma covered the
one mile in - ID seconds. This is II 81
seconds faster than the best time ever
made at the Old Point Breeze track.
where De Palma himself holds the record.
There Is some question, however, Wheth-
er these records will be officially reco.-
niZed by the contest board of the Ameri-
can Automobile Association Under the
y. A. y. ruling no records are taken
cCgniZance of unless the time is taken bv
an automatic timing device Such an an
paratus had been installed and connec-
tons made between the tape and an in
strument on the official stand. but the
timers experienced difficulty in mana eing
the contrivance One of them said thar
he damaged two watches in operating
the device.
4 special meeting of the Automobile
Club of Washington has been called for
evening. at o'clock, at the