Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-01
BIG AUTO RACE At ELClS
Summer or Early Autumn Will See
Event in Illinois.
CHICAGO CLUB BACKS EVENT
New MotOrdrOme VIII sooner or
Later he Built by ChicnEoans, but
Their Identity Yet Remains
secret.

NEW YORK. April N-If reports that
are coming out Of the middle west are not
too highly tinted with optimism Elgin. IL,
will be the scene OF a big automobile road
race late this summer or IN early autumn.
IL Is hinted that the event will De the
glamour Of the national stock chassis race.
Lowell. Mass. conducted this contest last
year and was scheduled 20 do 80 again.
The automobile club Of that city defaulted
on the 1910 schedule Of the American Auto
mobile association. This leaves a vacant
date on the motor racing calendar, and Il
is probable that the race VIII be staged at
Elgin.
The Chicago Motor club is behind the pro
ject Plans arc being pushed rapidly and
II Is expected that a definite date will be
announced shortly. An arrangement has
been reached. il is understood, between
the Chicago Motor club and the business
men OF Elgin The Elgin people have
guaranteed to raise a fund OF $1,000. This
is necessary for the conducting Of the
meeting. President David Beecroft OF the
Chicago Motor club has received assur-
ances that the money will be forthcoming
al the proper time.
IL is said that a wealthy resident has
offered to organize a stock company and
raise the $4,000 II the business men fail 70
make good. There does not appear to be
any doubt in the minds of the Chicagoans
that the sum will be raised. The idea Of
having big national automobile event held
right at Elgin's front door pleases the
natives. Then there are the financial
phases OF the situation TO be considered.
The monetary gain to a town or city oc-
casioned by q big road race is no small
item.
Outlook Is bright.
While the plans for the event are as yet
In the preliminary stage, a bright outlook
is at hand. That the Chicago Motor club
will Try to make the Elgin road race su-
pertor to the Cobe cup event conducted last
year by the Chicago Automobile club over
/ the Lowell-Crown Point course is fore
! gone conclusion. The organizations are
( rivals in Chicago's motor world An at
/ tempt will be made to make the Elgin
meeting much larger than the Cope cup
one.
1t has been announced that the trophy
/ for the big race will be known as the
Elgin cup. The proposed course over
| which the races will be held is eight
and a half miles TO the lap. Estimates fol
putting the course in condition for auto
mobile speeding rate the job at $500. The
services Of road supervisors have beer
volunteered and the city Of Elgin viii
donate steam rollers, horses and other road
preparing accessories. 1t is estimated thai
the meeting will call for an outlay Of
Sl6,5oo
Trouble over Cope Event.
While the Chicago Motor club is pro
/ crossing with its Elgin race the Chicago
Automobile club is having trouble will
/ the Cope cup event. Just when the rsc'
will be staged is problemsticeL The Indian
/ apolis speedway will make a bid for tn,
event, IT is said. The Chicago promoter
have given up the idea Of constructing 4
motordrome this year. However, 1t il
stated that such a speed circuit will surel!
be built next year. Speaking on the sub
ject President Cobe Of the club recently
said:
The identity Of the promoters of th'
proposed motordrome must remain a secret
l am satisfied, however, that they Intent
putting up a track that will be credit t
Chicago and one which will afford the bes
kind of motor racing. They now are or
ganizing their company, and when 1 sa!
there will be no speedway racing here thl
year do not mean that work on the tract
will not be started. AS soon as things ar
| in shape. which will be before long, 1t
said the promoting company will start IL
operations and even before fall the worl
should be in such shape as to satisfy ever
one Of the seriousness OF the intentions o
the people back of the enterprise Mex
year we shall have here a track that vii
be as good as those at Indianapolis an
Atlanta, if not better. II will be q BIZ
oval too"