Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-26
NEW AUTO CIRCUIT PROJECT

THE proposition of establishing grand auto
mobile racing circuit i'll America will appeal
to many people, and especially right here
where we have the fastest automobile highways III
the world The smashing OF the two most impor-
tant worlds records at Santa Monica on Thanks
giving proved it, and the coming races at Oakland
are likely to give further evidence, and they may
even beat the pace the racers set here.
The formation of such circuit is born OF a
desire OF the eastern speed enthusiasts and some
OF the European drivers to pit their skill against
all COmerS over the California courses. Hereto
fore the great drawback has been the great cost
of bringing machines and drivers with their at
tendant meChaniCans clear to the Pacific coast,
with nothing more than the possibility OF one OF
two DAYS meet. The grand circuit idea would
enable the racers to start here in the winter, with
a string of short Jumps through the south, going
northward in springtime and finishing with the
New York and Long Island meets in the fall.
One certain result would be the impetus it
would give to good roads building. None better
than the people of Los Angeles county know their
benefits because we really enjoy them. They
have made the sport of road racing III Southern
California. Instead OF nClosed and expensive
tracks that are almost useless for any other pur-
pose we do our racing on the roads that are built
for the convenience and comfort Of Our people and
for the practical use of the mikman, the delivery
wagon and the heavier trucks of commerce. The
beautiful homes that line them give an ever chang
ing view and add continuous interest to the
progress Of the race that cannot be obtained by
simply watching speed around nclosed
track
All motor enthusiasts agree that the speed pos
sibilites Of the Santa Monica course never have
been brought out because the high-pOwered cars
have not been raced here. Yet the best that the
high power cars was able to do in the Vanderbilt
cup races on Long Island was beaten by seven
miles an hour here, and the best work of the same
speed monsters in Savannah, Ga, was outdone
here by three miles an hour. These achievements
were made in a car Of only forty-fve horse power.
1t is claimed that with motor OF $50 to 200 horse
power it would be possible to take the grade in
the fOur-nile stretch in Nevada at $50 miles
an hour and do it in safety. They also claim a
speed Of 100 miles an hour could be maintained
along the Palisades and down to the ocean turn.
Oakland also is making almost as great claims
for the new course there, which has been cut from
twenty-five miles to eleven miles, and only four
turns The Oakland course has splendid road
bed although parts of it are not so well settled as
the stretches in Santa Monica, but Oakland has
only one grade in the course and only one bad
crossing.
For tryouts both OF our great California
courses there should he aid given to the grand
circuit proposal. No matter whether American
or foreign cars and drivers win, the glory of the
records made will belong to California; for all
agree that here IS where the auto gives up all the
speed that is in it.