The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-18
Pilot Harry Ward, in Charge Of
Munsey Tour, Is an Un-
conscious Prisoner.
RESERVE CAR KEEPS
JUST BEHIND LEADER
Contest Develops Into all Excit-
ing Race Between Two Off
cial Automobiles.

| Although he was beyond doubt un-
aware, Pilot Harry Ward, the official in
charge of the Munsey tour, which
closed recently, had been through all
the 1850 miles of the tour virtually Il
prisoner on the q. NJ +, "30' pilot
car assigned to his use. Without
knowing 1t, his every movement was
watched, and, had he made any at
tempt without reasonable excuse to
cover foot of the journey in any 9th
er car he would have had the fact
brought to his attention in most sur
prising way by Driver Lee w. Oldfield
of Detroit. The condition brings to
light one of the peculiar customs which
are being developed by the American
tyne of endurance run.
Before he left the f. M F. com
pany's factory in Detroit, Odfcld was
instructed that his main duty consisted
IN retaining possession Of the person
NJ. f. $50" Gliddcn tour pilot car of
1909, which held big Dal Lewis right
down to the final day Of the tour, and
the Instances of other successful pilot
cars in the history Of the firm s com
petlt1ve enterprises were recited for
Oldfeld's benefit. "I III keep the man
Ward in my car if ] have to sandbag
him. - remarked the driver, and set his
Jaw In determined style.
Pilot Car Certain.
Be it known that the pilot car Of an
automobile tour is a vehicle in which
mechanical difficulty or delay from 9TH
er cause simply must not occur. This
car has been always the pathfinder of
the tour and IN the tour proper car
ries the nilet who laid out the route
of the original trip. IL precedcs the
caravan by small margin of time out
of the day s starting point and lays
the paper confetti which guides the con
testing cars that follow. 1t must keep
far enough ahead to enablo the pilot to
change the route on short notice in case
road conditions make the original So
lection impracticabe.
In case The pilot car meets with acci-
dent or other trouble the pilot must
shift to another car, with his confetti.
The first contesting or official car that
happens along Is always impressed into
service without hesitation, for the tour
must proceed without delay
In the Munsey tour the management, |
of past experiences. added re.
serve pilot cara high powered vehicle |
with driver who had been, no doubt
,.o'i uSt.I W oeCuIe Jue person or RIl0t |
Ward if he could.
Reserve Car Fast,
The challenge was tacitly rendered
and accepted. For all the I55O.odd
miles of the tour the road locomotive
Numbered in the dust of the e. M. +.
On the second day out the affair devel.
oped into race, the reserve car being
driven in the obvious attempt to push
The =. NJ. F. TO n speed where, in case
Tho least weakness should develop,
catastrophe would be suro TO follow.
Through the placid meadows of New
Jersey, along the highlands of the Hud
son the two cars fought it out at ex-
press train speed Through the grounds
u the West Point Military academy
ne race OF one day tore at sixty miles
IN hour, to the nights stop. The ca
lets turned out the guard, telephoned
lp the road and declared martial law,
'ut the Z. M T.. led by a good half,
nile to the hotel where the minions
II the law made the ''pirch. -
Through Connecticut, Rhode Island
nd Massachusetts into Maine and all
he way along the devious return trim.
lear to Washington, the battle contin,
led with similar result Ever the r
D. r. held The lead-and the pilot-but
eldom was the margin so great that
glance over the road to the rear
ID not disclose the grim, implacable
ursuer: In vnin did OIdfeId endeayor
0 steal a march on his rival bv an
ariy start. When the darkness Of the
mall hours Of the morning found the
ther vehicle ready to follow, the
harge was openly made that its crew
so S!ept In the ssats. Dolly, .the rair