The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-24
RACING CARS ARE
NOT ADM lit ED.
Virginia and North Carolina
Trips to Test Staying Power
of Various Makes of Motor
Cars and Ability of
Their Driv-
ers.
BY H. w. BAssETT,
Official Referee A. A. A.

Paraphrasing the saying that "All
coons look alike to the eye of tho
average automobile buyer. all auto
mobiles look alike" How TO choose so
as to get the best value for the pur-
pose and for the money at his conf
mand is the question uppermost ID
| the mind of the buyer. The experience
| of others and the knowledge that rs
] gained by newspaper accounts OF the
| performances of the different makes or
| cars is what he has to rely upon IN
| making his purchase.
| A reliability run. or endurance run.
| as 1t Is sometimes called, is the best
| test to which a car may be put. speed
| is not to be considered as an essentlai
at all in such a test. In TACT. speea
is distinctly disconntenanced. as may
! be Judged by the fact that control STA
lions are established on the course OF
the run. by which a contestant may
not pass under stated and given time
without penalty to himself and his
score. Taking into consideration the
character of the road. and the average
miles per hour to be attained as speed.
the time OF arrival at any control is
arranged beforehand. and schedule
made up giving the contestants time
table by which they may be guided.
and so avoid excessive speed
To show how strict the rules of the
contest board are, the following rule
might be quoted, under the head Of
Road Regulations:
"4s7. Any car whose owner or
driver sh II be arrested for a viola
tion az speed laws, or of any law or
ordinance, may be disqualified or pena.
lized at the discretion of the referee.
Road Hogs Disqualified.
Another rule provides that any ems
trant or his representative VINO shaii
fail to observe all local ordinances or
rules of the road. or VINO talis "
show proper respect for the rights OF
other, users of the public highways,
shall be subject to penalization or dis
qualification. In this, as In all othef
matters pertaining to the conduct OF
cars on the road any observer on
anv car may report infraction OF rules
by any contestant, reporting the same
at the end Of the days run. In other
words, everybody watches everyp2dy
else. 1t will be seen from the fore
going that an endurance run Is IN no
sense a race. Should contestant ar
rise at one of the control stations be
fore his scheduled time he Is Obliged,
under penalty TO wait OUTSIDE tne
control station until such time as he lis
scheduled TO pass this point, and dur
ing all this time he must keep the
motor running, though the car be at
rest to allow the motor to stop would
subject him to penalty.
No Freak Cars Admitted.
A "reliability run" is for stock cars
or constructed cars are eligible. The
car. entered must hear certain ratio
to tho total number of cars manu-
featured by that maker annually.
When the entrant names his car ht
must at the same time nama his driver,
or drivers. and his official representa-
tive, the duties of the latter being Ia
protect the rights of tho entrant. and,
II necessary to enter protests. II the.
same are called for, The driver may
serve as representative II so desired
II the representative be named IN
addition to the driver no shall at all
times ride in the car of the entrant so
naming him A sworn statement from
the manufacturer Is on file at the office
of the A. A. A.. and all cars entered
must conform to this descriptions, be-
fore the run all cars arc Inspected by
IL technical committee and their con-6
dition noted. After the run is over
the same committee inspects them
again. and any defects or needs OF
repairs noted and the cars penal!zed y
accordingly clean score means that
Il car has gone through the run with
out the need of either repairs or ad-
iustments Gasolene or oil or water
may be taken on at the noon or night
controls without penalty, but, must
| always he done In the presence OF tho
observer, Adjustments or replacemant
OF tires may be made anywhere on
tho road without penalty II the motor n
' Is kept running all tho time snfH
Continued on Second pase.l