Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-09
New Auto Records
At Los Angeles, Cal.

Plat Del Rey, Cal, April S.-The es-
tablishment of many new speed records
today marked the opening of the Los
Angeles motordrome. Every worlds
record for one-mile track from one to
100 miles was broken and five national
speedway marks were lowered in the
trials and the free for-all contests.
New mile track records were expect
ed for this is the first board track ever
raced on by motor cars. In addition
to national records, new marks were
also set in stock car events.
The racing was free from accidents
At the end of the 1OO-mile record a car
driven by Frank Sifert turned turtle,
but after the car had run into the pad
dock, Sifert's arm had become numb
from the strain and he lost control of
the wheel. He was not injured
The first mile on the track was
record. Caleb Bragg, an amateur sent
the Fiat 80 around in 1856. George
Robertson was next to be sent away
and his big Simplex Numbered after
the 10-mile record. When he began
clipping miles off in 80 seconds it was
apparent that the record would fall
i He finished the 10 miles in 6:31:37
Strang's mark at Atlanta for this dis
lance was 7:01:94
Another worlds mile track record
and speed way mark went glimmer-
ing when Barney Oldfield turned loose
his 2O0-horsepOwer Benz for mile,
making the Pie pan" in 1922 seconds
This car was never opened to its limit
and it is expected that still lower
mark will be set. Ralph De Palma in
his 190-horsepoWer Fiat, cut down the
5-mile mark to 3:15:62. He was fol-
| lowed by Ban kerscher, who cut the
Emile record to 1:1S:29 in Darracq.
The racing was unusually spirited and
| every contest was hard fought
The most sensational drive of the day
was made by Oldfeld in Knox in the
1O-mie race for cars with 451-6OO cubic
inches piston displacement Getting
way to a bad starting due to his posi-
ton on the extreme inside, Oldfeld was
| an eighth of mile behind the flying
Standardization with Livingston up, IN
the first half-mile. Hanshu in the Apper-
son was running second. Oldfield began
his race for the leaders and by the end
of the fourth mile was In command. win,
| ming handily in Isl 2-5. The Appersop
was second.
The five-mile free-for-all proved a
thriller. with De Palma in the Fiat %
and Robertson in the Simplex racing
hood and hood for almost the entire dis
lance. The Italian won by a scant length
in 1850.
The 1OO-inile race was fight between
1arroun's Marmon and Seifert's Doris
The cars were Tapped for 95 of the 100
miles, AT the end of 80 miles the Doris
crossed the line one foot ahead of the
Marmon. Harround drew awav in tho
last flve miles and opened up a gan of
several hundred feet. He won the race
IN l.25.22. 10. which cuts 4.46.21 off his own
record made at Atlanta
In the 10-mile race for stock cars with
iol-2oo displacement, Endicott in a Cole
won In 9.03.25. The former record was
94946. made at Atlanta.
The weather was cold and cloudy and a
strong wind was blowing across the
track S. B. Stevens of Boston was ref
cree. S. A. Butler. chairman of the A.
A. Contest Board. was honorary referee
F. j. Wagner of New York did the start
ing. An automatic electric timer was
used.