Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-26

porters, the American cup race among
yachtmen and the Suburban handicap
among horse followers. Thousands Of peo-
pie watch its progress each season. either
in person or through the daily trade press.
and there is every indication that reli-
ability contests instead of waning are in
deed increasing in popular favor. 1t must
be so as purchasers of motor cars become
more discriminating for they learn far more
of the ability and quality of a machine
from this type of contest than from any
other. Such is the case In Europe where
endurance contests now take precedence
over races.
Certain large sections of this country
have been visited by the Glidden tour and
this Is really the one which counts most
far more than local affairs, and only the
Pacific coast has not been touched by it
thus far. The small transcontinental runs
already held have indicated their value
The logical start would be New York and
the finishing point San Francisco, and be-
tween these widely separated points there
would be variety Of available routes 1t
is likely that Albany. Buffalo, Cleveland,
Chicago Omaha, Denver, Cheyenne, Salt
Lake City and Ogden would be intermediate
points, with several probable detours.
When the predi ton was made that Chair
eman s. NJ. Butler prior to the start of tho
run, that the present Gldden tour would
be the most severe ever attempted. 1t was
little dreamed that the run would prove al
strenuous 1t has to date. Perfect scores
have been shattered day after day and the
veteran newspaper correspondents who con-
slider themselves qualified to pick the prob
able winners unit In declaring that
there is little possibility of even one perfect
score In either division. Ray Mcnamara,
the noted Premier driver, who is at the
wheel Of the No. Premier entry, is being
picked to win the Gldden trophy. Mona
mara participated in reliability runs all
over the country and stands an excellent
chance of winning the coveted honor. In
the contest for the Chicago Motor club
claque, Joseph A. Wicke has been named
the, most likely winner. Wicke is at
the wheel of Moline No 101, which is one
of the Moline dreadnought squadron of
three cars, all of which are contestants In
the Chicago Division. The work of these
two drivers Is being watched with partic>
ular interest, more particularly that OF
Wicke because of the fact that he was
dark horse in last years long run, and that
he is going through the entire trip this
year with absolutely no extra parts and
with no tools other than tire tools.
In prior year Gliddenites have traversed
roads of all sorts and descriptions, from
RADIO to the beautiful macadam highways
of Massachusetts Mountain ranges have
been climbed and valleys traverscd and
the roads of this year are not one whit
better than those of previous events.
The friction between the entrants and
the chairman Of the contest board, which
was prominent In all previous years.
is missing this year, and the Glddenites
feel like one great family. Under the rule
OF the Little Gear, Frank B. Hover of Buff
falo, there was ever present feeling that
all was not we'll The drivers felt under
restraint and the newspaper men, those
who really make Gidden tours what they
are. were never assisted in any way by that
official under his regime This year every
many on the tour swears by Sam Butler"
The new chairman of the contest board OF
the American Automobile association is as
different from Bower is the day from
the night, and IL is safe to say that there
will be no i'll feeling when this years event
is over let the winner be whom he may.
Some of the noncontesting cars are doing
valiant service for the less fortunate
brothers. The drivers of press and official
cars never fail TO stop and offer assistance
to any contesting drivers when passing
them by the wayside A general feeling Of
good fellowship prevails and this fact will
do more to make the run of 1911 success
full than any other feature.
The tourists will welcome the entry into
Chicago and when that control rolls Into
view on the last day, June 80, there will
be a general sigh Of relief Owners of
motor cars who have toured for one, two
OF three days do not realize tho physical
strain one is compelled to undergo when
one undertakes a long tour like the present
run over the Glidden way under a severe
running schedule