The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-28
MIGHTY FAST TIME
MADE BY OLDFIELD
Establishes Track Record of Mile in 55 Seconds
WithsHis Famous Benz Knox Breaks Down,
But is Repaired and Gives Good
Account Of Itself,

a dirt track. but 1t is by far the
best record ever made In this section
OF the country. Probably $500 people
saw the daredevil turn the trick, and
OF this number quite sprinkling were
white people who patronized White
Folks Day OF the Colored Fair.
Oldf1eld was billed as the chief at
traction OF the day. He was. Many
people had an idea OF the speed he had
developed In his cigar-shaped Benz
with 200 horsepower driving the
wheels. but few realized Just how fast
a machine must go on track to cover
a mile in less than a minute On the
!straightaway heSmust have been going
at the rate OF mile In thirty five sec
onds. for the slight bank to the turns
made 1t necessary to considerably re-,
.duce the speed. It was a great day.
and the management of the first Col
ored Fair deserves much credit for
the enterprise exhibited In bringing
5Oldtield to Richmond
First Mile in Fifty-seven Seconds.
The first car was brought on the
track at $3.50 o'clock. It was the Knox
stock car, with which Oldfeld defeated
Jack Johnson. a flying start brought.
the car before the grandstand at a
ter the first mile had been covered the
crank shaft broke. and the car was
carried to the Enclosure for repairs.
Then came the famous Benz. Look
ing every inch a racer, with It's cigar.
like shape. the famous driver brought
the car through the gates to the track.
Waving his right hand. Barney tore
down the stretch. and gave the timers
the signal that he was off. Round he
tore, and when the watches clicked the
time but fifty- seven seconds had been
innocent bystander was heard to re-
mark tina he's IN too much OF a hurry
for ME. Ys 'jss35Fi!
"A motor cycle race was sand wicheds
In between the next try. An Indian
and a Thor machine were the contest
ants. and furnished pretty fYe-milei
encounter. The Indian wongin the Very
good time OF 7:26.
Then back came the speed king. J.
"A. Sloan his nagersannounced%t that!
he would try to n lower the Southern
than one head OF hair stood on end as
he clrcled the track. required con-
icentrated eyeslght to 4 low the car.
Dust.rost In LIQUIDS. but the tmperturb-s
able Barney smoked his cigar. Timers
had their watches out, and the an-s
nouncement that track record OF
5flfty- five seconds had been established
was received with cheers. s
After this trial there was another
motor cycle event over an miles. The
Indian again carried ii of he laurels.5
though IT. was q. pretty race and on
several occasions the Thor was ahead.
Drives Knox In Fast Time.
Oldfield's last exhi ton was with
the Knox car. which had been repaired
EIe went two miles In u :O7, remarkable;
time when the track and the car are
taken into consid eration. together,
OldAeld's first appearance here can be
declared a s,lccGss. Fl 8 M sh oWe ell Il con-
clnsively that he Is jus t $ fearless as
he has been reporte to be, He showed
further = that he lis q perfect master Of
his cars,
Piloted by a Thomas FL iers d ri ven by
Shannon G.. Lees Of the JOKES Motor
Company. the two ra ce rs left 4 he Sk'ai 81
Grounds immed iately at ter he eX hi II
ton for OF field Is private ilways gar-g
age, which was on the tracks at BYRD
Street Station. 1T was 4 he work of but
a few minutes to- hoist the two ars to
their places, and then OF dhel d and his
wife eftfor the j efferson8an dinner. "
the way, one of VI the most; interested
spectators was this same Mrs. q tield 4