Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-25
NATIONAL RAGING
CIRCUIT PROPOSED
1911 Season Will See Many New
Cars in the Contests for
Speed Supremacy
CALIFORNIA TO START SEASON
Well Managed Series of Racing
Meets Would Get Sup
port of the Public
CALIFORNIA TO START SEASON

NEW YORK, Dec 24-The move
mcnt to form u national automobile
racing circuit Is gaining ground. Dc
mands for Il more centralized system of
racing cars are being aired in all parts
of the country. They come from man
ufaCturers, speedway managers and the
general motoring public. The past sue
cessful season on the speed courses
has created such interest in the sport
that even better racing is demanded
next year. The national circuit plan
would 90 a long way toward filling this
demand.
After all, it is the manufacturers who
make possible the race meets. They
afford the excitement and thrills for
thousands of motorists throughout the
country. The more practical cam
paigns are made for the makers the
better will be the quality Of sport
shown the public The national circuit
plan would be of such benefit TO manu-
facturors that better competition would
be made possible.
For instance: 1t had been estimated
that racing campaigns cost from $780,
00C to 100000 annually. OF course there
are concerns which squeeze through at
a lower figure, and those who step fur
ther into the province of six figures.
Such a great expense keeps out many
nrms which are unwilling to draw upon
the funds for legitnte advertising pur-
poses in order to obtain publicity
through the medium of the speed game.
If the national circuit plan were in
vogue these expenses would be almost
cut in half. A large item is the cost
of making iOng jumps to different
courses throughout the country. Such
trips would be done away with under
the circuit scheme, for the teams would
move from track to track in easy
stages.
The time for the circuit is ripe. Fred
T. Wagner who starts and conducts
every race meet OF importance IN TINS
country, says that the natives of Cah-
fornia cannot get too much Of the mile
a-minute pastime. They have a big
motordrome, and others are IN the
course of construction or fully mapped
out. Wagner is well qualified to feel
the pulse of automobile racing. He
saws that the national circuit scheme Is
the best proposition for the sport that
has ever been launched.
Such circuit would take in west.
south. east and north. The season could
begin in California the first part of
each year. The opening meet could be
held at Los Angeles, or the Portola
road race could start the engines bark
ing. Other events could be staged at
san Francisco and Seattle. In all, the
racing of the far coast could be booked
as to run 10 IIlc emu VI Apills
Then the drivers and their cars could
swing into the middle west At In
dianapolis. on Memorial day. would be
one of the biggest meets of the year.
Some of the drivers say that 1t takes
two or three weeks to adjust their
carburetors after driving in California.
The climate is such that a quick change
to another section affects the working
of the part. BY ending the ear coast
campaign by the end OF April the driV-
crs would nave plenty of time to pre-
pare for the indianapolis racing.
Chicago, Cleveland and tracks in the
vicinity could be booked after Indian
anolis, and then the eastern invasion
would be in order. New York and en-
virons could be raced followed by
meets at Buffalo. Philadelphia would
he in line, too. After the east hat
been raced out, the gasoline trail would
lead south. Atlanta would be visited,
the beaches, New Orleans and IeXas'
Then the trail could lead back to Cali
fornia. This is merely the idea in the
rough. A schedule would have to be
arranged so that motordromes ike
Atlanta, indianapolis and Los Angeles
would have more than one meeting
year. The idea appears to be GOOD
one, promising benefit TO all interested
in motorcar racing.
The sport of motor racing is now on
n good sound basis. Great progress
was made this year. The meets were
more uniformly conducted and all or
the important ones under direct super
vision of the A. A. a. However, there
IS still some room for Improvement
While many manufacturers are not
ready to make announcements of their
1911 plans they have given out enough
inTormatiOn so far to promise the
greatest season in the annals of the
sport. Nearly all of the cars already
in the game will be on the tracks
again. and it is certain that many new
drivers will appear. Moreover, several
concerns that entered competition on
a small scale the past season will COM
pete on bigger basis next summer.
The entrance into the race game OF
the United Motors company is expected
Ey many to rival the meteoric career
of the Buick concern, whose cars be-
came notorious under the skilled hands
of Burman, Chevrolet and Lewis
Strang. The MaxWells have made a
good showing in class events for
which they were eligible. Now it is
reported on good authority that the
Stoddard- Dayton make, a United Mo
1Jrs concern, will be represented by at
least one powerful car on road and
speedway next season.
The Cutting Forty company is build
ing a monster speed craft in its NGichi-
gan factory. This car, new in the rae
ing game this year, has made a strong
showing throughout the middle west.
Judging from the work of its stock
machine, the special should be a
worthy competitor of all comers. 1t is
also rumored that the Chalmers, which
was declared champion stock ear of
1909 will re-enter the racing game next
year. The National, Lozer, Chadwick,
Benz, Fiat, Falcar, Stearns, Pope
Hartford, McFarlan Six, Lancia, Chad
wick EMF, Great Western, Maxwell,
Mercedes, Alec, Marmon, Velie and
many others which have scored are
now preparing for the coming year.