The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-18
Ralph Dc Palma Declares rl,.
Four-Hundred-M Mile Confess
Is No Strain.
COOL HEAD AND STEADY \
NERVE ONLY REQUlSlTS,
PhiIosophic Acceptance Of a,
Result Is a Part Of The
Racing Game.
BY RALPH DE PALMA

Since the grand prise race an
every one | have met, after mski,.
few remarks, fscctious or othsy-i,
about the way ] secured the lead N n
last third OF the big race-sons,hi,.
| shall never forget-only 20 bfa;
down just before the finish, has 4.
quired as TO how much Of rir,;.
the contest was upon me physis,n,
Whilo some people may not bsG,-.
it, that long race was the most q
ioyabje J have ever experienced On ssr
course.
For me. IL was a JOY ride in the tr.
sense of the word. At tho finish !.
not think | was the least bit tired h
| did not feel fine IT was bseans,
was disappointed In losing out vifb
breakdown 80 near the finish. paftis>
larry when ] had experienced absoIutl
Is no tire trouble. IL was really 4
marka bic that the Fiat g tires gave =.
no difficulty rnnning for nearly 311|
uiles at seventyoue miles an hcs-
average. II amused me- a good a.
Just to watch how they stood ND D.
after lap. Why. while I was in e.
running I was having a great deal z
fun waving TO my friend Bruce -Bfoz,
70 stay back and not drive 30 fas. "a
were 'skidding' each other frequeuti,
The supposiiion that 400-mile rua<
race is a hardship on driver is . M
take.
Harroun Is Exhausted.
On the other hand. take tho case Il
Ray Harroun. who. when the race "
n little more than half over, had to q1.
because be was exhausted and in ia
shape. This statement is by no rness|
any reflection on Hsrroun 8 ability, "a
nc is one OF the best. 1t merely sbor'
that drivers can not always keep d
form for long periods under high sped
conditions. That was demonstrate d
a twcpty-four hour race a: Bnebto>
last summer. when my arms beam
paralyzed early in the grind, and Pa,
ker. Hswley and other seasoned ne
in tho same race had tho same tronbI4
This thing has occurred on otte
courses-a driver starting out in ~
pareDtlv perfect physical condition an
then having some part of his system <
vrong-nsusca or mum huess PerhaE
attacking him. Sometimes this is esase'
bv rough course. or perhaps lIttA
nervousness developed during the rae.
for while near-accidents or bad skid
have no after effect on tho minds 2
some pilots (myself included). The
have a decided effect on others
! think drivers temperament has
great deal to do with his actual ps'
steal condition while in n race. Tas
the French type of driver: as q cils
they are inclined to be eKcitahle or 4
into a mad rage if something g,
wrong while in the contest. Some
these have been known to start 2.
after a slight delay and apparent
lose their heads. driving real
EcraZy' race. taking corners NOT on
with recklessness, but with bad. movie
like Judgment as well. in fact, rs'
years ago the wilder and crazler
speed merchant was. the bigger his re'
utaticu There is a certain wellknoH
road driver who is always cool "a
perfectly calm while driving az pb'
nomenal speed. but if anything irreg
lar occurs to make him lose time .
becomes highly nervous and has pee
known to bite his fingers or tear 2
his hair in his excitement.
Takes it Philosophically.
NOW III ~ UluSD suCU q thluS U''@-'
never occur TO me, nor would II occu
TO many other drivers. For some re'
son or other when l see that l q
bopelcssly ont of a race. as al e
vannah, / burst out with reguH
schoolboy laugh-not that j think
"A Joke 10 lose race and fat puI5r,
and not that | do it Intentionally,
is merely nv substitute for hair.tca'
chicken with its head of. And, 2
the vav. losing $1,000 or $1,000 when
is lust about under your uose IS no,
thing TO bring hig smile to any ono %
in view of the high cost of living. ~
they sa,. / snickered at Savannah. whc'
| examiusd the car and saw al nef
was gone.
Ii has always struck me that mo-
."hcadwork as they might. and hese
work in racing is something ] hass g
WAYS paid lot Of attention 70.
learned il in the bicycle racing gsr,,e7
Judging distance. speed, and especls',
cauging and Keeping tab on the ctnf
fellows, counts 1t is Just as necesss..
60 retain vour composure and avoid PEI
soupl fatigue as il is 20 save tbe "a,
In fact what is known as hesdHof'
keeps YOU from closing Your hssd.
1t strikes me that the driver who e,
remain cool and rot get fused we
things 20 wrong during u contes,
better able TO stand the physical stis,
when he gets back in the rupnlng a%
invariably stands better chance
catching mp, and | know OF other ar
ers who agree with me