The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-11-28
ALL SPEED
RECORDS | ARE
J. SMASHED
MILFORD, AMERICAN DRIVER OF
lozlER MACHINE WINS VAN.
DERelLT CUP EvENT-AvERAGE
SPEED 1909 MILES PER HOUR.


E GRAND PRIZE RACE COURSE
SAVANNAH, Ca, Nov. 2S-When a
white streak flashed by the judges
stand late yesterday. at the finish OF
the seventh Vandebilt cup race the
American automobile world hailed
Ralph X. Milford, driver Of Lozlcr
car, as new champion.
Not only had Mulford lowered all
previous Vanderbilt records, he also
had surpassed the San Monica per-
formance OF Harvey Herricks, in GOV.
ering 2O2 miles at an average OF 74.G3
miles an hour. At that he was pushed
to win the nerve.racking 292.mle con-
test by Ralph DePalma, the brilliant
driver OF French Mercedes. De-
Palma finished Just little more than
two minutes behind the winner and
eight minutes In advance OF the other
Mercedes cntrant, Spencer Wishart
who finished third.
Only Six Finished
Only six OF the fourteen cars that
started finished. Bob Burman and
David Bruce-Brown, winner of last
years Grand Prize race, were among
those forced to drop out, through the
detection Of their machines.
The race was run without the exac-
tom OF the usual tool OF human life,
Among numerous accidents which be.
.fellSthe contestantsito the ;detriment OF
their chances to possess the coveted
trophy, only one imperlled life and
limb. A rear, wheel on Browns
Flat car flew of after turn had been
taken at slow speed. Bruce-Brown and
his mechanician escaped unhurt. i
Burman's Hard Luck IN,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Bob Burman was the victim of hard
luck. He had just driven his Marmon
around the seventh lap In record time
one minute and half behind Mulrord,
the leader when a loose stone struck
the gasoline tank connection and
broke 1t. Burman abandoned the race.
Joe Cyrus Patchke, driver OF the other
Marmon entry. also was running a
good race when an air pump gave
way on the ninth lap and forced him
out OF the contest. Job Mabon took
his Fiat back TO camp when leaky
radiator threatened the destruction OF
his engine by fire. Milford said to.
night he owed his victory largely 10
good luck with tires. He made but
one change De Palma was less fortu,
nate. being compelled to stop four
times for new tires. and ut the finish
he was running practically on the rim
of one rear wheel.
Finished with a Roar
A roar Of Niagara like proportion
bent the air as the graceful white flyer
flashed into the stretch and the din
continued until Milford finished, the
victor. Though defeated De Palma. was
game to the end and he was also wildly
chcered as he finished . minutes and
II seconds behind the winner
The elapsed time OF the six cars
which finished the race was as fol-
lows:
Lo1ier, cRalph Mulford), 2s6.Oo G7.
100.
Mercedes Ralph De palma, 23s.l1,
9l.1OO.
Mercedes spencer wishart,, 24G.2o
37IOO.
Lozier Harry Grant,. 2OO.23, 47-lOC
Flat IT, II. Parker), 24424. S.10O.
Pope-Hummer Uouis Drlsbrow), 269
.O2, 6s.lO0.
The, average speed Of the winner was
14.O7 miles an hour. His time for tho
2Oo miles d gainst Herriok's record
WIS 74.9. 'Herrlck's record was 74.G3
The record for n former Vanderbilt
race wns G5.OS miles an hour held BY
Harry Grant, 5.ls,