New-York tribune., 1911-11-30
ConfeSfanfS in
Grand Prize Race
Icy Telegraph TO The TrIhnne. !

savannah. Nov. "a clear. cold day
with the course very fast. are the condi-
tons promised tonight for the Grand
Prize race, which will start at o'clock to-
morrow morning. Some of the weather ex-
perts profess 10 be able to see rain indi-
cations but they are strictly in the minor
ity. Every one in Savannah who has an
overcoat is guarding IT with care, for all
recall the cold storage conditions Of the
race OF 1910
Apparently every preparation has been
completed To-day members of the contest
committee of the Automobile Club OF Amer
Tea examined every car entered. to make
certain that the rules have been met The
regulations governing the international con-
test are not complicated, but in strict ad-
herence 10 them lies the certainty of a
safe race Technically il is required only
that the cars don't exceed a certain width
over all. that each be equipped with re-
verse gear. and that they be so constructed
as 70 afford safety TO occupants and the
spectators who line the course. Careful ex-
animation failed to disclose a weak spot
in the entire field, so that every car en-
tered will go TO the line.
The Benz machine TO be piloted by Hem
cry is the actual favorte. with Wagner
and the Fiat second choice. When the
teams are backed Benz is also favored over
Fiat, with the Mercedes. Lozer and Mar
mon about equally we'll liked for the minor
positions There has been a great deal
of discussion about the late entry Of the
Mercedes pair and some of the other
entrants seriously entertained the idea Of
.rT1
take part in the race. The contest com
mittee, however, has both rules and prece-
dent in support of its action in accepting
the two entries.
1t was learned tonight that Hemery had
suffered a painful mishap to-day, although
not serious enough to affect his driving
While removing a tire from his car about
noon the first finger of his right hand
was caught and one of the lgaments torn.
A physician applied q compression to keep
down the Inflammation. II will, of course
be painful in the running Of the race, but
there is no doubt that Hemery will stick
10 the car throughout.
The result OF the Vanderbilt Cup Race
and the amazing speed attained in II by
Mulford's winning Lozer has injected a
new element Of doubt into the minds Of
those VINO are most deeply interested IN the
race. Hemery, for instance. admits that
Mulford is a dangerous competitor. He
says ne never before visited America for a
race with the idea that. he had anything to
fear except from the foreign machines.
Now he counts the Americans a real fac
tor. especially If they have luck with the
cars.
bn Of n
nishing the favorites are satisfied with the
outlook.
"Our cars are in perfect condition" said
Z. r. Hollander. OF the Fiat Company. to-
night.
u believe we have the speed. and that
If we escape accidents we will furnish the
winner. l would feel absolutely confident
81 the course were soft, for in Wagner we
have a driver whose skill is greater than
that OF any other driver in the world, and
skill tells on a muddy circuit"
Jesse Froelich, of the Benz company,
would also welcome a soft course for the
contest in the expectation that Hemerys
cleverness would De a tremendous advan-
tage.
1--WE are using two men. Heane and
Bergdol, who have had little experience in
long road races" Mr. Froelich said; never
theless I expect 20 see them 90 through
with credit. Hemery ! expect 10 be the
winner. He has superior speed, and there
Is no more skilful or resOurceful driver.
Afraid Of the Lozier? No. i wouldn't be
surprised TO see them beaten by two laps.
They simply lack the speed on the long
straightaways. We viii gain on them con-
tinually
u am not detracting from the merit Of
the Lozier victory in the Vanderbilt Cup
race That was a surprising performance
and l had no idea that they had developed
such a car The Grand Prize, however is a
different proposition, because the speed Will
b. too great to admit Of any nursing Of a
car Assuming that the course Is fast
expect 20 see the winner make majority
of his laps in less than thirteen minutes
Not lap was made in Mondays race at
that speed"
Despite the general expectation that the
gold cup struggle viii again bring a foreign
car triumph there is quiet confidence
among those who are closest To the Lozier
Entrants They figure that the ease with
which The cars ride will gain much time
through rendering tire changes unnecessary.
There is real ground for this feeling. In
me Grand Prize a year ago both LoZlers
went through without stop for tires In
Mondays race Mulford made only two tire
changes, O remarkable thing when X Is
Considered that the car is nearly as heavy
as the big foreign speed creations II is a
matter Of delicate balance and brainy hand
ing and in this respect Mulford and Grant
nave few superiors
Both the Marmon and Mercedes drivers
learned many things in the Vanderbilt that
VIII be OF great advantage 10 them to-mor-
TOW Ralph De Palma does not consider
mat he is by any means out Of IT, Thor
ough examination OF his Mercedes fails to
reveal any aSvcrsc results OF its effort on
honday. lie expects 60 get better work
nom his carburetor tomorrow. as IL is Of
Kind with which he has had little expert
ehce, and he had only a short time for ad-
'ustment lie has tried IL out thoroughly
since Mondays race and knows just the adj
1ustment at which il will DO It's best. APP
parently all the drivers are well satisfied
with their ears. as to- day there was noth-
ing N the nature OF real practice. Wagner
was out with his Fiat. but made only one
:" two slow laps. Some OF the others were
OUT but failed 10 show anything sensa-
tonal.
The biggest crowd Savannah ever enter
1hed will be here tomorrow. The huge
e'andstands on Monday were filed almost
~ the liteit with people who had reserved
Weir aeais for the two days. For to-mor-
l'Ws race dozens Of special trains are due
nj fph r~lU