New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-30
MORE AUTO RECORDS CO
"WiId Bob" Burman Robs Bar
ney OIdfieId of Three Marks.
WHIRLS ABOUT BIG OVAL
Forty Cars to Start in Race for
Gold and Glory at Indian
apolis To day.

INDIANAPOLIS May 2o.-Bob Burman, the
automobile speed king" driving his 2VN
horsepower Bitten Benz car, established
to-day a new set OF speedway records. he
sent his car dashing over one mile In $3.50
while he covered the kilometer IN p 40 the
half mile in 1888 and the quarter mile IN
SIG.
Barney Oldheld who held the previous
record for one mile Of 1888. watched Bur
mans daring fight from the grand stand.
The previous record for the kilometer was
21.a5 and for the half mile 100 The
quarter mile record Of s:l6 IS a new one.
Burman drove his great trial In mastery
fashion. under ideal weather conditions.
He got off on his first trial shortly after
10 O'Clock. but after driving three laps OF
the track pulled down because his engine
was not working quite right.
Fifteen minutes later he started on his
record smashing Journey. He drove one
Ian. and came laundering down the stre'ch
with right arm raised as a signal 20 Judges
and timers that he was ready. The Dig
white Benz flashed around the brick oval
lust once. and the new slate Of records had
been established.
timer. which caught Burman az the quar-
ter. half kilometer and mile marks.
There will be forty starters IN the o"-mie
sweepstakes tomorrow SIX cars, IN addi-
ton TO the thirty four which qualified last
Friday. successfully met the elimination
trials to-day.
Following Burman's record drive and the
speed qualification trials. score or the
entries in the 5Oo-r'ile race lined up Tor d
practice start. The drivers ran their ma
chimes on tuning up" trials until noon
when the track was closed for the day.
With All in readiness for the race many
thousand visitors and most Of Indianapolis
vainly attempted tonight 10 sit quiet anu
keep cool. Hot weather. tense expectation
and the surge OF the eager crowds swept
good intentions 10 the winds, however ana
the speed mania ruled the town.
DESPITE the fact that there Is no regular
hooknaking on the course. betting scared
r. high point and wagers Of a thousand
varieties were laid to-day. Death was mace
a favorte in a number of grim wagers. Inc
betting was so erratic that no one driver
could be said 10 rule as favorite over the
field
j he forty men VINO VIII ullNt 'iiH III '-'N
race spent this afternoon ard tonight
quietly after they had been segregated from
the crowds and excitement by their mana
gers.
Thousands OF spectators will be at the
speedway By daybreak tomorrow to get
the best OF the free seats, and the larger
rortion Of the crowd will probably be thefe
before then. although the race will not
start until 10 o'clock.
President Carl q Fisher, Of the Speedway
Association. announced that the lace WouiI
h. finished regardless OF ram, unless
b4a,-y- 5ovnpour occurred before the start
Every car entered in the long grind rep
rAsents the highest achievement OF mecna T.
ical skill from more than thirty OF the iSau-
ing automobile manufacturing estanisnc
r11Ente in This country and Europe All OF
the cars had their final tuning up tr'als
this morning and tonight were guarded py
SQUADS Of mechanicians from the various
factories REPRESENTED in the great race
The speedway management has perIecte1
every possible precaUtion 10 aNold acclueIils
and the ARRANGEMENTS az the track aye ne
hest known 10 automobile racing; hut, WIN
fcrtv starters in tie field, the chances Tor
mishaps are MANY.