The Washington times., 1911-05-21

Now that the excitement of the -Four
Leaf Clover sociability run is over,
motorists are beginning to study the
records made by the different winners.
The general impression prevailing when
the run was first projected that 1t would
be hardly more than 10y ride" was
not borne out. AS a matter of fact the
four days grind was the hardest run
Washington drivers ever went against,
and that all the cars finished with COM
paradvely good scores indicates the
thorough reliability of the machines
that participated. The sweepstakes
winner a little Ford roadster driven
by H. G. Machen, came nearer to max
ing a perfect score than any of the COM
peting cars, it's penalization amounting
to points. These were for stalled
motor. due TO water in the gasolene,
and had nothing whatever to do with
the mechanism of the car. The other
prize winners, the Regal, Warren-De-
troit, Velie, and STANDARDIZATION. while
they had a number of points marked
against them. were in excellent condi-
ton when they finished. and every car
in the tour was in shape to go over the
four days route again without any fur
ther preparation.
Many of the points chalked up against
the competing cars were OF minor
nature, and had nothing to do with the
running qualities of the machines: The
entrants and drivers are a unit in de-
claring the test thorough one, and
much satisfaction is expressed that the
American Automobile Association
finally sanctioned the event, thus oh;
the drivers and officials who partic-
pated.
John R. Thomas, manager OF the
United Motor Washington Company, is
receiving many congratulations on the
splendid showing of the Maxwell used
as a press car in the Four Leaf Clover
sociability run. The little machine
came through with a perfect score, and
had ii been competing II would nave
carried off the honors of the tour. A
careful record of the cars performance
was kept by the newspapermen VINO
were passengers in the machine, and at
the conclusion of the run II was found
that the car had an absolutely perfect
score. Not once throughout the tour
was the hood over the engine raised,
and It kept to schedule time during
every days run. After the run was
over the car was put through the same
outdoor tests as the competing cars
were compelled to take, and hnlshed
all OF tnem per1eCJly.
The Willys-Overland Company OF To-
ledo is to have a new building for Its
engineering department, which will be
ready for occupancy about July l. The
details of the system. the accuracy and
the exactness which characterize this
department in an automobile factory,
are exceedingly interesting. IN the
case of this new building for the Over
land it is to be a three-story concrete
structure containing mammoth draft
ing room, with overhead skyltghts
The blueprint room is equipped with
the most modern apparatus obtainaole,
capable of turning out almost unlimited
quantity of work. 1t will also have
designing, experimental, and model
rooms, together with the offices Of the
chief engineer and designer and his
corps of assistants: also a laboratory
where physical and chemical analyses
are made Of all crude material ana
foundry products that enter into the
construction of the cars.
An amazingly big tire deal was con-
summated in Detroit Thursday night.
largest single order for pneumatic
tires ever recorded in the world S
history of the automobile industry was
placed with the United States Tire Com
pany by the EMF Company, OF De
troit This remarkable order calls for
135,OO0 pneumatic tires and a like num-
ber of Continental, Gilbert type, quick
detachable demountable rims. which
now are manufactured by the United
Rim Company, Of Akron, Ohio. The
tires will be supplied from the Con-
tinental, G. & J., Hartford, and Morgan
& Wright's rubber plants, and to meet
the demand within the specified time
the working forces of these big fac
tories have already been materially in
creased and night shifts installed.
few weeks ago, when the United States
Motor Company placed an order
for $4,000 tires with the United states
Tire Company it was thought record
had been established that would stand
for a long time to come. However, the
immense sale to the EMF Company,
outnumbering the above order almost
three to one, shows that the above rec
ord was destined to be very short
lived. In future every EMF go and
Flanders go car leaving the Detroit
factory will be equipped with United
states tires and Continental detachable
demountable rims.
According to advices received by the
Luttrell Company, agents for the Pack
ard, orders for 500 cars were received
in April by the Packard Motor Car Com