Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-28
GREAT FEAR OF ACCIDENTS
Race at indianapolis to Be Full of
Danger.
FoRTY.s1x AUTOS TO COMPETE
These Are Expected TO Travel at n
Speed of seventy-F1ve Miles an
Hour on Memorial


INDIANAPOLIS Ind, May N.-The 900
mile race which will be held at Indian
apolis on Memorial day is receiving much
criticism. favorable and not 30 favorable.
Also. statements of the latter class are
swamped in the superlatives OF the Speed
ways publicity bureau The fear seems TO
be that fatalities and serious accidents are
bound to occur with forty-six automobiles
on a seventy-five-m mile n-hour jamboree
around a two-and-a- half mile track. Only
the other night rather cold-blooded
wager was made in New York. II was
that two or more persons would be killed
at Indianapolis on Memorial day.
Except by those who are financially in
terested in the race, II is admitted that the
contest is too dangerous The distance Is
too great for man and machine, under the
speed they will be forced to maintain.
Never has there been a road race OF 900
miles in this country Drivers will tell you
that road racing is not so great a strain
as the dizzy and monotonous circling of a
track. Moreover, 1t must be remembered
that once before promoters tried to run a
long race at Indianapolis. That race was
stopped after the dead and injured had
been carried from the track and huge cars
we're reeling giddily because of the shaking
hands at the wheel. 1t is q repetition of
these scenes that is feared by those who
have not allowed their heads to swim, be-
cause of phrasings like "forty-six speed
demons will bait death at Americas great
est motor drome." OF recent days so
many dire forecasts have been aired that
the matter compels discussion.
Lewis Strang who will guide car in
the race, has told of the contest from a
drivers viewpoint. strang drove at the
Speedway on August 10, 1909. SO many
accidents occurred there on April 10 and
the day following that the Speedway came
to be called ''Hoosier slaughter pen" But
the track has been improved greatly since
that time, so the following utterances Of
strang are worthy Of consideration:
Wonderful Speedway.
Indianapolis undoubtedly has the most
wonderful speedway in the world. Its
great Observation-Disclosures brick surface
is the greatest setting for motor contest
that has ever been prepared. 1 feel that
every possible facility has been provided
by the management for the safety Of the
spectators and the contestants. With the
idea Of having pace maker to get the
cars off with flying start one more eIe-
ment OF danger has been eliminated. And
share to the safety OF the contest.
The Speedway on the homestretch and
at the starting line permits the starting
OF ten machines abreast. To start forty
six cars will necessitate the arranging Of
those cars like a great column OF soldiers.
The laundering OF the exhausts OF these
racing monsters and the clouds Of smoke
which will come forth from the exhaust
pipes will make a rare scene. The task
Of the officials in lining up these cars and
getting them started willie be something
which has never before been tried. That
they can start these machines together
while every driver is prepared to contest
every foot OF the way and take every
chance 10 win, seems absolutely impossi-
bic. The excitement of the drivers and
the nervous pitch TO which they will be
turned. with the noise and clouds OF smoke
will make the scene look like hades trans
ferred to earth.
Il am confident that the cars will be
punched more or less for the first ten OF
fifteen miles. figure that there is not
a man In the contest who will be willina
to lose an inch. While the shiny brick
surface of the Speedway will probably be
the smoothest course that an automobile
race has ever been contested on and the
driver will not be fatigued by the jarrins
and jolting OF the car. nevertheless, think
many men will be ready to leave the wheel
long before the race is over"
Strang also states that he believes thai
OF the forty-six cars that are going n
start In the race no more than ten o,
fifteen will ever reach the end OF thei,
journey.