The Washington times., 1911-08-08
Wins Back Brassard In Two
Straight Heats In "Blit-
zen Benz"
CROWN is TAKEN
FROM BILLY KNIPPER
Daring Driver Has Old-Time Con-
fidence, and More Marks
Are Expected.
By HARRY WARD.

wild Bob Burman has regained the
crown of the automobile speed king,
lost to Billy Knipper at the Point
Breeze track. near Philadelphia, July g.
Driving his 20O-horsepower Bitten
Benz car, Burman yesterday, on the
half-mile track at Scranton, Pa, won
two straight heats, each two miles, and
regained the grand brassard, which car
ries with it a weekly income Of SO. The
time of the first heat was 2:36 2-5, and
the second 2:SS 2-5. Besides winning the
chief feature OF the day, Burman made
a half mile in "a 2-5 seconds, only one
fifth Of a second away from the worlds
record Of "a 1-5 seconds. and a mile in
l minute, seconds, new record for a
half-mile oval track.
Burman is driving with his old-time
confidence and daring, and is sure to,
hang up some new worlds records be-
fore the season closes. He has a great
fleet of racing macNIres. and is cleaning
up In hne shape a.ound theNcircuit.
-
Miller Brothers, agents for the Excel
sior motorcycle, have received their
first consignment of 1912 models, and
they are attracting much attention
among motorcycle devotees. I'VE are
at least sixty days ahead of any other
motorcycle dealers in announcing 1917
models" said Claude Miller. Three of
the machines today were delivered to
the District government and will be
used by the electrical department A
well-knOWn firm of commission mer-
chants also received two of the new
models.
The eyes of the automobile industry
and automobile enthusiasts generally
are now turned toward the Elgin ma
tional stock chassis races, to be held on
the Elgiu, ILL.,. course, August IS and
%, under the auspices of the Chicago
Motor Club and the EIgin Road Racing
Association. Reports from the front"
indicate the course is in grand shape.
The course is eight miles and ., 2,499 feet
in length, but the improvements made
since the races of last year cannot help
but result in the making of much faster
time than the 1910 record of 62.56 miles
per hour. Competing racing crews are
reporting daily, and are turning OF
many fast miles in preparation for the
four races scheduled for the two DAYS
meet. David Beecroft will referee the
races, while Fred Wagner, the veteran
starter, will send the drivers away in
each of the four races. Twenty-six
nominations have been made for the
four races, and several more are looked
for before the entries close.
The place for speed is on the race
course. not the crowded thoroughfares,
says Johnny Aitken. the famous racing
pilot. Recently while on the Indiana
Four States Tour. several of Aitkens
admirers thought they'd treat him to
some real speed on the Chicago boule-
wards. Aitken's record for speed and
stamina is beyond question. But when
the amateur driver with whom he was
riding, cut out his exhaust and pushed
the foot throttle to-the limit, Johnny de-
cided il was no place for him. He was
not as comfortable as II he himself had
been at the helm. Aitken endured the
giddy pace as long as he could. Then
reaching over to the dash he pulled the
plug from the coil box. and before it
was replaced Johnny had an under
standing with the driver to the effect
that twelve miles an hour was plenty
fast enough around town.