New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
SPEED CRAZE DIAGNOSED.
Inherent Desire "to Rush" Basis
for Lust and Craving.
so SAYS BRUCE-BR0WN
Winner of Grand Prize Auto Race
Makes Wager He VIII Not
Fly This Year.

cinoa the craze for automobile speeding
hecana firmly established psychologists
have never satisfactorily explained the why
and wherefore OF the attractveness OF ex-
cessive speeds and the effect upon the
nervous system.
The subject was broached the Other day
when a number Of automobilists and ava
tors were at luncheon at the Hotel En-
pire. New York City and came about arter
David I. Bruce Brown, the young mlinon-
aire driver who won the Grand Prize race
al savannah. less had recounted his ex-
periences in sport He said:
.orbe craving for speed is, in my opinion,
a matter OF individual temperament rather
than a concrete generality that can be
ascribed 10 any particular cause. BY that
mean that some persons are born with an
inherent desire TO rush through everything,
and this characteristic is developed or re-
mains stationary exactly in proportion 10
the action Of environment upon the nervous
mentality Of the person involved.
Take myself. for example. AS a kid
was interested in roller skating, and was
never satisfied unless I was going at top
speed. Then I got bicycle. and the crav-
lllE lCE spttu NdS IlpN dPbSH-'NN NAANA' 4
ioined a club and was able to travel in
company with the fastest riders. After
racing for a couple OF seasons I began TO
get restless when motorcyclists passed me
on the road. Ny passion for speed was not
yet satisfied. nor was II until l had ac-
quired the fastest motorcycle made. The
motorcycle sufficed me until one day a
racing car swished past me as though
was standing still. The rest is uninter-
esting.
MY soul craved greater speed, and my
ambition was satisfied when first sat In
the bucket seat of a 1OO-horsepower racing
car. Naturally. ! was overjoyed when 7
won the greatest Of automobile races, the
Grand Prize race at Savannah.
by the same process Of evolution you
will then eventually turn 10 aviation?" in
quired one OF the party.
who can tell" replied Mr.. Bruce Brown.
"Just at present / am very well satisfied
10 drive the fastest racing car in the world.
My craving for speed is fully satisfied, and
I DO not think much OF aeroplaning-that
is. not at present"
Speed, perhaps, is the best characteristic
OF the American people" put in Count
IlrA-ll ut IdlltOlt n ItuCIlIldH, WHO -
stopping at the Empire and who is inter-
ested in aviation. being now engaged in ex-
plotting Albert Fileux. who was the late
Moisants head mechanic and who plans to
open an aviation school near New York.
He added:
ITO speed must be attributed great deal
OF the prosperity Americans are enjoying.
Soul stirring speed is as much an attrac-
tion for men as dress is 20 women, dolls for
little girls. mice for cats. Without speed l
consider men, animals, machines incapable
OF performing their predestined work.
Every nation seems 70 be afflicted with a
paranoia Of some sort and the craze for
speed seems 10 he the dominant feature OF
the American people
81 witnessed the running OF the Grand
Prize race at Savannah, and after watch
ing Bruce Browns magnificent driving and
brilliant victory over the great Hemery
have no hesitancy In declaring that Bruce
Brown Is nearing the stage OF acute speed
paranoia.'"
Yes, and I'll bet $500 right here that
Davey will be risking his neck in aero
planes before another year has passed"
spoke I'D George b. Merriam. the New
York cIubrnan who offered $1,000 TO the first
aviator to cross the Hudson and land in
Central Park
Don't you believe IT," replied Bruce
Brown. II have no desire 10 fly. and am
quite satisfied 10 drive a racing car; but II
you are so sure that I shall seek the new
sensation I am willing TO make bet OF a
trip 10 Europe with you that shall not
be driving an aeroplane before another
year has passed" Merriam accepted the
wager without hesitancy.
Undaunted by his last fight and look
ing ready 70 start across the Hudson again
at moments notice Frank Morok. the
Belgian aviator, put in word by saying;
'I have looped the loop for many years,
but did not find Il exciting enough-thats
why I learned 10 fly. We always want 10
excel and DO something different from or
better than any one else. II a man ever
succeeded in flying to the moon others
would not be satisfied until they had
reached the sun That is the way with
speed. II there are no records Of other
people's 10 break we try TO break our own