The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-24
Additional Sports
GREAT RACES AT
INDIANAPOLIS

Indianapolis, Ind. May 23.--Highly
tuned and mechanically as perfect as
the skill of the modern motor car
maker can produce, forty-six of the
fastest racing automobiles ever as
| sembled are at the indianapolis motor
speedway awaiting the elimination
trials next Saturday which will de-
termine whether they are eligible to
start in the 500-mile international
sweepstake race on Memorial day, May
80. Every car must show speed of
/ seventy five miles an hour to qualify
for one of the greatest races in the
history Of the motor contest sport.
When the entries to this event were
| closed May 1, there were forty-six
cars entered, manned by list of
drivers which includes every well
known pilot in America, as well as
several who made their regulations in
Europe before coming TO the United
States.
The long race has assured even
greater proportions than the promoters
had anticipated when the purse of
$4,000 in gold was offered for the win
ners of the first ten places. A capital
prize of $4,000 headed list of nine
others as follows: second, 5000; third,
$4,000; fourth, $4,000; fifth, $1,500:
sixth, $1,000; seventh, $500; eighth,
S700; ninth, $500; tenth, $500. In adj
dition to this small fortune there have
been added side prizes by various ac-
cessory makers, which bring the to-
tai to be won up to about $4,000.
Supplementing the cash prizes are ten
bronze plaques which Will be given
to the entrants of the ten winning
cars. 1t long has been the rule in mo-
tor car racing that the drivers shall
receive the cash prizes and the makers
the trophies.
The officials for the race have been
chosen from all over the United States.
most Of them having been officials at
many Of the other great race meets of
the country. Fred ]. Wagner. OF New
York, will act as starter while Georges
Robertson, the former racing driver,
will be an assistant. "A. r.. Pardington,
of New York, will referee, while r. r.
Hooper, president of the American
Automobile association is the honorary
official in that capacity. Judges and
other officials have been chosen from
among the most prominent nanufac-
turers and automobile men In the mid |
die west.
The method, which would be en- |
ployed to start this event. has been
difficult for the promoters to decide.
The speedway management finally
adopted the plan of firing daylight
bombs, which explode ESQ feet in the |
air and give forth dense cloud of /
smoke. One of these will be fred /
every minute for five minutes before
ten O'Clock and at the stroke at ten
. special starting bomb will give the
signal that will send the entire field
INTO one of the greatest races ever
known. After the start the contestants
are signalled along the course by
means of colored flags, each Of which
bears some special meaning which the
drivers understand. The cars will be
started In nine lines of five cars each,
placed at intervals Of 100 feet back Of
he tire.
Scoring and timing OF forty six fast
,ars on a course but two and a half
niles In length means the devising Of
In entirely new system. In order I'd I,
score and time the race accurately
more than 100 men will be used Fl
throughout the seven hours with fiftv II
,thers as relief men to the regular
scorers. The eye is the only part OF II
nan depended upon to aid In this
ask, while mechanical and electrical
levices have been called upon toI
perform the greater part Of the work. Ii
IN electrical timing machine which
livides the seconds into hundredths, h
81