The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-09-03


at Elgin last week demonstrate the
progress in making automobiles about
as forcibly as anything could, accord
ing to II. A. Bonnelly general manager
of the Automobile Board of Trade. I'M
provement in the course undoubtedly
had some effect upon the fast time
made this year but 1t would hardly
account for. the tremendous reductions
of the records in three of the races.
1.-THE car driven by Len Zengel.
which won the race, made the thirty
six circuits almost seventeen times fas-
ter than the winning time Of Ralph
milford in $780," said Mr.. Bonnell,
land averaged better than sixty-six
miles an hour throughout the 3oSsmile
grind. From any angle this perfor-
nance is excellent, as 1t means the
sustained speed of the fastest railroad
train carried over distance tnai
would discourage the best equipped
railroad train In the world. Twice the
winner paused for fuel and then went
on without a skip to f1ne Vlctory;
1t means that II there was protected
straightaway speedway from New YORK
to Chicago a business man might make
the distance In five or six hours less
happened to be in big hurry
Now the best of such races an those
run at Elgin is the fact that they are
supervised by technical experts 10 the
end that the public may De assure
tition are identical with the cars o.
the same model sold over the counters
of the various automobile salesfoons'
The average buyer does not wish 10
enter track or road competition, put
that simple nreS-
sure on the accelerator VIII develop
high power and great speed.
THE idea of such races as those al
EIgin is to afford an object lesson 70
the public. The whole efrort is maue
to show automobile owners and pros
pcctive buyers the quality OF the con-
testants. In special races there are two
first to afford the public
and second to show manu-
facturers the merits and dement's OF
their special productions"
More than ordinary interest attaches
to the announcement of the finding OF
a new non-skid principle in automobile
tires The principle is that OF notch
ing the tires tread deeply IN many
places so that. when the tread comes
in contact with the pavement the ma
tural suction that develops makes ao-
solutely impossible any sidewise mo
tion. All edges of the notch come IN
perfect contact with the pavement at
the same moment
The principle has been adapted TO
the Motz cushion tire. This tire, which
is resilient and at the same time
trouble-proof. has acquired much pop
MA itv Its resiliency is achieved by
double treads, under cut sides ana
slantwise bridges. These allow the tire
10 give like air in the pneumatic tire: II
IS said fifteen manufacturers OF elec
trio automobiles, making 70 per cent OF
ali the electrically driven vehicles, are
This Tesr eouipping their machines with
the Motz cushion tire. Last year IS
sales of these tires multiplied over ,6oo
per cent. The new non-skld ldea anopt-
ed bv the MotZ makers Is declared
forward stride for the automoblle' as
It eliminates one of the difficulties or
motoring.
TIL EMF and Flanders plants OF
the Studebaker Corporation start 10
morrow series of dealers meetings
which will be on a larger scare tnah
ANYTHING In the history of the automo-
lille Industry. The company has in
yited every one Of its 100 dealers 10
visit the factories in Detroit for two
days making the trip at the company
expense and being its guests WINE IN
the city. The visits Will ne mace uIi-
der the auspices of the various branch
nanagers II Is the aim of the Stude-
baker Corporation TO become thoroush-
" acquainted with its dealers and to
~ r1iIia rize the dealers with the manu-
featuring processes by this method IL
is expected the cost OF transportIng ana
the dealers. who VIII come
fror1 ali sections Of the country, Will
he nearly 100000. The washington
Se,agation headed by w. C. Long. of
the Commercial Automobile and Sup
NV Company, and the dealers from the