Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-12
AUTO RACING NOT ON DECLINE
Plans Beng hsae Tor Another CIV
Mile Event at indianapolis.
PROMOTERS DOUBLE THE PURSE
In Anticipation OF Great Crowd on
Memorial Dny in IIoosier Cap
1CnI Tickets Viu lie Put on
sale in January,


NEW YORK, Nov, u.-Automobie rae
ing, as some persons Imag1ne, is not ON
the oechne. Ihe plans Tor another 500
1nhe Cr.ve around the brick speedway at
Indianapolis showed that. Money is the
best eusss OF professional sports popu-
laiity and a remarkable rise in pressure
is shown thereon, For instance, last May
at Indianapolis, they gave $4,000 purse
for the event Now a S5UOO0 purse has
been offered for the same event next
Memorial Lay. Accessory manufacturers
will probably bring the total close to
$4,000 Savannah road races do not carry
more than $4,000.
Last year they had over 5000 paid adj
missions at the Indianapolis speedway.
The rise in purse indicates that the pro-
motors arc conuocnt OF many mere next
May, Can you think of any other Amcri-
can sporting event attracting that num-
Der of paid admissions in one day?
OF course larger CROWDS have attended
motor car races-around the Vanderbilt
cup and Paramount Park courses, for ex-
ample. These crowds for the greater
part, however paid nothing to watch
the cars so whirling by. Only those who
occupied seats in the modest grand stand
or who parked their own machines around
the circuit had to unbutton their pocket
books
In anticipation of great crowd next
Memorial day it is planned to put the
tickets on sale about January /, 1912.
This will give about five months for
purchasers to obtain seats and also plenty
OF advance notice, so that the condition
experienced by many last May of failure
to get seats need not be repeated. After
the first of the year the sale will be
0pen at the speedway office in Indianapo-
H and mail orders win be filled.
POstPOnsment Date Made.
postponenlent date has been mr.
ranged for Saturday, June /, foilor7lng
Memorial day, which comes on p Thurs
day. So, in the event Of rain, visitors
~ the city Will be held over only one
extra day. Entry blanks for the event
will be forwarded to the motor ca /,
makers within q few days,
Entries viii close May !, when all
cars which are expected to compete will
have to be on the track. Eleventh-hour
entries Will not be allowed, according
to the speedway management. Ali
steering knuckles, from axles, frame
hangers and steering mechanism, includ-
ing rods on cars, will be entered sub
sect TO the approval Of tho speedway
management. 1t is announced that How
ard T.. Coffin, who sailed from New
England with tho Society of Auto Engl-
neers, will be selected as the man IN
charge of this phase of the race
The field Of starters will be limited
to the thirty fastest cars entered, and
1t Is expected that this will bring out
the best that every engineer can build,
as the terrific speed necessary TO qualify
will mean the fastest speed creations
ever constructed.
The, purse Of $4,000 is divided into
twelve prizes, as follows: First, 1000;
second, $4,000; third, $4,000; fourth,
$780, fifth, $,a0O; sixth, 5000; seventh,
$780, eighth, H,AOO: ninth, S1,SO0; tenth,
$1,000; eleventh, S1,1OO; twelfth, $1,000.
The purse Of the last 5OO-mile race was
divided into ten prizes.