The Washington times., 1911-07-17
MAKE RACES SAFE,
De PALhA'S PLEA
TO MOTOR WORLD
Great Driver Declares
Deaths Result From In
experience of Pilots.
By HARRY WARD.

Ralph De Palma, the nervy automo-
bile racing driver, who has participated
in speedway and road races, hill climbs,
and other forms of automobile sports,
has made a plea for safe" racing.
Discussing the accidents which OCCUR
red at Brighton Beach recently, he Of
fered suggestion or two to eliminate
the danger connected with dirt-Irack
racing in the future
1T is unfortunate that several drivers
have lost their lives on tracks recently"
said De Palma, but in nearly every
case the trouble was traceable chiefly to
one neutrality-suspicious.. Strange to say,
nearly all of the bad accidents lately
have occurred in practice trials-not in
the race itself-and these accidents
would not have happened had the men
involved obeyed instructions and the
American Automobile Association rules.
The remedy l would suggest would
be for the A. A A contest board to
have a representative officially appoint
ed to supervise practice at each meet.
This would not be difficult or expen-
sive. The drivers who have been
OF themselves. They always give each
other a sufficiently wide berth, and
you will notice that the veterans do not
drive as fast in practice as in .compe-
uuon.
Il would suggest that during practice
on small courses the experienced men
be allotted certain periods to try out
their cars and noVices different periods.
In this way all would get the same fair
chance, and If the supervisor saw to ii
that only a few novices were permitted
on the course at one time, there would
be fewer accidents. The practice su-
pervisor could be any reliable team
manager, or even a driver. This is a
nninf which the Motor Racing DriVRr6'
Association, of which l am a director,
will probably take up with the A. A. A.
contest board in the near future.
1T would displease me greatly, as we'll
as numerous other drivers, to see the
A. A A. abolish mile-track racing. 1t
is on the mile tracks that made most
Of my worlds records, and l hope to
get more before I am through. II the
dirt track events we will have outlaw
meets, and hippodrome racing will crop
up all over, which will be detrimental
to the industry and give racing more
black eyes"
The news that George H. Hamilton.
Of New York, had been elected presi-
dent of the Federation of American
Motorcyclists, succeeding Fred I. VII
lis, of indianapolis, was received with
The election is in keeping with other
actions taken by the federation de-
signed to carry the organization on
to bigger and better things. Com
menting on the convention President
Hamilton said: This convention has
shown me the great possibilities Of
the future of the F. A NJ. With almost
10000 members we have the strength
to do great things for the motorcyclist
Our Officers and members are keen,
alive and enthusiastic. and II Will be
my sole purpose to take up the work
as It now stands and carry 1t through
to success"
The Imperial Motor Company reports
the sale of a White commercial truck
Navy Department The vehicle has a
full panel body and is finished In brew
ster blue.
The present month has been featured
by a considerable number Of factory
announcements of 1912 lines. In many
cases it is a notable fact that the
makers have gotten farther and farther
away from the old system of building
but one chassis, which is equipped with
a body variety as great as possible.
To a great extent this trend is un-
doubtedly due to the fact that the pur-
chasing public has become more dis
eliminating and supply Is now equal
to the demand. AS pointed OUT ny one
who has followed the maanufacture OF
cars from the inception Of the indus
try in this country, rapidity Of manu-
facture was at one time the main road
to success. Now the most difficult
feature is the organization and solidi-
fcation Of a stan of dealers. To re-
tain these dealers, manufacturers have
obviously decided to give them a
broader scope. Many Of the leading
factories obviously are endeavoring to
equip their dealers with lines which
will make 1t unnecessary for them to
handle cars made by other manufac-
turers, in order to make an appeal to
a wide variety of wants of purchasers.