The Washington herald., 1911-06-04

Is automobile racing worth the cost II
entails? Since the 60O-mile race at IN
dianapolis last Tuesday this question has
been asked and answered both pro and
con. The Vanderbilt and Grand PIX
races always drew large crowds. but they
were in most cases purely local crowds'
and never were there forty starters.
In the recent event. however, people
tourneyed from all over the United states
to the big Speedway at Indianapolis. FER
haps one-half Of the 5000 persons who
witnessed the event were men directly
interested in the automobile industry.
either as manufacturers, designers. engi-
neers, or representatives of machines.
,, They went to see whether 1t would be
possible for q piece OF machinery to be
built which could be driven at top speed
for more than six hours over a track
that at the outset was perfectly smooth,
but which before the conclusion Of the
contest became very rough. The con-
slant vibration Of the machines, II was
thought, would srystallize the steel and
IRON used in the construction OF these
machines long before the finish Of the
contest
Tire Changes Costly.
It was conceded by all that there would
be more or less tire trouble. As con-
clusions proved, Harroun, who was VIC
torious, had but four tire changes. and
these all on one wheel. the rear right.
The skidding Of the cars on the turns.
throwing all OF the weight On the rear
right wheel, was the cause of all cars
having their greatest tire trouble on this
one particular wheel. One machine had
twenty-five changes on this side. 1t Is
estimated the tire bill alone for this race
was in excess Of 5000.
If all Of the forty machines which
were started away on this greatest OF all
automobile contests were sold at their
catalogue list prices the total would ex-
ceed $250.o0O. The cost OF maintaining the
racing teams with their supplies and help
ers from the time that work was first
started in preparing for this event until
the cars and their crews returned to
their respective factories is estimated ut
nearly s1.000,0O0.
This great expense Is one point that
has been made the subject OF much COM
ment in considering the question as to
whether racing pays. Those in favor of
racing claim that this money Is well
spent. providing the car makes a good
showing. They say racing proves a car
is mechanically right. or IT could not be
driven at top speed for a distance Of even
hundred miles As an example. they
point TO the oiling system Of the machine.
The slightest flaw in this particular
iwould mean a seized bearing before the
driver would have an opportunity to dis
cover that some particular oil feed was
not working. 1t also insures that the
cooling system must be suited to the
machine. else the motor would burn
up"
Only One Killed.
Companies maintaining racing teams
do not deny the argument advanced
that there Is In many cases a loss Of
life entailed by a big race. However.
they contend that although there have
been q number Of serious accidents, in
the recent race only one man was killed,
and that could be attributed to failure
OF both himself and driver to change a
tire when they were aware II was not
properly secured. They hope in the
future, with the aid Of the drivers asso-
ciaticn, who have taken up the question
Of putting all applicants for positions
as pilots through a severe test, to de-
termine their ability.
Those in favor Of abolishing the racing
game contend that 1t proves nothing to
the purchaser of car. He is a man who
purposes Speed maniacs there are, and
always will be, but they are vastly in
the minority, and as q rule they have
cars specially built and specially geared.
The ordinary owner Is content to drive
along at an average rate Of speed. He
desires to see the country through which
he is passing as well as having some
regard for his safety. Touring tests
in the nature Of endurance runs are held
out by those in favor Of doing away
with the racing game as the best method
of demonstrating Just what their ma
chimes can do.
They argue that in this manner the pro-
spective purchaser can see for himself
tust what a car Of the same type and
built Of exactly the same material as the
one he contemplates purchasing or al
ready has ordered can do under q set
of rules and regulations In competition
with other machines which must con-
form to exactly the same conditions