The Washington times., 1911-01-04
A.A A. NOT ALARMED
BY OUTLAW MEETS
Oldield and His Backers
Not Causing Contest Board
Much Trouble.
BY HARRY WARD.

With the echoes of the explosion OF
the D. A. Fletcher third league base
ball bubble dying in the distance, It is
high time some one exploded the aspira-
tiOns of the so-called outlaw automobile
racing combination, and brought their
schemes tumbling about their heads.
There has been some talk of late that
automobile race meets will be held in
the big cities in opposition to the regu-
lar events sanctioned by the American
Automobile Association. However, since
the automobile manufacturers make
possible the speed game that attracts
hundreds of thousands OF spectators, the
folly Of OUTLAW" meets Is evident. The
makers are allied with the three AS
through the Manufacturers Contest AS
sociation, and IL is easy to sound the
depth of the pit into which any outlaw
project will fall.
AS is to be expected, the proposed
staging of rival attractions comes from
Barney Oldfeld, who is now under sus-
pension for year, together with his
entire fleet of racing cars. A report
from Los Angeles quotes him as fol-
lows:
hOdSlS RdCln8 1ruSt.
Since ] was placed on the blacklist
of certain organization of twelve men
closely associated with the racing trust,
who boasted that they controlled the
racing game, have had a hard row to
hoe. XIII Oldfield on seems to be their
slogan. But / am glad to find the
people with me, and 1 am in the fight
to the death. 1 will not resort to the
courts. Lawyers tell me I have the best
of chances to invoke the antitrust laws
against the racing trust. But I am
going to win a more decisive victory
against the promoters who rule the
three AS. l am going to put my case
before the jury of the great American
public. l am going to race in all the
big cities of the country, and II the
public wants to see me people will come
and 1 will keep going. Then the racing
trust will lose its power But one thing
is sure, l will never bend the knee to
the racing trust"
Oldfeld Poorly Advised.
The foregoing would be amusing were
it not for the fact that 1t shows how
sadly Oldfeld is being advised. Prior
to the last meet at the Los Angeles
motordrome, which event resulted in
Oldfield's final banishment, this driver
was Informed as to his exact status
with the three AS. He was told that
If he showed himself willing to recog-
nize the governing body of automobile
sports by ceasing all foolish OUTLAW
chatter and keeping out of racing for a
time. his reinstatement would be con-
sidered. Oldfleld was willing to accept
these terms, but his manager could not
see it, so Barney Oldfield" meet was
run off at Ascot Park in Los Angeles.
From that moment Oidfield's chances
for reinstatement went sailing.
1t is not Oldfield who raves about
the jury of the great American pub
lie" as quoted in the Los Angeles in
terview. but q narrow-visioned corps
of advisers. They have made Barney
believe that he is greater than the
A: A; A" and that the public is with
ing public never saw oidfield do any
thing wonderful in the automobile COM
petition Of recent years. His best work
is done in time trials, that lack in the
tension of high speed racing over
distance.
Ross Henwood, who drove an Ohio
car in the Munsey Historic Tour, was
in the city yesterday, accompanied by
A. F. McLane, factory representative of
the Ohio Motor Car Company. Henwood
has just returned East after his ex-
citing automobile trip from Los Ange-
les to Phoenix. 1T certainly was
hazardous trip" said Henwood, in COM
menting on the race. "The contestants
left Los Angeles at midnight on the 4S5-
mile dash. and before they finished
every man knew he had been on the
ride of his life. For many long stretches
the contestants had no means OF know
ing the general direction except by a
compass, with which each machine was
equipped. Probably for no other race
is 1t necessary to make such elaborate
preparations as for the Los Angeles
to Phoenix run, owing to the hardships
to be encountered, and the peculiar road
conditions which exist in that country"
The leading tire companies have an
nounced reduction Of 10 per cent in
price Of castings, and Is per cent in
price of inner tubes. The cut has been
made possible by the decline in the cost
of rubber gum. This is the second re-
duction in tire prices within the last
two, months.
4 r.