New-York tribune., 1911-02-05
AUTO CIRCUIT ASSURED
Greatest Benefit viii Be PrOduC-
ton Of National Champion.
MAKERS STRONG FOR PLAN
n,blic Will Be Assured of Fine
Sport by Good Drivers, and
Promoters Will Benefit.

-.. decision of the Manufacturers Con-
association 10 establish g grand cir
Of automobile racea will greatly
-.,v-hen the sport in the minds of the
.ar,cau public. and at the same time put
s,ort itself on a clean. definite basis
W. tbe working OF the plan as already
..,,ivelv outlined" one maker said. eve
-, have at the end Of this year one man
will be known and acknowledged as
- champion for the year, and another
or possibly the same man. who viii
- r,ovn and acknowledged as the road
racing champion
.-ba manufacturers viii reduce their out
49,. so- the maintenance Of ra-ing teams.
80, the public Will see the best OF sport.
- the promoters OF racing meets viii
- .bls 10 view their ledgers with salts
s...,o- and Will not have to pay big bon
- N certain star performers for their
,ppearance
no Man as outlined calls fer a grand
..,,onal circuit. covering races on speed
IS and road courses in all parts Of the
..r,,-y. for which preparations are already
'.,asr vav and for which sanctions I'm many
-. already have been asked There IS
f-~N
-. t~a,ks. which lie between the big
sa.s5ravs. and which would allow the rae
a. teams an opportunity TO continue their
-..,rr without tco long waits for the dates
g, the big cities
-be dates probably viii begin al Indian
..,,is With tho 5000 race Of May 30. and
80 with the Grand Prize az Savannah
-. November e This schedule is en-
-, tentative and not yet confirmed by
.ss s-e,ial COMMITTEES Of the Manufactur.
,-s contest Association. The localities in
consideration follow:
speesOay races-Indianapols Atlanta,
rSs Angeles. Cheyenne. Denver and
OI3Ss'93 RSs9 races Eiverhcad. ElgiH. Lowell
Philadei7h'a FairmounD' Nassau Nassau JB9G;n,E B1;r
SsTta Monica and san Francisco tPortoial.
ETi c'imns-Port jefferson. Worcester
v.Ikes-Barre and Algonquin. Ill.,
The dir, tracks which may be included
On ,As seconda-y circuit are at Louisville.
p-,rh,on Beach. y y. Boston. Providence,
hartford Philadelphia. Columbus, Ohio,
Det-ot Grand Rapids. Milwaukee. 81.
paul Kansas CITY and Syracuse.
There IS also talk Of a possible Texas cir
amarillo and a Northwestern circuit, 10
include Spokane. Portland and Seattle.
Russell Field. secretarv Of the Manufact-
u-s-s' Contest Association. has returned
ron Chicago. where the meeting was held,
ard said yesterday.
The benefits OF such a plan 10 promoter.
maker and public are obvious. Heretofore
the promoter. for instance, has been
sbl,red 10 pay in some instances large
bonuses and fees 10 certain men even 10
sppear a. his meet This new plan is so
rood that one promoter said at the meet
ing in Chicago that ne would be glad 20
underT-ite the whole plan or take charge
o. more than half the meets, and felt sure
he would make money out Of the plan.
The promoter will also have the use Of
trained and competent officials, who will
scco-panv the racers and Will go from
place 70 plata on the circuit. Again, the
promoter u'u have the use OF Uniform and
standardized timing apparatus at his
track 50 that records and times will bee
Official beyond n doubt and satisfactOry
The make- IS the man who also w,u
benefit largely AS the racing game has
beer in the past The maker was at great
expense He had % keep his team under
the charge II a racing manager. Each
tine ne sent them % race meeting he
usually had % bring them back % the
factory and send them out again This
meant special work obtaining rates for the
transportation OF cars. which was not al
vays possible. and special and heavy ex-
Dense ln every way. Under this system he
sends his team oat % cover the grand cir
cult TIE team travels on special trains
with the other racing teams which are COW
ering the circuit The railroads make spe-
cal rates and the hotels make special
rates He has al once Topped of two big
items n expense.
"a machine or repair car VIII be on hand
and competent press men viii precede and
accompany the train, so that each maker
vho has a team viii get adequate and in
stan publicity. BE VIII reduce his expense
a along the line. The American Automo-
BILE Association IS pleased with the pian'
because it simp.fes the work and makes
a. records easier 10 handle.
Lastly. the public will see better racing
and be- assured u good competition Of good
men who VIII be sure 70 appear unless pre-
vented by Illness. But one Of the greatest
benefits of the circuit is the keeping OF the
work ~ the men by points. This Will ap-
ply both % speedway and road events. So
that a. the end Of the year We shall actual
IL know who Is the champion driver.
A. present there is a committee al work
making a preliminary survey Of the sitHa-
ton. Tris committee will take the matter
up WITH the several makers, and there is
every indication that great many makers
Will avail themselves Of the plan. Already
ten makers have signlAed their intention
Of supporting the plan. This would be SUI
hclen, 20 make IL success.
a technical committee which viii nave
charge o. the handling and management OF
the circuit will be supported by fees OF
registration levied agalns, stock cars Which
Till be entered in the races
In connection with the national circuit the
American Automobile Association through
It's contest board. which IS working with
the Manufacturers Contest Association. Is
trying 20 perfect a police system for auto
mobile races
Samuel Butler. chairman Of the Amen-
csn Automobile Association contest DoaIN'
originated the plan and IS trying 10 oo-
tan state militia To patrol the courses as
vas done a. Elgin last August ana "'
Savannah in November. He is asking or
hcial state recognition OF the CONDITIONS
which surround the holding OF road races
o. that character Presumably no sancuoh
would be granted 20 a promoting body un-
less Il could satisfy the contest board lhat
Il had arranged adequate police protection
Mr Butler says
The meets az Elgin and Savannah last
a