Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-31
PROMOTERS WANT SANCTIONS
Fewer But Bigger Events Seem to
Be the Plan.
MANY TO HANG BIG PURSES
indianapolis Expects to Have FIFTY
thousand Dollars ms the Prize
for the Memorial Day Race
at that Place.

NEW YORK. Dec. 3O-Promoters of
race meets the country over are filing
their 1912 plans and requests for sanctions
at the American Automobile association
contest headquarters, Although It IS
too early to obtain complete idea of
what next years speed calendar will
offer. the tendency appears TO be toward
fewer but bigger meets. There will be
fewer mile track events and hill climbs,
but the speedway and road contests will
be made mere important and richer in
prizo money.
For example, Santa Monica will be
made a $4,000 race. II win be held on
May or IL, over the excellent course at
that place. The worlds road racing rec
ord OF TAG miles an hour for 2o2 miles was
made by Herrick in a National at Santa
Monica last autumn. Even these figures
are expected to fall, however, before the
attacks of the big cars and drivers II at
a race worth $2S,ooo Will attract next May.
The eight-mile course at Santa Monica
permits great spead. It is practically
boulevard, wide enough for three ma
chimes to race abreast and rounding
through the country with only one sharp
turn.
Then there will be the Elgin National
on a larger scale than ever before at
tempted and the grand prize and Wander
bilt, although where, none can tell That
indianapolis had doubled its prize money,
making 1t $4,000 for the 50O-mile race
there next Memorial day, is not now; but
now comes word that the Los Angeles
Motordrome will put on big contest at
the time when the fast cars are at Santa
Monica.
The only important contest in doubt is
the Fairnont Park event. Strong opposi-
ton has been developed against IL In
Philadelphia by DIR. ], william White OF
the park commission. His points are:
THE event is dangerous to the lives
Of both the participants and the spec
tators.
ut has served no good purpose.
1T has aroused a feeling OF blood lust
in the hearts OF spectators.
ut is calculated to arouse ill-balanced
persons to emulate the speed kings by
driving their cars over Travelled roads at
a dangerous rate.
"Only the most remarkable good fortune
has so far prevented tragedies in the park
which would do great harm to the city"
1t is on record that the park commits
sion first granted permission for automo-
bile racing in the peoples playground"
because they recommended in their re-
port that with proper safeguards thrown
around the course and in view of the fact
that It would afford a great deal Of pleas
ure to many thousands of people the APP
plication should be granted" Those who
have watched the growing interest In
the race know how we'll the people have
awaited themselves OF the opportunity.
The event may be viewed without cost
Of admission and in the last four years
il has given TO charity alone si7,21s.
In 1909. the second season for the race
and the first year that charity shared
in the proceeds, $7,6l7 was given over to
the treasures OF four OF the city's char
ity and philanthropie ehterprise-the
Rush hospital. White Haven sanatorium,
Chlldren's Aid society and the Pennsyl-
vania Society for the Prevention of
Tuberculosis The following year the same
number of institutions equally shared in
the profits, which amounted to S6es7.
This sum went to ST. Mary's hospital,
the Home for Crippled Children. Mount
Sinai hospital and the police pension
fund. While the profits were not so great
last year, the number of persons who
we're amused by the race was as large as
in former years The sum of $3.OS650 was
lice pension fund.
All OF which makes It look very foolish
for Philadelphia TO try to stop the race.