The Washington times., 1911-04-23
NINE ENTRIES IN FOR
-FOUR LEAF CLOVER
AUTOMOBILE RUN
Promoter Expects the Total
to Reach twenty-five
by May 7.

With the completion of the laying
out Of the route for the Four Leaf
Glover Run of the Automobile Club of
Washington. interest in this unique
event is increasing. Nine entries have
been received by Capt. Ted S. John
ston, who has charge of the run. and
it is expected the number will be in
creased to twenty-five by the time the
entries close on May Z.
Entrants and prospective entrants in
the tour. which will open the automo-
bile competitive season in Washington,
will find much TO interest them in Will
liam Bolger's dope" on how to win
tour trophy. Bolger won the Glidden
tour last year with a Chalmers 30.
and as he knows every angle of the
game, what he has to say about driving
q car in endurance contests is of more
than passing interest.
Three Factors Necessary.
There are three factors always nee
essary to the winning Of an endurance
run" saws Bolger. They are a good
car, good luck, and intelligent driving.
Strange as it may seem, success in
driving in a tour is not so much ques-
tion of control of the car by the driver
driver. Any one can learn in a few
minutes how to control a car, letting in
the clutch, shifting the gears, putting
on the brakes and all that, but learning
how to control ones self in the car is
q different thing.
AN automobile is a temptation. In
many ways it is the strongest tempta-
ton l know. 1t is a temptation which
only few can learn to resist. 1t is a
temptation to speed. You can feel IL In
a.. EQNr iIlS
a little button you can sal along faster
than the wind. once experience that
sensation of speed and you always
have a craving to experience 1t again.
Hence, you must be always guarding
yourself, for If you give way to the de-
sire for speed on an endurance run you
are lost. Another car may come past
you and throw up dust until you learn
TO like it; That is when you must be
can't feeling that you are temporarily be-
hind in the procession for the sake of
the bigger prize you thereby increase
your chances of winning later.
Making the Controls First.
The notice one gets for being the
first m at the night controls is a nice
thing, too, and it is natural to want
that publicity. When l first began driv-
ing in tours / though myself pretty
smart to get in first at the night con-
trolls. After a few disappointments at
the end of the tours l came to the
knowledge that it is seldom the car that
makes the controls first which wins the
big honor at the finish.
Take it easy. That is the best ad-
vice l know how to give any one who
thinks of entering long tour. l have
q superstition that car has feelings a
good deal like people have. | think car
can be worried Just the same as a horse
or man can be worried. And Just as a
horse or man cannot do their best work
when worried. so it is with motor car
a good car has a way of taking il easy
on its own account if only its driver
will study 1t a bit and humor it along.
An automobile ready for a tour rep
Tesents just so much endurance and en-
ergy. II starts with 100 per cent. Each
mile IL is driven takes away little bit
of its energy and lessons by a fraction
its chances OF remaining In absolutely
perfect shape. II IS the drivers bus-
ness to make its mileage on the small
est possible consumption of his car 5
every rod OF the road were fatal to his
cars success, and vet he must do II with
out worrying his mount.
Il think many drivers have made the
mistake of trying to hang on to their
perfect technical scores too long. At a
baseball game you often see the pitcher
give base on balls for the sake of a
chance at a double play, to retire the
opposing side. Sometimes by taking a
small technical penalty on the road you
can save yourself many points in the
technical examinations at the finish of
the affair.