New-York tribune., 1911-03-13
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY
Harry Grant SCOTS at Criticism
of Long Race.
NO DANGER, HE THINKS
Driver of Alco Car Explains Why
Track Contest Is Not
Specially firing.

Harry Grant. who has entered the 5Jo-
mile race At the Indianapolis speedway on
May 80 with "Old No. IS the Alco car IN
which he twice in succession won the van
derbilt race. does not fear that there Will
be any wholesale disabling q drivers, as
predicted last Thursday by a well known
racing enthusiast
Grant has been busy with the car IN
which he won at the Boston show. where
he has been the centre of attraction. ~
one time during the show the management
was forced TO put special u,hcrs near th'
Alco exhibit because the crowd around
Grant. the cup ard the car" was so great.
Grant Is expected in New York carly this
week. when he will M ke some interesting
tests on the Long Island roads.
Speak King Of the grind on May 90 he said:
WHY, there isn't the slightest danger of
the drivers being unable to complete the
distance. | see that some man who an
nounces himself as an automobile racing
EXPERT thinks that the constant circuit,
round and round the track. will affect the
eyes and cause the drivers to lose control
Of their cars momentarily. OF course. it
this should be the case. there would be dis
aster.
But any ono who has ever driven a long
track race will know that, as a matter oi
fact. It is going 10 be much easier TO drive
easier on the man, | mean-than long
road race. even at shorter distance or
course, there will be the constant c.rciing.
Do you realize that those OF us who finish
Will have to 20 around that speedway 2tp
times?
The conditions are easier than on road
race coulse. such j one as the Vanderbilt.
for instance. A read course shakes you up
fearfully. tires the entire body, and es-
pec!ally the muscles of the forearm and
wrist. I remember that IN one of the
twenty four-hour races last summer at
Brighton Beach one Of the teams virtually
lost the race because the men could not
stand the strain Of humping over the lumpy
track Their wrists gave ont.
But now ~ Indianapolis the surface is
as smooth as billiard table. There IS no
constant hammerinC or all tho nerve cen
tres. The wrists will not be Jared into
inability to hold the wheel. I can't believe
that the men are going to lose control Of
themselves and their cars.
The American Auto mobile Association
las made a rule, you know. allowing the
same drivers 10 drive for the entire dis.
tance The rule as usually in effect IS that
no man may drive for more than five con
eecutive hours. But al the request of the
drivers themselves, who surely should tc
the best judges, the American Automobile
Association made special rule allowing
US to 20 for the full seven hours.
Now. as TO the eyes. one of the things
that hurts the eyes is trying TO strain
ahead through dirty goggles. There Will be
comparatively little Of that strain. because
the speedway Is comparatively clean. And
always carry handkerchief pinned 70
the tip OF my cap.
Dozens of persons have asked NE why
carry II there. It Is because l can reach
around with one hand holding the wheel
with the other, and wipe each eve sepa-
rately. driving with the opposite hand
Ills always gives me one eye free. Win?
Well, you can expect another Alco victory
to adj % the two Vanderbilt Cup victories