The Washington times., 1911-03-20
TELLS REASON FOR
MOTOR CAR RACES
Manufacturer Says 1t Helps
Find Faults In Con- L.
Struction.
IMPRESSES PUBLIC
WITH CARS PROWESS
Even IL Purchaser Never Uses
Speed He Likes to Know He
Has 1t to Use.
By HARRY WARD.


With the exception of few speed
maniacs," no person ever desires to
drive an automobile in every day use
at the rate of seventy miles an hour.
The question has often been raised
why the motor car manufacturers go to
such trouble to demonstrate to the
public the ability of their cars to go
discussed recently by a group Of promi-
nent automobile men, one of whom put
this question to George NJ. Dickson,
general manager of the National fac
automobile purchaser that half a second
be clipped off a world, s record? Is the
game worth the candle?"
Serious Side of Racing.
1T is" replied Mr.. Dickson, who has
entered National cars in all the big
racing events OF the year. Although
the element of sport enters largely into
every contest" he continued, there is a
serious side to motor racing that is
more important. 1t is now generally
acknowledged that racing is an efficient
guide to the motor car designer, en-
abling him to correct faults that would
escape for years in ordinary use, and
better still, every automobile contest
offers an opportunity for the public to
judge for themselves as to the desira-
bility of car. 1t is for this reason and
In this way that the competing maker is
repaid.
while the general run of automobile
owners may never go in for anything
more strenuous than a sociability run,
the high-powered, speedy cars are the
ones that make the most potent appeal
to those who appreciate the best in
motor car construction.
Need Eat Nobody's Dust.
Although you may never race, it's a
comfort to know that you'll never be
obliged to eat anybody's dust, and that
you have speed enough, should you de-
sire to pass anything on the road
Victories in long races, those terrific
grinds of 100, 900 and 800 miles, become,
when viewing them in this light, doubly
significant to the prospective purchaser
A car that cleans up on speedway or
road races, If 1t is strictly stock car,
is the logical one to buy. Its reserve
strength has been tested out ANY flaw
in workmanship, defective materials, or
faulty design will be shown mercilessly.
While one winning may be accidental,
the great law of averages that has been
proved so true in business holds in
motor racing"
The Overland Washington Motor Com
pany reports the sale of Overland cars
to the following. Model IS roadsters to
Lieutenant Smith. L. S. N. and Mrs.
III IdlilduSS, anu hOOel OF lOTpeuO
touring car to T. Fl. Fox.
The Abbott-Detroit "Bulldog," which
is making run of 10000 miles about
the country, is now headed for Texas,
and the car with its crew will be active
participants in the war naneuVers Of
the United States army along the Mex
lean border. Whc1 the machine arrives
in San Antonio it will be turned over
to Mai. Gen. William II. Carter, and
with its crew will act as scouts along
the border. The work of this car will
go far toward Drovi1G the actual value
of the automobile in future warfare.
The famous Mercedes automobile that
Janetzy shot over the beach AT Ostend
a kilcmeter in sixteen seconds, at the
rate of 145 miles an hour, will soon be
landed in this country. and will be en-
tered in the competition for the worlds
mile record at Jacksonville. Fla, the
latter part of this month. Barney Old
fields existing mark of 27.GS seconds for
the mile will be assailed with this great
speed creation. The indications are
that either Bob Burman, Ray Harron. or
John Aitken will be at the wheel when
the car is sent after the record.
Miller Brothers Automobile and Sup
ply House report the delivery Of Ford
cars this week to the following: u.
Kraus. l.. T. Smith. W. w Barnes. F.
]. Orth. DR.. Beall.T DR.. n. f. Webb, Dr.
Rev. c. Z. Warner, H G..
Machin, W. S. Holden. DR.. Grower \
Felie limousine has also been delivered
to Mrs. c. Loefflcr.
T. P. Steele of the Interstate Auto
mobile Company, is in the city for a
few days, and is making his headnuar-
ters with David S. Hendrick, the Intap-
State dealer.
Walter H. Bowes has purchas ased q
Model 4O-k standardization roadster
from the Barnard Motor Car Companv.
The United Motor Washington Com
pany has sold Model Maxwell touring
cars to DR.. ]. H. Johnson and J. H.
Connolly.
w E. Dusenbury. of the Rambler Au-
tomobile Company, is in Washington for
a few days, and is visiting J. E. Shell
don. the Rambler agent Mr.. Dusenbury
reports the automobile business to be