New-York tribune., 1911-01-05
DRIVERS MUST TRAIN
GrueI|ing Auto Races a Tre-
nendouS Strain.
RIGORS TREATED LIGHTLY
Those Who Have Piloted Cars to
Victory Laugh at the
Dangers.

Tndianapolis. Jan. 4.-Physical training
of an automobile race driver is as essentia'
to success behind the wheel as is the Train
ing of an athlete to his success IN any
snort according TO the statements OF some
Of the oldest motor pilots in that hazard
ous sport The stories OF hardships IN en-
durance driving are told frequently by the
daredevil wheelmen. but they are treated
lightly and are as little considered ny tnem
as -be element OF danger which is ever
present in the game.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway man
aeement has obtained advance permission
T. inform, drivers entered in the 500 mile
international sweepstakes race over that
course on MAY 80. that they will be per
n,i+ted f. take their cars all the way
through the long grind II they are in salts
factory physical condition ana pass inc
examination Of the representatives Of the
American Automobile Association contest
heard The drivers have accepted this
advice with considerable satisfaction as
many OF them feared they would be gov
erned 10y the three hour limit track ana
specdvay rule in force in 1910.
Lewis strang. who will pilot Case car
through the big classic on the brick oval
says:
'The present rule does not permit man
TO drive long enough. especially on the
Speedway, where the surface Is so per
feet. 10 even start to tire himself out If
he is in any kind Of physical condition
that is good.
Il have handled the cars In twenty-four-
hour races when we We're at the wheel
from nine TO eighteen hours with no re-
lief When I handled the Acme six in
the twenty four-hour race a. Brighton
Beach | drove for eighteen hours straight
and never felt the least hit Of fatigue. Ny
arms and wrists were in excellent condi-
tion. When I handled the Renault in a
later twenty-four-hour race I drove nine
hours, took four-hour relief and then
went back 10 the wheel again. l felt ia
tigued at no time.
1T is true there are a number Of men
driving cars to-day whose arms give out
on them and they are fatigued before even
two hours are up. 1t seems too bad that
any man should be made to suffer because
! the others give out when he takes care Of
1 himself physically and keeps in as good
| condition as any other athlete
Then. again, in the twenty four hour
| race, three hours relief, | believe is not
! enough. A man cannot get any rest in
three hours. II is a great deal worse for
him 10 take such a relief than If he never
| took any during the entire twenty-four-
/ hour period.
Happy" Johnny Aitken, the famous
pilot of the National cars, who will drive
| q National Speedway roadster, 1911 model
| in the long race, says:
! surely l want to drive all the way
7 What's the use Of giving up half the prize
! 10 some other fellow? Why, seven hours
! on the speedway is nothing more than a
| JOY ride when it comes 10 comparison
/ with some OF the other races OF the coun-
/ try. especially the road races.
/ II don't believe there is a driver who
! car through without suffering any i'll ef-
! fects. The strain will be on the cars. for
! the pace will 30 a hot one, and | wouldn
| be surprised TO see the record go TO pieces
| from start TO fnish.'
! The Speedway management has beer
| advised by many other drivers who will
| participate that the seven-hour grind will
not work hardship on them and they de-
sire 10 take their cars clear through the
! contest.
! +. ~. Wheeler. of the Wheeler e. Schebler
| Company, manufacturers Of the Scheblei
carburetor, and one Of the directors of the
| Speedway. says:
! II believe the decision Of the contest
| board TO let one driver take a car straight
| through will make the race much better
! from the standpoint of the drivers them.
tators. 1t has been the experience Of the
/ Speedway in long races that the spectators
enioyed the gameness Of the pilots as much
/ as the performance OF the cars