Montpelier examiner., 1911-06-09
LOOK At SH|LLINGS
Why EngIand's Big Race Track
Proved a Failure.
Those In Control OF Brooklands, Auto
mobile Course, Have Experimental
for Years In Attempt to
Make Sports Pay.

London.-The problem of how to
make Brooklands, England's big au-
tomobile track, pay, or at least prove
self-supporting, AT last seems near So
tuition. For four years, ever since this,
the largest racing track in the world,
was opened to the public, those in
control Of 1t have been experimenting
and out of bitter experience and the
loss of much money they have slowly
but surely learned that its appeal. is
not to the man in the street. however
good sportsman he may be, but to
the rich and well-to-do.
When the track was first opened
only automobile races were held on
the great oval. Later on motorcycling
was introduced and finally aviation.
Now all three are combined at every
meet. But attempts to get popular
class crowd to witness the events
have been abandoned and the 1000 or
more men and women who gather to
see the races are recruited almost en-
tirely from the upper crust of Eng
lish society-owners of motor cars
and flying machines of their own. AS
matter of fact many of the races
put on are arranged for amateur dri-
vers and airmen plotting their own
machines.
Motorcycling has become a popular
pastime in England and interest in
racing is intense. If Brooklands were
more accessible to London 1t is safe
to say that the motorcycle races
there would attract large crowds. But
1t Is 60-cent train ride from Water
loo station, there is another charge
of so cents to enter the grounds and
by the time man has paid for his
tea, programme and a few other in
cidental expenses he has put the
equivalent Of 50 bill out of commits
sion. The London sport can get SO
much for 81, or eight shillings, 1t is
not strange that he does not rush to
Brooklands on meet days no matter
how keen he may be on motorcycling.
These facts have their influence. OF
course, on the incentives that are of.
fered to the riders who compete in the
motorcycle races. In the United
States the men race for substantial
purses and hold out for them IL they
are not forthcoming. In England they
are willing to race for a silver mug
OF little or no value or almost for a
sheet OF paper stating that they wor
such and such a race ON such and
such day at Brooklands. That, oi
course, has been the trouble In tryins
to match De Rozier against Collier
the English champion rider. Quite
naturally De Rozier wants to race foi
a fair sized purse, not being In bust
ness to collect mugs or diplomas o
merit, and efforts are being made Il
get one of the clubs in England t,
put up a bag of soyereigns for
match between the Englishman an,
the American.
2 OF the three sports now In full
| swing at Brooklands aviation undoubt
! edly draws the largest crowd. It stil
e possesses the elements of novelty an
| danger which have to a large exten
! disappeared from automobile racin
. and motorcycling. The flying contest
/ held at the big track are not what on
would call exciting. The flights mad
i at each meeting are added to the dis
!. tance covered by the same aviators a
previous meets and the one who con
! piles the greatest total before tn
close of the season is to get the prizt
Thus, unless one is keen enough t
follow the progress of the several ali
men from meet to meet the flying n