The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
AUTO MEN STRIVE
TO PREVENT RACES
Transforming" Tours Are
Put Under the Ban.
TRACKS ARE NOT SUITABLE
Killing of Nine People in Race ut
Syracuse Renews Activity to
Stop Racing Meets on Tracks
Where the Conditions Are Such
that Accidents Result.

The recent automobile accident at the
Syracuse, n. Y, fair, when Lee Old
fields car blew out a tire and crashed
the fence, killing nine people,
has brought forcibly before the minds
Of the people the danger of motor car
races on a track other than one specially
built for that purpose. This form OF
racing was tabooed by the contest board
Of the Automobile Manufacturers Asso-
citation at its rece: meeting in De-
troit as being too dangerous to foster.
A rule was passed stating that before
sanction would be granted for a race
on a horse track. it would have to be
inspected by a member of the contest
board and approved by him. It was
also agreed that after the expiration Of
six months sanction would not be grant
ed for automobile races on half-mile
tracks
Automobile racing at the best is a haz-
ardous sport. Cars tearing around a
track at the rate of sixty-five or sew
enty miles an hour soon put the track
surface in so rough a condition that the
guiding of a car is in itself a difficult
matter.
Americans Love Sport.
Americans are a sport-loving people,
and anything that is dangerous simply
adds spice to the entertainment. In ad-
dition to being sport-loving, they are
also a class that loves speed. It is born
in them. First 1t was fast horses, and
now It is automobiles. They are willing
to pay almost any price to see a con-
test of speed
Put the average American behind the
wheel of a car and the first thing that
he wants to do is TO see how fast II
will go. few wise promoters. realiz-
ing this fact, have taken advantage of
il. They have looked over the country
found out when fairs are to be held in
different sections. and what kind of a
track the town affords. With this in
formation at hand they open negotia-
tions with the management OF the fair
and agree to furnish a number Of auto
mobile races as an attraction.
They maintain an automobile racing
ST bic, the same as horse owners do, and
travel from one fair to the other Their
drivers are nearly all men of experience
in the racing game, and draw big sal
aries. They themselves realize that is
is a hazardous occupation, but the lure
Of the salary and prize money is too
strong.
Races like the EIgin. Fairmont Park.
and Grand Prize tend to
bring out the best there is in the racing
game. and many things are learned by
automobile engineers from the way the
cars perform.
Races Used for Tests.
Some manufacturers have in the past
used these contests for testing out par
ticular kinds OF material and forms of
At the conclusion of the
race the cars are carefully examined for
defects either in material or workman
ship.
No such results accrue from these
Transforming" races. The minute the
events are concluded the cars are loaded
aboard a train and shipped to the next
place they are to compete. That this idea
Is not considered favorably by the manu-
faCturers is best shown by the refusal of
many who participate in legitimate rae
ing to enter into a combine last spring
and travel by special train from city 10
city.
The idea was conceived by a prominent
man in the automobile world to form a
lSBult duIOulODll6 TdClTB circuit
to the horse circuits. His idea was to
have all the cars, drivers, and mechani-
clans travel in a special train from one
point to another. The idea in itself was
a good one. for it would prove more
economical than having each representa-
tive ship his own car from point to point.
When placed before the manufacturers
some of them consented to the idea,
while others fatty refused to have any,
thing to do with 1t. Those who would
not consider it gave as their reason the
fact that they only intended taking part
in the big races of the year and could
see no benefits to be derived from an
automobile racing circuit. The idea that
they would gain a great deal of publi-
city for their cars was not favorabIy
Another point that one prom
inent manufacturer brought out, and
which, according to the reports from diff
ferent sections of the country, is prov
ing true, is the fact that these track
races make speed maniacs out of many
of the spectators. They see the cars
tearing around the track and imagine
that they are capable of doing the same
thing with their machines. AS a result,
not being experienced, they do not know
how to take a turn or what to do in a
tight place, and a battered and bruised
driver is the finish.
The manufacturers are poWerless to
stop automobile racing when conducted
by private owners or promoters in any
other manner except by refusing them
sanction for the event. There is but
slight danger Of any promoter trying to
hold an unsanctioned event.
Every form of sport must have a gov
erning body to be successful. and its
rules must be lived up to. It remains
TO be seen II the American Automobile
intends living up to the rule
made by the manufacturers contest
board. If they do. it will mean the death
knell Of automobile racing on dirt tracks
and a decrease in the mortality columns
Of those who are killed in following this
dangerous form of sport.
Charles Y. knight, inventor of the
silent knight motor, and which is be-
Ing used in this country by one Of the
big motor car corporations this season,
arrived home last week, after a long CO.
journ abroad. He expressed himself as
more than pleased with the progress that
had been made in this country by Amer
can workmen with his product.
'One advantage of our portable gar
age is the fact that 1t requires but little
space and can be set at any angle that
will AFFORD most convenient means of
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