Norwich bulletin., 1911-11-28
|At Rate of "A
 Miles an Hour
RALPH k- MuLFoRo WINS VAN
 DER5iLT CUP RACE.
TOOK LEAD FROM DE PALMA
Latter Led Procession for Four Laps and Made PIucky Fight to Regain
 that Position-Records Broken.

Savannah. Ga, Nov. 27.-When a white streak flashed by the judges stand late today at the finish of the seventh Vanderbilt cup race the Amer ican automobile world hailed Ralph K. Mulford. driver of Lozier car, a new champion.
 Lowered All Previous Records. Not only had Mulford lowered all previous Vanderbilt records, but he had surpassed the performance of Harvey Ilerrfck at San Monica. Cal, in cover ing POP miles at an average of T4-36 miles an hour. At that he was pushed to win the nerve raciNing 2s2 mile con- test by Ralph De Palma the brilliant driver of a French Mercedes. De Palma finished just little more than two minutes behind the winner and eIght minutes in advance of the other Mercedes entrant, Spencer Wishart-
 No Serious Accidents
 Only six of the fourteen cars which started finished. Bob Burman and David Bruce Brown, winner of last cars grand prize races. were among those forced to drop out owing to trouble with their machines The race was run without the usual loss of life. Among numerous accidents which be- fell contestants to the detriment of their chances of possessing the trophy only one imperiled life and limb. A rear wheel on Bruce Browns Fiat car flew off after turn had been taken q slow speed but he and his mechan- ician esca ped unhurt
 Loose Stone Puts Burrnan Out.
 Bub Burman was the victim of hard luck. He had just driven his Marmon around the seventh lap in record time, one minute aid a half behind Mulford. the leader. when a loose stone struck the gasoline tank connection and broke it. Burman abandoned the race. Jose Cyrus Patchke. driver of the other Marmon entry. was likewise running a good race when an air pump gave way or the ninth lap and forced him out os the contest Joe Watson took his tor threatened the destruction of his engine by fire.
 MuIford Had Good Luck With Tires.
 AIulford said tonight that he owed his victory largely to good luck with tires He made but one change De Palma was less fortunate He was ct.mpelIed to stop four time sfor new practically on the rim of one rear wheel De Palma took the lead at the beginning of the race and held it for four laps Then Mulford passed him tire troubles began immediately after he had made two record rounds on the second and third laps. which he made ih 1914 and 1s-16. respectively He the end of the fourth lap On the next round Mulford was one minute and 40 seconds ahead of him. He gradually cleared away while De Palma was worrying with his tires until he was almost six minutes ahead in the eighth
 De Palma's Wonderful Spurts-
 De Palma spurted desperately to re gain the lost ground and some of his turns near the grandstand excited the and wonder of the crowd At the beginning of the 10th and last jap Malford was but scant two min utes ahead and the spectators arose and cheered him as he dashed by for the finish. De Palma's beautiful blue Mercedes swerved around the curve at the rate of 75 miles and literally flew down the stratghtsway in vain pursuit
 Do Palma Game to End.
 No 8, Mufford in the stretch" cried the announcer. and the crowd arose ard strained eager eyes toward the spot half a mile away where the victoi shot into sight. A roar rent the air az the graceful white flyer flashed into inc stretch, and the din continued un- til Mulford finished. the victor. Though- defeated. De Palma was eame to the end and he also was wildly cheered ss he finished two minutes and II sec ords behind the winner.