Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-06-23
LOOK At sH|LL|NGs.
Why EngIand's Big Race Track
Proved a Failure.
Those in Control Of Brooklsnds, 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
luton. 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
coed a sportsman he may be. but to
the rich and weIl-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 a popular
class crowd to witness the events
have been abandoned and the 1900 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
a matter Of fact many of the races
put on are arranged for amateur dri-
vers and airmen plotting their own
machines.
Motorcycliug has become a popular
| pastine In England and interest In
racing is intense. II Brooklands were
moro accessible to London 1t is safe
to say that the motorcycle races
there would attract large crowds. But
II is a 60-cent train ride from Water
loo station, there is another charge
Of go cents to enter the grounds and
by the time q man has paid for his
tea, programme and few other In
cidental expenses he has put the
equivalent of a 81 bill out OF commits
sion. The London sport can get SO
much for ST., or eight shillings, II 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 II they
are not forthcoming In England they
are willing to race for a silver mus
Of little or no value or almost for 9
sheet Of paper stating that they wor
such and such race on such and
such a day at Brooklands. That, o.
course. has been the trouble in tryint
to match De Rozier against Collier
the English champion rider. Quit,
naturally De Rozier wants to race To-
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 {,
put up bag Of sovereigns for
match between the Engiishman an,
the American.
OF the three sports now In full
swing at Brooklands aviation undoubi
eddy draws the largest crowd. II stil
possesses the element Of novelty AM
danger which have to q 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
at each meeting are added to the dii
lance covered by the same aviators a
previous meets and the one who con
piles the greatest total before tn
close Of the season IL to get the prizs
Thus, unless one IL keen enough I
follow the progress Of the several ali
men from meet to meet the flying n