Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-11-19
Yankee Will Be Speed Champ

NkMAA3 OF the French Grand Priz.
The 1911 French event proved to be
but a poor imitation Of the once
mighty contest, rightly considered
the real and only classic OF the
automobile sport. So the yankee grand
prize winner will be considered the speed
king champion Of the world. 1t is true
that the 1911 race for the gold cup has
failed to attract as large or representative
a field as the two previous grand prize
races brought together, yet the men who
will meet in the gasoline battle represent
about all the great drivers of the world
who have not retired. at least temporarily,
from the dangerous sport. In the 1911
French Grand Prix. Hemery was the only
pilot who entered whose name was at all
familiar to motorists on this side of the
Atlantic Automobile racing in Europe
has had its day and there is not much
chance for it's revival Aviation seems
20 have attracted the curiosity seekers
and to have monopolized the space the
papers in Europe once gave TO the chroni-
cling of automobile contests. Seldom
day passes but that more than 200 aero
planes are in the air in Europe.
But the Grand Prize, which will be
contested near Savannah on our national
turkey day. is the one big event Of the
year, by virtue of the prominence OF the
drivers and competing cars and Of the
richness of the trophy and cash prizes.
When I reached Savannah the entries
had not closed, but 1 was informed that
about all the cars that would face the
starter had been nominated. / am going
10 give my readers some real honest,
frank criticism of the different pilots as
they impressed me during the time have
watched them drive in different events
since they started at the game. was
racing years before any Of the Ameri-
cans who are entered started their ca
reers, and watched many of them
graduate from the mechanics seat. 1
figure that every car, with the possible
exception of a couple of small ones, has
en- equal chance, OF at least the driver
OF each has used his judgment in selecting
his mount. Here is the way they look
80 me:
Hemery big, strong. courageous and
daring To my mind the most forceful
fellow in the race. Winner OF the 1905
Vanderbilt cup race with an extremely
light car of great power Winner also
Of many big European races. Finished
second in both grand prize races. In
1908 Hemery would probably have won
had not his signals been misunderstood
in 1910 Hemery was but two seconds be-
hind his teammate who won. Hard luck
can hardly pursue so game a fellow three
times in succession, so Hemery is my
pick as winner.
Wagner OF France, winner of the 1908
grand prize and the 1906 Vanderbilt cup
event. Crafty, skillful and intrepid. The
equal of any driver in the world. Must
be reckoned with by the winner. Failed
to finish in the 1910 grand prize on ae-
count of wrecking his car.
Bruce Brown, winner of 1910 grand prize.
Brains and strength are his heritage A
mighty combination to be sure, The only
thing lacking in Bruce Brown is expepi-
ence. He is but % years old, am told.
He is a millionaire, but he does not drive
like most of them. While the Yale man
must be figured as a strong contender,
do not forget that luck of the opposite
kind of which lost the two grand prize
races for Hemery was probably RESPONSE
BILE for his victory last year.
Bob" Burman, speed king, the man
who travelled faster on the Florida beach
than human ever sped, is not my choice
for winner of the 4O0-mile road classic.
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feeling for his engine. He is not an
expert in nursing his car. For a short
dash Burrnan is the greatest pilot OF them
all. Probably that is why he has never
won big race, and he has been in many.
Ralph DePalma, track competition
champion. Crafty and daring as they
make them. But DePalma runs Bur1nan
a close second in the almost won sweep
stakes" The man who drives a circular
track with the ease Of a debutante GID
ing over a ball room floor seems to lack
tho punch when 1t comes to long races.
Twice has he had grand prize races in
his palm. And twice did he make me-
chanical faux pas and watched the finish
from the roadside DePalma has a great
machine for his mount this year and may
fool the wise ones. II he wins 1 will be
as badly fooled as any one.
Caleb Bragg, millionaire kid" The
school boy who won from me the hardest
fought race of my career. But because
of the fame that came to the youngster,
his friends expect from him the impos-
sible. AS slender as a seminary girl
young Bragg is not of the physique &c
stand a hard grueling race such as the
big event will prove.
Young Hearne comes from Chicago and
has won many races ranging from five
mile amateur championships to long road
races. OF about the same build Of young
Bragg, the Chicagoan is of tough fibre
and hard as nails. The long route will
not affect Hearne. lie has driven in
Vanderbilt cup events, in Paramount park
races and was king Of the speedway at
Indianapolis for one season. But taken
in all Eddie is not as well seasoned OF
experienced as many Of the others. Still
he may be one OF the surprises.
Milford, the steady. Ralph is just
about the sort Of a man to bring home
the bacon for an American made car. !
never heard OF Milford having TO drop
out Of but one big race through his car
becoming disabled. He is as consistent
as a fine watch and will surely be one OF
the first four 70 finish.
Dawson, the hoosier youngster. Daw-
son usually wins or Is put out Of the
cunning by having something go wrong
with his car. Young, brave and ambitious
zoe Dawson must be figured seriously
every time he starts with even odds. This
time he has a car as fast as any in the
race. Play Dawson to be close to Null