New-York tribune., 1911-02-21
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY
Racing Season Opens This Week
on Coast and in South.
FAMOUS DRIVERS ENTERED
G. T. Jeffery Has Discovered
That the Farmers Are Buy
ing Better Cars.

The week the automobile racing seascd
for 1911 opens with two dates. At Oakland,
Cal, tomorrow, the Panama-Pacifc road
race over the san Lesndro- Hayward
course will be run. and on Saturday ths
third annual Mardi Gras speed carnival
be gins at New Orleans and continues for
three days.
There will be an automobile show in
connection with the New Orleans races.
and for this twenty-eight dealers have
bought space The largest entry list on
record for a mile track meet has been
attracted to the New Orleans races. The
list includes Lewis Strang with the Case
team, Caleb Bragg with the so-horsepower
Fiat, Louis Disbrow with two National
cars, Fred Belcher withs Knox. Harry
Endicott with two Coles. Frank Kulick and
partner in Fords. A. J jacksonville In a
Corbin and Robert Burman and Arthur
Chevrolet in Bucks.
Homer George is managing the meet.
and the indications are for good racing
and good attendance.
There has been some talk about the pos-
sibility of a new record on the Oakland
course, but Ralph De Palma, who VIII
drive d National car, wired friend here
yesterday. saying that there is no chance
Of a record. as the course is in bad con-
dition. Hanshue, who will drive an APP
person. is Just as confident that records
will be broken Jack Fleming will drive
one OF the special big Pope-Hartfords.
The American Automobile Association
has made a special dispensation in the
stock car race. This class will include
cars OF piston displacement Of 800 to $50
cubic inches
Careful preparations have been made tn
render the course safe. both for drivers
and spectators There will be no large
grandstand. but a series Of boxes will line
the road on both sides at the finish.
Charles T Jeffery. head OF the Thomas
B. Jeffery Company, returned this week
from a trip 70 the Southwest. where he con-
ferred with Rambler dealers and rep
resentatives regarding further extensions
Of the Rambler sales and service organ
zation throughout that territory.
The Southwest" said Mr.. Jeffery. got
the first good rain IL has had since last
September on Monday, February l3. This
was followed by a few days OF fine
weather, with the result that the Kansas
City motor car show was crowded with
farmers and business men anxious TO buy
cars We sold nifty Ram5lers during ths
week. most OF them TO farmers and ranch-
men
The attitude OF the Southwestern busi-
ness man and farmer has undergone a
change very similar TO that experienced BY
bankers and commercial captains in the
cities. | found every one out there opti-
mlstic, and with a prospect Of record crops
this year and good prices sales Will be
very large.
Il met one farmer who told me an in
teresting fact about the steady increase in
the average price paid for cars by farm
towners. lie said that OF ff,y men in his
section who owned automobiles most OF
them began the first year with a $1,000
car, bought a better one the next year
for about sl,500, and last year raised the
average above s. COO
Exhibitors in the automobile show OF the
Brooklyn Motor Vehicle Dealers Associa-
ton at the ed Regiment Armory were busy
yesterday putting the tlnal touches to tne
displays at tneT spaces, duu everything
was in order when the doors were opened
at l o'clock.
The attendance during the first few hours
after the show opened yesterday proved
the wisdom Of having the special matinee
admission price OF % cents, instead OF 80
cents at all hours. To-day is TO be society
day. when the admission fee afternoon and
evening will be ST.
Mrs. Caroline B. Nichols, and the Fadet-
ties, Of Boston, have arrived, and Will give
concerts afternoon and evening.
How to Operate an Automobile at
Minimum Cost" Will be the subject OF
Joseph r. Browns lecture at o'clock
this evening in the auditorium OF the West
| Side Young Mems Christian Association.
| No. BIS West 9TH street. Mr.. Brown has
for a long time been making experiments
| TO ascertain the least possible cost OF
automobile operation. and in his lecture
will give the results of his work. The
meeting is free 70 the public.