The Washington times., 1911-01-24
PUBLIC APPETITE
KEEPS UP RACING
Marmon Thinks Coming
Season Will Be Best Ever
Among Speeders.
By HARRY WARD.

Howard Marmon, who was elected
chairman of the general rules committee
and vice president of the Manufacturers
Contest Association. has given out some
valuable observations Of the automo-
bile situation of today.
Mr.. MarTnon is a recognized authority
in automobile sports, as well as in the
industrial field. ard his observations
carry weight both with the public and
the trade. Il believe this seasons au-
tOmobile races will be the best in the
history of ;he game" said Mr.. Mar
mon.
The appetite of the public seems to
be whetted to q keen taste for motor
car speed battles, and this demand
keeps the game alive. The 500-n1ile
race scheduled for the indianapolis
motor speedway Memorial Day prom
ises to attract a great field of speedy
machines and will be. perhaps. one of
the greatest automobile races ever held.
Many firms that have never before en-
tered cars in contests are preparing to
participate in the leading events, both
on the track and road. The Gidden
tour, in my opinion, should go through
tHt llIuuIt W est, COulll, ana Swing
around into the East. / am in favor OF
starting from Indianapolis.
Regarding the subject of rules, Mr..
Marmon says the reliability rules for
touring contests will remain practically
the same as last year. There will be
some additional Fules for truck con-
tests. The contest association, he says.
favorS a larger force of paid technical
experts to make observations on tours,
so as to avoid any possible mistakes
or complaints. The association Will also
amend the rules determining a stock
car AS they now stand ii is possible
to put more than one Interpretation
on them. ,, ..,,...
in general. l am an optimist," continu-
ed Mr.. Marmon. Il am positive the
public demand is steadily growing. the
fact that 1t is steady and not a sudden
fad is encouragement to me. People
need automobiles now the same as the
telephone or the electric light in their
homes Manufacturers who announced
last year that they intended building
great numbers of machines found II
impossible to construct themin so short
a time. This weakens the rumors of
critics that the country is flooded with
machines.
Commenting on the national automo-
bile show to be held in Convention Hall
next month, W. c. Long, chairman of
the show committee. said:
Desire for information has replaced
curiosity as the motive which attracts
the public to displays of automobiles
1t used to be, when cars cost so much
as to be beyond the reach of any but
the most wealthy, or were so unre-
liable in operation as to have but minor
practical value, that crowds at the
shows had no serious purpose. But
people gathered in New York, and Will
gather in Washington, to be entertain
ed. The lover of extended touring trips
wants to study the new models and de-
eide which car appeals to him. with
more than 100 different makes on dis
play, there will be ample opportunity
to see the leading models of the coun-
try. The business man who, in ms
daily work, must make a number of
calls, and seeks the medium of doing
them in the shortest time, will be
close student of the new models. Wom-
an, with all her various needs for
motor car. will help TO swell the throng.
The Washington show will be conduct
ed on the usual scale of completeness.
A fine bunch of entries is being Sc
cured for the three-dayS automobile
carnival in New Orleans during Mardt
Gras week, February "A, % and IS. One
Walter DonneIly will drive. Donnelly
drove q Cino in the Munsey Historic
Tour last year, and gave good account
of himself He is known as the Cincin-
natl champion, having raced with much
success, and has likewise been promi-
nent as an endurance driver. He has
all the nerve requisite and counts on
winning number of the New Orleans
events.