The Washington times., 1911-02-05
AMERICAN CARS MAY
COMPETE IN FRANCE
Several Makers Consider En-
tering for the Grand
Prize Race.
By HARRY WARD.


When the grand prize race is run In
France on June 25, it is possible several
American cars will be in the lineup.
Already there is considerable talk
among those makers who follow racing
about cars and drives. II an American
team was sent over to try for the prize
1t Is possible the French classic would
be landed by the daredevil American
drivers, but the competition among
American makers is so great that team
work seems out Of the question. With
each American maker working for his
own car, which is without doubt per-
fectly legitimate and desirable thing.
the chances fall lower to bring the
trophy across the water
Several of the men whose brains have
made American racing have spoken in
an entirely casual way of a series of
elimination races, which should deter
mine at least the Americans who
should enter in this race. Why wouldn't
1t be a fair thing to allow the entries
only of the first FIVE men to finish
in the big Indianapolis race on May 80.
when the prizes aggregate s25.O This
is such a race as the motoring world
has never seen.
1t is in large sense a determinative
race of the really biggest men in Amer
lean automobile racing. Some plan
might be worked out, h the contest
board of the American Automobile As
ISOLATION would take the matter up,
which would give America big chance
to win the French trophy.
Studying the performances of some Of
the American cars in the last season or
50. it is obvious that as more things are
learned about campaigning, the ma
chimes here will attain speeds that once
upon a time were thought almost out
Of the question for domestic automo-
bile. AS it is, there are stock cars in
this country which can so with the best
Of the foreit makes, and it is to be
recalled that an American stock car has
now close to the highest speed average
attained anywhere in the world. The
high speed average was made some
years ago on the other side. On the
other hand. American cars are getting
faster all the time.
Owing to lack of a quorum the board
of governors of the Automobile Club of
Washington did not meet last evening.
President Duvall will call the mestinS
early this week. at which time a secre-
tary-treasurer of the club will be
elected.
has been advised that a Waverly eiec-
tric roadster, equipped with Edison bat
teries, recently made a run from Phila-
delphia to New York in five and three
- to-
ing 112 miles. Mud six inches deep was
in many places. This run
that the use of electrics
for crcss-country Iuns is beginning to
be appreciated.
Convention Hall, where several auto
mobile shows have been held in the last
few years, has been forced to yield up
its last inch of space to accommodate
the show which opens a week from to-
morrow night. Each year the demand
for space has increased, and this strong
ly emphasizes the growth and pros
porous activity of the automobile busi-
ness. Something new, either great or
small. will be found in nearly all Of the
models to be exhibited, and as some of
the dealers cling to the old habit of
keeping something up the sleeve until
show time, there is no telling what sur
prises may be in store. Visitors to the
show will be agreeably surprised at
the distribution of the exhibits, which
will give the impression Of vast space
not uncomfortably filled with cars and
allowing plenty of elbow room. AS all
the models will be displayed side by
side, the public can compare their
differences and similarities, and in gen.
eraI see what the dealers have to offer
in the way of improvements in the
cars.
Moore & Co, one Of the pioneer auto
bile repair firms of this city. have re-
moved from 306 John Marshall place to
larger and more commodious quarters
at 1926 H street northwest Consider
able new machinery has been added to
the equipment of the plant.