Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-23
WILD Bill JONES

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, May 22.-Highly
tuned" and mechanically as perfect as
the skill of the modern motor car maker
can produce, forty-slx OF the fastest racing
automobiles ever assembled are at the
Indianapolis motor speedway awaiting the
- imtpation trials next Friday which
Avll determine whether they are eligible
% start in the 5O0-nlile international sweep
stake race on Memorial day. May 30.
Every car must show speed OF seventy-five
miles an hour to qualify for one of the
greatest races in the history Of the motor
contest sport When the entries to this
event were closed MAY / there were forty
six cars entered. manned by a list Of
drivers which includes every well known
pilot in America we'll as several who
made their regulations in Europe before
coming TO the United States
1t has been nine months since the initial
announcement of this contest was made
by the promoters. and each month has
witnessed an increase OF interest on the
part of the public as we'll as the manu-
faeturer. Almost six months ago the first
eTtry was made. when a Case car, with
lewis strang as the driver, was entered
tNom that time on the entries were sent
inA steadily until the largest field ever
drawn together for one event was an
nounced when the entries were closed.
The greatest number Of entries OF any one
contest previous to this time was twenty
six. 49,
The long race has assumed even greater
proportions than the promoters had antici-
pated when the purse OF $4,000 in gold
wSs offered for the winners Of the first
ten places. A capital prize OF 10000 heads
y list Of nine others as follows: Second.
loWo; third. 5000; fourth. 5000; fifth.
1880; sixth, 1900; seventh. $500; eighth.
500; ninth. 5000; tenth. $780, In addition
10 this small fortune there have been
Saded side prizes by various acceesory
Itnakers which bring the total to be won
up to about $4,000 supplementtnx the
cash prizes are ten bronze plaques which
will be given to the entrants OF the ten
winning cara 1t long has been the rule
In motor car racing that the drivers shall
receive the cash prizes and the makers
the trophies. Asfe
Conditions of Race,
The conditions OF the race. which IN a
class % event, are that each car shaII
weigh at least 1880 pounds and have no
more than 600 cubic inches piston dis
placement. This makes cars up to about
40 horsepower eligible. The forty-six cars
have a total OF 2O,ls0 cubic, inches Of piston
fispIacement giving an average OF as
cubic inches per car, according to its mo-
W construction. The majority OF the
cars in the race In their .tryout have aver
aged about e5 TO 100 miles per hour. while
many OF them are capable OF doing two
miles per minute. The entry fee paid by
the entrants was 500 per car.
Estimates on the average speed which
will be attained ia the long races hava
varied widely. but experts express a be-
lief that the winner will travel the 600
miles at the rate OF about Is miles per
hour. n9e
The race will start at 10 o'clock m the
morning and probably tho winner will,
cross tho tape on his last lap about 81
o'clock IN the afternoon
The officials for the race have been
CHOSEN from all over the United States,
post OF them having been officials at
Many other great race meets of the co,m-
try Fred ]. Wagner OF New York will
act as starter, while George Robertson. the
former racing driver, win be an assistant
A. r. Pardington OF New York win referee
while r. p. Hooper, president of the Amer
ican Automobtle association Is the honor
AIRY official In that capacity. Judges and
other officials have been chosen from
aDong the most prominent manufacturers
<hd automobile men IN the middle west.
BOfnb Tor starting signal.
\ The method. which would be employed
10 start this event, has been difficult for
the promoters to decide, The speedway
management finally adopted the plan OF
firing daylight bombs. which explode go