The Washington times., 1911-08-13
MANUFACTURERSAT
WAR ON HALF-M|LE
AUTOMOBILE RACES
Tracks Are Held Dangerous
and Governing Body Is
Asked to Act.
By HARRY WARD.

The suppression of automobile racing
on half-mile tracks is being urged by
manufacturers who support racing.
Drivers have been killed at many Of
these meets held on these converted
horse racing tracks, and the time has
arrived when the governing body OF
automobile sports must take action.
The question came up in Detroit this
week, when the Manufacturers' Contest
Association recommended that racing
on half-mile tracks be eliminated and
that the contest board Of the three AS
sanction races on mile tracks only
where it is sure the tracks will be safe
guarded as prescribed by the rules, and
that the course be properly repaired to
eliminate dust. Some of the drivers
want to continue track racing, for the
express purpose. as they frankly con-
fess, to pick up some of the easy money
that Is offered. Many drivers are blind
ed by the purses offered and will race
in dust even to their own destruction.
The meeting of the contest associa-
ton was replete with good recommended
tions and suggestions relating to the
governing of automobile sports, and it
is likely the majority of them will be
adopted by the governing body.
A party of Washingtonians, including
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas E. FARRELL, Mrs
Catherine Loffler, Mrs. Elizabeth
Schneider, and J. NJ Dugan, left today
in a seven-passenger Speedwen touring
car on a trip to Frederick, Braddock
Heights, HageEstown, Martinsburg,
Winchester, Berryville, Leesburg, and
Rockville
Eight sales of 1912 models were made
during the week by the Commercial
Automobile and Supply Company. They
included EMF fore-door touring cars
sold to D. P. Wolpaupter. CHARLES San
ford and Colonel LaGard, EMF demi-
tonneau to DR.. F. B. Brightwen, Flan-
ders fore-door touring cars TO John Lee
Coulter and Jacob Xander, and Flan-
ders runabouts to Hugh HALLS, and
Charles Schneider.
The greatest achievement in the hts
tory OF motordom is the transcontinen-
tai trip just finished by forty-odd New
York and Philadelphia motorists in ten
Premier cars" said z. H Wine, Of
Wine & Benson, agents here for the
Premier car. The trip, which began
June 26 in Atlantic City and was con-
cluded yesterday in Los Angeles, has
attracted worldwide attention, and Is
an accomplishment which interests
every motorist. The fact that all the
men in the party were amateur auto
mobile drivers gave added interest to
the tour. The personnel of the party
included a supreme court judge, sew
eraI bankers, and prominent business
men. In addition to the ten Premier
cars, the Premier Company added a
pilot car, which was driven by Ray
Mcnamara, and a truck to carry the
camping outfit. AS a result of this
successful trip we are receiving many
inquiries about Premier cars"
The DAYS are past when an automo-
bile was built and sold to the owner
with little or no previous testing of its
real running worth. All the modern au-
tnmohile companies have their testers
and test runs for their cars. OF greater
or less efficiency." said w. r. Emerson,
Of Emerson & Orrne. 1T has remained
for the Regal makers to devise quar-
ter-nrile track near the Regal factory IN
Detroit, where the cars can be given \
genuine test. This track Is trSenlously
arranged with hazards ard typical ROAD
conditions, so that the car under test
receives every possible strain and ac-
ton it can ever receive, no matter
where 1t goes"