Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21

from this time on the speed merchants will
spend every minute tuning up their cars
for the long grind. A number of the star
pilots are now on the ground, and are
burning up the track daily in their trial
spins. The coming week will see another
large influx of crack drivers who are
anxious to start their try-outs. Since the
arrival Of the, warm weather the track
has settled down into level, smooth
condition. the frost having gone out of
the earth, and allowed the swollen spots
to resume their normal condition. Those
who have been practicng the past week
say that the track is in better condition
than ever before at the opening of a sea-
son.
30 for the second race for this distance,
and fully 100000 people are expected to
be present and witness the great interna-
tional sweepstakes race. The entries in
clude a number of American and Euro
pean drivers. who will vie with each
other for first honors. including first prize
of $4,000, besides a number of other cash
prizes from manufacturers. The second
prize is $4,000; third, 5000, and so on
down to the twelfth prize of 81 1000 The
race is scheduled to start at 10 o'clock
on the morning of Decoration day. Eu-
rope will send the cream of her motor
creations to America in an attempt to
wrest the laurels from the American
made cars. Foreign pilots, who have
never appeared on this side of the seas
before, will pit their prowess and daring
against that of the Americans, and for
this reason a most sensational contest is
looked for The speed requirements are
greater than before. as each car must
show seventy-five miles per hour for one
full lap Of the two and a half mile
brick oval track. Then only the thirty
fastest speed creations will be allowed to
start. This means that the successful en-
trants must show 100 miles an hour, a
speed which spells the lowering OF the
wonderful record Of 74.61 miles per hour
made last year by Ray Harroun in the
five-century grind.
Development of the American-made mo-
tor car is the chief reason why the man
agement of the Indianapolis motor speed
way decided to stage the second annual
notwithstanding international sweep
stakes race next May 30. Up until the
time of the first five-hundred-mile race
last year motor cars had never been
given a combined high speed and en-
durance test in America, except for some
Of the longer events which had been held
on the speedway in previous years.
European manufacturers had been able
to produce better cars for the reason
that they could test them out over roads
where a speed of 100 miles per hour was
possible because Of traffic conditions. This
never had been possible in America. and
the only opportunity the maker had was
to wait until time Of the race to find out
what his car could do and how 1t would
stand the strain when the roads were
cleared for the contest.
The speedway primarily was built to
give the manufacturers an opportunity to
test their product at any speed they de-
sired Since that time American-made
motor cars have developed until instead
of being considered lightly when they
compete against foreign cars. they are
looked upon as formidable contenders,
and have proved that all they needed was
an opportunity for development.
The first five-hundred-miIe race was the
greatest stride ever made in this direc-
ton, so the second should prove even
greater Makers who found defects in
their cars last year have been the loudest
in their demand for second race. so that
they could demonstrate the Improvement
in their product.
No one before had experience with a
contest of such length except In endur-
ance runs, and the element of high speed
for such q long distance had never been
tried out 80 the event largely was ex-
perimental in every respect. Many OF the
manufacturers who competed last year
unsuccessfully have entered the second
event, so they might profit by the addi-
tional experience and build cars which
would meet the speed and endurance re-
Ou1rementS OF SUCH d rave. 4 VI liiS
reason it is highly probable that out of
the thirty starters in the next race "a
large per cent of them will finish In ex-
cellent condition. 1t is also very prob
able that the speed will be increased ma
terially.
The success Of the first race was
in part a reason for staging the sec
ond for the expectations OF the speed
way owners were fulfilled in every
pa rticular last year. A larger num-
Der of cars finished the race than was
anticipated and the long contest did
not work the hardship upon the driv-
ers which, 1t was feared would occur.
Practically every man who finished
| the race was in good shape and could
have gone farther if necessary.
The reinstatement of Barney Oldfield
| by the A. A. A. contest board is sure to
| add a not inconsiderable amount Of in
terest to those events in which the versa
| tile Barney completes this year. Al
| though practically all his records have
! since been broken by other candidates
| for the title of speed king" Barney Old
field is still the worlds greatest automo-
| bile racer to many an American citizen
While the hearts of the contest board
members were softened by Barney
pleas, and he has been restored to the A.
| A. A. fold. W. II. Pickens his amanuen-
sis and former manager. will be barred
for some time to come. Barney never did
care very much for road racing in the old
days, but it is quite likely that his next
public appearance will be in the Santa
Monica road race in California.
| \
| One Of the most pleasing sights these
days for New York automobilists Is the
numerous New Jersey registration num-
Der plates to be seen since the MOS
quito states solOns brought Gov. Will
| sons territory back into the United States
of automObiling. The fight to convince
the needed majority Of New Jersey law
makers that reciprocity. ought to be
part Of their state laws was long-con-
tinued one. but 1t is certain that the
hotel men and merchants Will benefit
largely from the greatly increased num-
Der Of touring parties from other states.
| H. n De Witt has been appointed re-
| ceiyer for the Pope Automobile Company
OF washington, D. c. Mr.. De Witt was
formerly manager Of the company.
| w. w. Gordon is the latest purchaser
| of a 1912 model K-R-I-T touring car,
fully equipped.
Mrs. Alice Copley Thaw has purchased
a 1912 Peerless 6-'3S" touring car, fully
equipped Delivery was made last week
/ X =
| There is no doubt that the Mil
| waukee people will make great success
| Of this years road races for the Automo.
| bile Club of Americas grand prize GOLD
| cup and the William X. Vanderbilt. jr.
cup. When they discovered there was a
| events they got busy" to such effect
that the Wisconsin metropolis obtained
both contests. 1t is somewhat early te
| make predictions as to the probable num-