Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-05
BRAGG AND OLDFIELD RACE
Both Reconsider Decision Not to
Drive Their Cars.
RECKLESSNEsS BY TETZLAFF
Bob Burman Forced to Withdraw
After Fifteen Miles Owing to
Broken Piston.

| RACE COURSE, WAUWATOSA, Wis.
October 5.-The biggest crowd of the week
| gathered here today to witness the ten
| thousand-dol1ar grand prix automobile
| road race. Under ideal weather and track
| conditions, drivers lined up at the start
ing point, expecting to break all records
for the new course.
! Eleventh hour changes in the list Of
starters this morning aroused much in
| terest. Caleb Bragg, who on Tuesday an
| nounced that he would not drive his big
| Fiat. because of the death Of his close
friend. David Bruce-Brown, this morning
reconsidered this decision. AS a result
he was at the wheel of his car as the
machines were lined up by Starter Fred
Wagner.
Louis Fontaine took the drivers seat in
the Lozier entry in place of Harry Mel.
son. Barney Oldtield. after night Of
the event. h With aRst I'm
stead Of Joe Dawson. winner Of this
yehHndsedle I've race at Indan LIAM
| the. third Benz car entered. Ralph Mul.
! ford, after making every effort to get
| withdraw.
List Of Cars Entered.
| The complete list of cars and drivers
to line up at the tape for the start were:
| Burman. Benz; Fontaine, Lozier: Tetz-
laff, Fiat: Hughes, Mercer: De Palma,
Mercedes: Wishart, Mercedes; Clark, Mer-
| cedes; Bergdoll, Benz; Bragg, Fiat; Ho-
| ran, Benz; Anderson, Stutz; Oldfield, Fiat
The race was started at 1908 o'clock,
when Fred Wagner gave the word to Bob
Burman, the first of the twelve con-
testants to start The other drivers were
sent away at thirty-second intervals.
Barney Oldfield was the last to get the
word.
A Duel of Drivers.
The fight for the lead early developed
into a drivers duel between Teddy Tetz-
1aff and Caleb Bragg. Bragg met Tetz-
laff's daring with reckless bursts Of speed
around the turns and through the
straightaways that caused enthusiasts to
shout themselves hoarse. De Palma,
Bergdoll and Tetzlaff were about even
favorites in the betting. although much
late money was wagered on Bragg. The
enthusiasm of the crowds was much
greater than during the running Of the
Vanderbilt cup race Wednesday,. The
people in the packed stands early began
to cheer and applaud their favorites, and
reckless brushes between THE big cars
careening down the straightaways Of the
course kept spectators on their feet al
most constantly.
Spencer Wishart broke a crank shaft in
his Mercedes car in the fourth lap. and
had to quit the race. Bergdoll jumped
into third place. Bob Burman was forced
to withdraw from the race at the end
of fifteen miles because of a broken pis-
ton. He was the first to fall by the way
side under the terrific pace set by the
leaders.
Fontaine Hits Hedge.
Louis Fontaine attempted to send his
Lozier car around the South Fond du Lac
road turn at too high speed, and ran
through the bunkers on the outer edge
and into the hedge. Neither Fontaine nor
his mechanism was seriously hurt and
they resumed the race.
l. TetZlaff made his stop at the pits at
the end of eighty-six miles, and lost first
position to Bragg, who began terrific
drive to increase his lead If possible.
At the end Of 100 miles, or practically
one-fourth Of the total distance. Bragg led
Tetzlaff by 1 minute l second, De Palma
was in third place, Horan was fourth and
Anderson fifth. Bragg had averaged "a %
miles an hour for the distance.
De Palma jumped from third place
into the lead at 165 miles, passing both
Bragg and Tetzlaff. who had stopped
at the pits. Tetslaff was second. Bragg
| third and Anderson fourth at this
stage Of the race.
Hughes had narrow escape when
his Mercer threw a wheel on the north
Fond du Lac road. He was hurting
along at a mile-an-hour clip
| when the accident occurred.
Hughes managed to keep the crippled
himself and mechanician. He resumed
after BRIEF delay.