New-York tribune., 1912-03-22
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY
Ray Harroun Discusses This
Years Speedway Race.
THINKS RECORD WILL STAND
Alco Representative Says Texas
Is Fast Approaching Value
of Motor Trucks.

~ ~%NbNb ~ UkhOs
Ray Harroun, who drove the Nar,,on
Wasp TO first place in the international
5oo-mile race at indianapolis a year ago
has given his opinions as to this wears
race. Harroun is engaged IN engineering
and development work for the Marmon
company and will not drive in the 1912 con.
test. His comment, however, in reference
to the gruelling contest is most interesting
THE man who drives 800 miles at an
average Of practically seventy five miles
an hour to win the big race this year will
deserve every honor" says Harroun, "and
J am content to relinqulsh the records 10
him when 1t IS done. There are lot OF
things that will have TO enter into It, Last
year the weather was nearly ideal, not too
hot and not too cold The track was In fine
condition and the element of luck which
enters largely into making and breaking
records was greatly in my favor.
In addition, the performance Of the
Wasp will be hard to duplicate. The mo-
tor did not stop once during the entire 500
miles, the hood was not even lifted and not
drop OF water was added to the radiator.
What is more, the Wasp finished the race
with three Of it's original tires on the wheels
the fourth tire on the right rear wheel,
which bore the brunt OF the turns, was
changed but four times Tire trouble is 60
ing to enter seriously into the problem OF
winning this years race and some of the
larger cars are going 10 find this a big
obstacle
Then there is the element OF luck. Take
Dawsons trouble, for instance, In last
years race. He had good chance Of fin
lshing third. Some car threw a tire lock
on the track. and it pierced his radiator
within two laps of the finish The water
leaked out and Joe finished fifth. That IS
what / mean by luck, and 1t is big ele.
mcnt TO be considered. The chances are
about even that last years record will
stand, and so many things are TO be con
sidered that a man will have to walt until
arc race is over 10 be sure"
That the excessive heat endured in tbs
South most OF the year is the biggest fac
tor I'm the rapid adoption of motor trucks
there Is the opinion of George L. Sullivan,
travelling representative of the Alco com
pany, who has just completed an 1o1o-
milo trip through the West and Southwest.
Business men in the warmer climates
realize" says Mr.. Sullivan, that horses
there, on account Of the heat, are put at
an even greater disadvantage than other
wise It is not surprising, therefore, that
Southern business men are I'm a receptive
attitude toward the motor truck.
zone Of the most significant things IN the
motor truck industry" he continued, "is-
the development Of the demand for trucks
IN Texas. The most progressive motor car
dealers there are taking agencies for trucks
This is true also OF business men in other
lines so situated that they can handle COM
mercial vehicles"
1t is thought that the Board OF Aldermen
will pass tho following mufler cutout ori-
nance at its meeting next week:
Section Every motor vehicle propelled
by an internal combustion engine, when
such vehicle IS on any street, road, avenue,
alley, park, parkway or public place within
the city limits, shall, when such engine iS
running be equipped with a mufiler or
gases from the engine will escape into TIE
atmosphere, so as 10 reduce as far as usy
be practicable the noise which might other
wise be caused by the escape OF said gases.
Sec. 2-The operator OF any motor We
hlcle shall not Use any cutout, fitting Or
other apparatus or device which VIII allow
the exhaust gases from the engine Of such
motor vehicle 20 escape into the atmos-
phere without first passing through a suit
able muller or siercer as described in
Section |,
tions l and shall be punishable by fine
OF $40 and I'm the default OF the payment Of
said fine 1t will be I'm the discretion Of the
magistrate 10 impose sentence of not 20
exceed ten days.
Buffalo. March 2.-Papers were filed
with the Secretary OF State at Albany this
morning Incorporating the Buffalo Electric
Vehicle Company, with capital Of $1,000
coo, of which $4,000 is common stock and
100000 preferred. The company is mer-
ger OF five Buffalo concerns and is to man
ufacture electric pleasure and commercial
vehicles The directors named are ". ,.
seipp. w. c. Feuchter, Thomas b. Wheel
er. Frank z. Lane and Marcus A. Alexan-
der. all of Buffalo. 1t is understood that
leading business men Of Buffalo are back
Of the concern.
Placing the change-speed and emergency
brake levers I'm the centre. rather than On
the right hand side Of the car, Is one ~
the alterations In design that have foun'
favor among automobile makers, rs shown
by the large number OF concerns that have
adopted this location for their 1912 models
II is claimed for this method that II u
more sturdy. positive and reliable III It's
action than under the old conditions
one OF the first makes Of cars 10 ADOPT
the centre control was tho Overland, IN
which II had been embodied for two sea-
sons. Not tho least OF the advantages that
90 with the alteration Is that the driver ~
longer needs to step in front Of the pas
senger riding on the front seat as ne %"
step out on either side with freedom. IL
also a great advantage in bad Weathor, "
be able TO allght on the sidewalk a'o'''Ne
the snow and sush.