The Washington times., 1912-03-06
AUTOMOBILE TRADE
BODY ORGANIZED,
OFFICERS ELECTED
E. M. Van Ness Is Named
Head of New Capital
Association.
By HARRY WARD.

While the attendance was net as large
as expected the Automobile Trade As
sociation OF Washington was organized
yesterday afternoon at a meeting held
IN fne Colorado bJilding. The following
officers were elecIcd and will serve untii
June 30 next President. f. NJ Van
Ness, vice president, Morn an s.
Bowles; secretary, c. w. Parel; treas
urer. John r. Thomas, 4 membership
Percy M. Smoot e. VI. Wilson and n.
S. Bowies was appointed and instructed
TO visit every automobile and accessory
dealer here A number of matters Of
interest to the members were discussed.
after which the meeting adjourned sub
ject to the call of the president.
The Washington Motor Car Corpora
tion will be represented in the leading
track events this season by two racing
cars. The four-cyllnder model will be
driven by W.. d. Arrison, while II. o.
Carter Will pilot the six-cylinder racer.
1.-The thrills and sensations of driving
racing automobile seventy-hve or
eighty miles an hour no longer interest
me-" says Harry Cobe, the famous pilot
In discussing the 1912 racing season. II
am through with the game FOR good, and
unless some maker foolishly offers me
an unheard-of price to drive his car in
race 1 will never start in another con-
test.
Nowhere in the world of sport does a
mans nerve, his endurance, his conf
dence. count for so much as in automo-
bile racing. The strain of a steeple-
chase is nothing compared to that of
man riding at the speed of an express
| mobile, where the slightest miscue
means death to himself and possibly to
a hundred spectators. This is the exact
situation man driving in a race must
| race every time he crosses the tape al
! the signal OF the starters gun
The racing situation has become so
commercialized that today it affords
very little reward to the man who
! place, manufacturers engaged in auto
| mobile racing have been besieged BIZ
applicants to drive their cars in speed
contests. Most of the applicants are
factory men or chauffeurs, or, in any
event, they are men inexperienced in
the handling of a racing machine. The
result has been that half the men en-
gagged in racing are risking their lives
for practically song. Not for me.
have been in the spotlight when Its re-
fiectlon meant money and glory; but as
the situation is today, 1t Is all glory and
no money and that angle does not ap-
peal to me-"
A statement like this. coming as II
goes from man who has passed
through all the rough spots Of the game
has considerable significance, for Cobe
has made his reputation as one of the
best and headiest racing drivers that
ever started in contest. His with
received with surprise by lovers OF the
sport.
Cobe's first appearance was a Bright
on Beach in the 24-hour race of 1907,
teaming with Bob Burman They here
set the pace for twenty-three and a
half hours. His next race was in the
Briarclif road race of 1905. He also
drove in several 24-hour races in 1905
breaking the worlds record twice. Cobe
continued driving until the spring of
1910, having driven at Lowell and all
the other important meets. He then
drove in a 4-hour race at Brighton
in some minor events in and around
New York, and was again seen in the
Fairmount park race in October, 1910.
William Schimpf will continue as
| chairman OF the contest board of the
American Automobile Association. This
announcement leaked out unofficially
and while undoubtedly true, is regarded
as premature. The contract now being
| prepared between the Manufacturers
| Contest Association and the three AS
| has not been ratified by either party so
| far, owing to delays that have inter
! vened because of the illness of the
chairman Of the committee representing
appointed to fill the unexpired term of
| Samuel NJ. Butler as chairman OF the
| contest board after the death of Mr..
| Butler in the Glidden Tour last fall
| lie is an amateur, and for the first time
| in several years the position is being
| filled by such an executive. The ten
! dency of the times is toward amateur
| automobile races and the appointment
of Mr.. SChimpf will foster such events.