The Washington times., 1912-05-04
ROAD RACING ON
WITH CLASSIC At
: SANTA MONICA, CAL.
Season Opens Today When
: Noted Drivers Meet in
e. Far West.

The curtain on the 1912 road racing
season was raised today when some
tof the best cars and most noted driv-
'ers In the country were sent away
from the tape by Starter Fred ]. Wag-
.ner in the annual Santa Monica race
in California.
, For the free-for-all event at 900
miles, the classic race of the Cali
lfornia meet, great collection of
drivers faced the starter. The Pa
cine coast representative of an italian
make Of car is making a big bid for
the cup with trio made up Of Teddy
Tetzlan, Caleb Bragg, and Barney
Oldfeld, who will pilot cars that won
histinction in the grand prize race at
Savannah last fall. Tetzlaff will have
the steering wheel of the winning
grand prize car, while Barney Oldfleld
will signalize his return to the rae
ing game by endeavoring to make a
winner out of Louis Wagner's giant
racer.
Individually, David Bruce Brown,
two-time winner of the American
grand prize race. so far as prestige
goes as a matter OF course Is en-
TITLED to rank as tho most dangerous
bidder for the race. In this race he
Will be at the wheel of a German car
He will also drive 1t in the Indianapolis
race and will then leave for Europe
TO drive an Italian car in the French
grand prize race.
The hopes of those who want to see
AN American made car win are center
90 on Louis Disbrow, Ralph DePalma,
SEarl Cooper, Bert Dingley and George
Lewis, who have fast and powerful
cars.
In addition to the free for all event
there are tive other races scheduled,
miles. The entries in each are limited
20 American cars
. Inc santa Monica course Is reported
to be lightning fast and racing wise
acres proPhesy record that will beat
not only the former figures of Harvey
lHerrick: who hung up a new worlds
record Tor a road race last year, but
those scored last year at Savannah A
great field of cars and drivers and a
grand course assure race of absorb
Ang interest.
In view Of the fact that there is not a
sufficient number of good mechanics
Tor the automobile industry, the Cadil-
pac Motor Car Company. of Detroit,
represented here by the Cook & stod-
tdard Company, recently established a
school of applied mechanics to be con-
ducted IN connection with its plant A
facility. The students are under the
direct instruction of several expert me-
chanical engineers who have had the
technical training and the practical ex-
perience fitting them for this sort of
work. The course extends over two
years and most branches OF automobile
instruction are embraced in the curric-
ulum. The students are paid from IA
10 II cents an hour for their work while
taking the course.
We, who are in the business, know
that automobile owners as a class are
growing more intelligent. more discrimi-
hating. and consequently far less arbi-
eritt agent. The prospect who inquiries
what makes the wheels go around has
long passed into history. This is a most
encouraging sign OF the times to automo-
DIE dealers and manufacturers in gen.
eral''
Emerson & orme today received word
that the Apperson makers would not
enter a team in the indianapolis speed
way race Memorial Day. The fact
that the entire factory force Is busy
getting out cars for 1912 orders and
the further fact that Herb Lytle, the
veteran Apperson racing pilot. is too
busy selling Appersons in Indianapolis,
are the reasons for the nonappearance
OF the Apperson in the entry list OF the
speedway classic.
Campaigning for office in an automo-
bile was reduced to a science in the re-
John F. Delaney. He was seeking to
secure the nomination to Congress In
one of the districts that includes several
Chicago suburbs. He is young and am
bilious and wanted to become known to
as many of his prospective constituents
as possible. An automobile naturally
commended itself and Delaney picked
Flanders go"
To outfit the car for campaigning De-
laney designed a folding platform with
a padded base which when extended
neatly bridged the gap between the two
seats, resting on the backs of both.
This platform was strong and large
enough to accommodate four persons De-
laneY carried along quartet OF musl-
clans. When the music had drawn the
crowd together Delaney. megaphOne in
hand, would assail the live issues of the
day The meeting ended. the platform
would be folded up and the encourage
would dash away for the next stop, Of
ten travelling many miles through roads
soaked with the rains of early spring.
"ln one day" he maintained. IT spoke
West Pullman, Blue Island, Harvey
Dalton and Riverda1e, covering more
than twenty-five miles over rough roads
between stops and with mud in several
places up to the aXlcs I made fifty
nine speeches in Chicago from my cam
paign Ger. Almost always the car was
shamefullv overloaded. but the motor
never failed The expense Of a cam
paign of this sort is no small element
in its favor. Aside from the practically
negligible amount of gasolene and oil for
the car and the salaries of my musi-
clans. I was spending no more than If