Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-16
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

and the worlds record was his. All he
showing at Elgin and at Milwaukee to
land the title. At Elgin he broke down
coming to the tape and was out OF it.
In the Vanderbilt lie was making a run
away of the race when mechanical
troubles eliminated him just at a time
when victory seemed certain. It was
almost the same story in the Grand
Prize Again he essayed to run away
from his rivals and again it looked as
il he would he successful. But again he
had mechanical troubles and was forced
to watch the finish Of the race from the
pits.
Erwin Bergdol, winner Of the 1911
Fairmount Park road race, Is almost in
the Tetzlaff class so far as hard luck
goes for his record proves him to be
champion runner-up OF the year. Three
times did he finish second and only
once vas he unplaced. He chased
Tetzlaff home at Tacoma; he was sec
0nd to DePalma in the free-for-all at
Egin and in the Grand Prize DePalma' .
accident let him slip in behind Bragg.
Bragg himself is entitled to consid p
cradle credit for his Grand Prize vic
tory, although he can not be given con-
sideration as a championship POSSIBLE
lily because he did not campaign as
! much as did the others in the first
flight. He started only twice-onCe at
Santa Monica and again at Milwaukee,
getting one first and a second.
He Started at Atlanta.
To Atlantans the brief but brilliant
campaign of Caleb Bragg was of par
tieular interest, because Bragg's first
appearance as professional driver
was made in Atlanta
When the date Of the last Speedway
races was approaching, Caleb Bragg was
/ in Savannah. with the Fiat Grand Prize
team. That spring, driving as an anna
| teur. he had won d marvellous victory
over Barney Oldfeld on the Los Ange-
les board track. This reused his am
hition and he was keen to try conclu-
sions once more with the big drivers on
track.
Urged by Bill Nye, then manager Of
the Speedway races, Bragg came to
Atlanta from Savannah and quietly
tried out the track
II suited him-but his family VAS
putting up an awful vel. They did not
want him to go in Cor racing. He had
money, they urged, so why need he
dc It?
The lure OF the sport was too strong
however, and it oveTcame the opposi-
ton Of the Bragg family.
Caleb entered number Of races in
the Atlanta meet, but met with only
small success His frail strength
proved unequal to the task OF wres-
Ting a fast machine around the sharp
turns of the Atlanta Speedway.
After Braggs first race was over and
he returned to the track, beaten man,
he said: Boys, my heart is in the
right place, but I haven't the strength.
I'll see the meet through but ! can't
win again" And he didn't. Not until
this year has Bragg ever been win
ner in A big races--though he hasn't
started often.
DePalma, Tetzlaff, Bergdoll. the late
Bruce Brown, milford, Bragg and
Hughes were the ones who made the
fight interesting in the big car events,
but the competition among the drivers
Of the smaller cars was just as keen.
Hughes was in both divisions, but he
failed to equal his showing of 1910. He
started nine times but only twice did
he get in the money. His chief trick
was in capturing the 231-300 class at
Elgin for the second time, while in the
Vanderbilt he was second to DePalma.
Endicott Does Well.
only three Of the drivere won more
than one race--DePalma, Tetzlaff and
Harry E.ndicott. The last named might
rigktr - Zen championship diplo-
NJ, IT he started only twice and each
time he won--the Jencks trophy at Ell
gin and the Wisconsin cup at MiIwau-