The Washington herald., 1912-06-30
BOB BURMAN is
REAL SPEED KING
In AUTOMOBILE
Famous Racing Driver Wins Every.
thing in Sight at Laurel
Race Meet.
COVERS NILE IN "a SECONDS
By WILLIAM ULLMAN.

to smithereens yesterday on the same
track by the same car and with the
same daredevil driver at the wheel
With a flying start, Burman, in his
Bitten Benz, covered the mile in 81
seconds.
Speed King Bob Burman once more
demonstrated his superiority over the
average racing driver by cleaning up
everything in sight at Laurel yesterday,
making all the other entrants, with the
exc ception OF his racing partner, Elmer
Macdonald, look like bunch Of rank
amateurs.
Always the last to get away, Burman
plays with his fellow-drivers for the
flrst lap, creeping a little closer to them
in the second, and with a terrific burst
of speed in front of the grand-stand,
passing them in the third, maintaining a
comfortable lead for the balance OF the
distance, whatever 1t may happen to
be-
OF course, it is not expected that the
local entries will win anything from
Burman, with his high-powered, spe-
ciaIly built racing cars, but It is his
wonderful ability as a driver Of what
ever car he happens to be driving, that
draws forth the admiration Of the spec
tators. His judgment of distance, his
feet ease with which he drives, is what
classes him as one OF the best in the
world.
1t is to be regretted that the race
meet was not properly handled, as the
card presented was an interesting one
and those present witnessed some eN-
ceptionally good races. The two days
meet did not draw more than forty paid
admissions, owing to the failure Of the
mr. fO
A number OF Washington boys were
on the card to pilot cars in the various
events, and each one put up a highly
creditable performance. Frank Blair,
Irving Barber. Cleve Campbell and
Frank Stewart were among the local
performers on the track.
The FIRST automobile event OF the day
was a special race between the Mercer,
driven by Frank Blair; the Warren,
Irving Barber, driver. and the REQ,
piloted by Frank Stewart The Mercer
took the lead from the start, which II
never reiinquished. winning easily and
covering the distance, five miles, in 6:04.
The second event was a five-mile race
with the Cutting, National, Ohio, War
ren, and Mercer as the entrants. This
event was a walkaway for Burman,
driving the Cutting. completing the dis
stance in 5:34.
The third event was a fve-mile race
between a Warren, Barber driving; a
REQ. Frank Stewart driving, and a
stock. fully equipped Warren driven by
Frank Blair. This event was a clean
victory for Barber, driving the Warren
racer, the REQ coming in second. Win
ner's time, 6:O7 81.
Event four was Burman's race for a
record in the Bitten Benz, which he
captured after a thrilling race around
the track, covering a mile in ffty-four
seconds
The fifth event was a fve-mile race,
with the Ohio. Mercer. Warren, and
National entered The cars finished in
the order named. Winners time, SIS.
The sixth event is known as the Aus
tralian Pursuit Race. The conditions of
this race are that the cars shall be
placed at an equal distance apart on
the track and as soon as a car is over
taken and passed three feet by a car
from its rear. the car which has been
overtaken shall be counted out OF the
race. Four cars were entered, the Benz, |
Burman up, at the post: the Ohio at the
first quarter; the Warren at the second. |
and the National at the third. The Benz
was the first car to Overtake a car ahead |
and the car that succeeded in overtaking |
them all. for that matter. Burman did |
not succeed in overtaking the National |
until the eighth mile, the National hav- |
ing a three-qUarter-mile start Burman's |
time for the 1-2 miles covered was |
S:19 IA. This was undoubtedly the most |
event of the day.
The seventh event was d race between |
in the Benz ITO, and Bur |
man in the Bitten, as the second heat |
of the Remy Brassard trophy. The first |
heat was wone by Burman on Friday |
winning the second yester- |
day. The third heat was run as event |
nine, and was won by Burman, which, |
according to the conditions governing the |
contest, gives Burman the trophy and |
S75 a week as long as he successfully |
defends IT, Burman made the distance, |
three miles, with a standing start, in |
8:O6
The eighth event was a handicap race |
won by Macdonald driving the Benz no, |
covering five miles in 5:1Ol-2. The par
t:cipating cars were the Warren, Ma
tiOnal Ohio. and Benz, and to the /
writer Il appeared that the handicaping |
was huge joke, the Benz interests be-
ing well taken care Of
Two motorcycle races were run first,
4 five-mile race being won by Tommy
Dedge riding an Indian. Time, 5:l2 S-4.
DedEe a Great Rider.
The second was announced as a special
race between Dedge on an Indian and
on an Excelsior for the cham
pionship of the District The match was
won by Dedge after one of the most
thrilling motorcycle races ever witnessed
in this section Of the country.
Getting away from the post with a big
cad, Dedge continued to increase the
distance between Mcpherson and himself
Until in the fourth lap, when he threw
l tire, he was leading his opponent by
L good half a lap. The tire was thrown
coming down the stretch in front Of the
yrandstand, the wobbling Of the machine
coming at a mile a minute, and the mas
erful manner in which the rider kept
his seat. bringing the crowd to its feet
rhe machine was brought to a standstill
n front OF the stand, when, to the sur
1rise Of the spectators, Dedge, instead
If mounting another tire, was seen to
ut tn hanging tire from the wheel and
mount his entry. By this time the Ex-
,elsior had caught up and passed the
iidetracked Indian. Jumping his machine
md starting in to complete the distance
On the rim brought thunderous applause
rom the onlookers, who fully appreciated
he risk the game little rider was TAX
ng. Continuing the race on the rim, at
he same sped, in his half-wrecked con-
lition, Dedge succeeded in overtaking
md passing the Excelsior in the eighth
nile, winning the championship and COW
ring the distance in 12:5OA.
II was an exhibition Of skill and nerve
eldom witnesses by racing enthusiasts,
nd classes Dedge as one of the most
airing and determined motorcycle riders