Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-10-17
PERRY i. FRIz WHITES
or AUTussODII.E RACES

Editor Rsflect0r / suppose you
Ihave seen IN the daily prints the
report of the automobile races AZ
Milwaukee. but thought perhaps
you might ike 4 little story about
them direct from an eye witness
After innumerabIe delays on ac-
count OF rain and bad weather. the
first race for the Vanderbilt cup
was given the and OF October. The
prize being cup and cash money.
| and my wife went in and were in
our seats at the race when they
fired the first bomb for starting.
The cars started out 80 seconds
apart and the course was trifle less
than eight miles and the shape OF
It was diamond. The short sides
being about two thirds the length
OF the long. The points Of the dis-
mond were two dangerous turning
points and they piled bailed hay
and straw on the outside OF the
track at these points to make .
soft spot for the automobilist to
light in IL he lost control Of the
machine and tried to go through
the fence. was at one of the sharp
points and there was one turn made
by q machine on two wheels, but
the day / was there there was no
accident. Nearly every machine on
these sharp turns would throw q
cloud of sand from six to ten feet
I'm the rear, 1t looked more like q
pillow turning over a giant furrow
than anything else. After watching
them from this point for an hour
81 two we moved up along the
track SO as to see them at top
speed. You have no idea Of the
Tremendous pace they set until you
are ! standing close along the guard
rails Watching the mach les go
downrthe road at so to rs miles an
hour. You can hear the roar OF
the exhast fully a mile and when
they 90 past you it fairly makes the
pair crack las they open 1t and go by.
You get just one glance coming and
going which is about all you can
SIDE from along the race course. The
day was splendid, bright and sun
shiny, and there was not much ex-
citement at the race until the S2nd
lap with two Of the leaders. They.
made 3S laps in all. From the S2nd
lap to the 3Sth 1t was fight be-
tween two Of the leaders as to who
should be the winner The time
was very close and the laps were
the same. At the S5th lap around
the track the two leading cars were
only four seconds apart and when
they went by the stand you should
have heard the tremendous cheer
ing that was set up as they were
running almost neck and neck On
the 36th lap No. 23. dropped SS sec
onds behind No % which. was rel
duced to 35l on the 37th lap end
No. 23 only losing the race by AZ
seconds. When you take the length
of time nearly ~ hours, the dis
lance being nearly 26O miles and
the time difference Of only AZ sec
onds, you can form some idea Of
the enthusiasm of the spectators as
they watched the final fight. We
we're anxious to see a change OF
tires made and from where we sat
only one change was made, and That
mace by the driver and his assistant
In two minutes and 80 seconds, T1e
wheel went flat right in front OF
us with a crack and they ran aSou:
800 feet before they brought 1t tol
a step and the DRIVER and his help
er rolled out and changed wheels
in the time stated.
Wisconsin has been blessed with
ssrlendid crops this year, but since
the middle of July 1t has been rain
ing incessantly week after week
This leaves myself and family all
we'll. Respectfully
PERRY L. FRIz.