Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-08-31
CARS SPEED LIKE
MAD, DESPITE
ACCIDENTS
Series of Early MiShaps Keeps
Four Racers From Big EIgin
Automobile Contests.

SlneS working 10 the very limit. their
mufflers open and barking like gatling
guns We're sent away today in the two
big races Of the Elgin meet. The two
races were run simultaneously. Four
of the cars were entered in both con-
tests, one of which required 80 laps and
the other So.
:. series of accidents before the race
started forced the withdrawal of four
cars. among them the big Fiat that
was to have been driven by Teddy Tetz-
/ laff. the favorite.
DePalma's car which was in trouble
before the race. was repaired in time
to get away with the others.
rast Uace at Start.
The lap record for the E!gin course
! Vas lowered twice as the cars were on
their first lap and again in the third
lap. Milford sent his car around the
hrst time in ':15. The previous low
mark was 1:19. DePalma crossed the
tape just after milford, making the cir
cult in seven minutes fiat. In the third
lap Bergdoll negotiated the s mites
2,499 feet in 600. an average of i4.4
miles an hour
At the end Of the fourth lap Bergdon,
! in the Benz. was leading the free-for-
all. having made the four laps in 27:5O.
DePalma was second. Bergdon was
not entered in the Elgin race and De
Palma was first in ii, milford in
KKnoX was third in the free-fo all and
second in the Elgin with Hughes and
his Mercer third in the second event.
Mercedes in Smashup.
George Clark, driver of a Mercedes
car. and Fred Malone, his mechanician.
were painfully injured and their car
demolished in making the Hornbeck
turn on the sixth lap of the free -for-al
race today. Malone was thrown from
the car into the straw bales erected as
buffer at the turn. Clark's head was
flung backward, striking the gasoline
tank cap. inficting a deep scalp wound
Both wrists were sprained. Both
wheels were torn off the car
Heat of Track Terrific.
The heat on the course was terrific
and the heat and speed showed their
effect on the tires. 1t was a grueling
contest for the drivers as well.
At the end of the fifteenth lap. with
the little race half cone and the free
forall more than a third completed. the
leaders stood:
DePalma.
Elgin Trophy-DePalma, milford and
Anderson in a Stutz.
Hughie Hughes, driving a Mercer
was forced to withdraw in the fifteenth
lap. He broke a connecting rod bear
ing. He stood fourth in both races at
the time of the accident. His with
draWal left eight cars on the track.
The starters bono was fired at
1l:07 o'clock. A car entered in both
the races was sent away and then the
others left at fifteen second intervals
TetzlaffS the famous Los Angeles driv-
er in trial spin today broke the trans
mission gear of his big Fiat car and it
was hopelessly crippled. Tetzlaff was
| looked upon as the favorite in today's
race.
investigating Mshap.
The accident to Tetzlaff's machine is
I.being investigated. The accident is
unique. He was running 80 miles an
hour when the car slackened and came
to dead stop. Efforts to shift the
gears failed and he opened the hood
Six bolts holding the differental gear
to the differentia had been sheared off
Whether they were the result of an
accident or whether the car had been
tempered with is the question that the
investigators are trying to solve The
hood of the machine was sealed last
night and apparently the seal had not
been broken this morning.
Tetzlaff himself said he did not think
that any one had tempered with the
car. At the same time he said he had
never heard of an accident like that
which occurred today
Jack Johnson, who drove an Austin
racer to the track offered his car to
Tetzlaff, He said he would drive the
car himself if the official would assign
him Tetzlafs number. The officials
said neither proposition could be ac-
cepted.
Neil Whalen's big National did not
start in the race. Engine trouble that
developed yesterday put mis- car out of
commission. 1t was working so badly
that he did not attempt to start TODAY
sci, the other by H. Hastings, developed
tire trouble before the start and were
withdrawn.
The cars and the drivers for the
events follow:
The Racers and Events.
Free for All-Distance, Sc laps (305
miles 204 feeD; prizes, first. $3.50;
second, $500; third. $3.50.
No Car. Entrant. Driver
knox Ralph milford ID. Milford
2-Mercedes-W II. Bertrand c Clark
4-Mercedes-R. j. Schneider,
r. DePalm
5-Fiat-E G. Patterson E Hearne
S-Benz-Erwn Bergdoll &c.. L. Bergdoll
l5-Mercer "35' Mercer Auto. Co.,
II. H. HugeS
Elgin National Watch Company Tro.
feeu. Prices. First, $1,000; second, $500,
third $500.
No. Car. Entrant. Driver !
Knox "P"-Ralph Milford
r. milford
-Mercedes-W II. Bertrand. G. Clarke
Mason-Special F. 5. Dosenberg.
NJ Roberts
Mercedes-E. ]. Schroeder,