The Washington herald., 1912-10-27

chke1 engineer OF tuo AoOOsuo - 1ycsS
Co. Of Springfield. osio Zone Of the lead
ing manufacturers Of special electrical
motor apparatus). has become associated
with the Remy Electrical Company, Of
Anderson, Ind. In the capacity Of con-
the design and construction OF the Remy
electrical starting device for application
to automobile engines.
Mr.. Conklin ID pioneer in the applica-
tion Of electrical apparatus to the auto
mobile and to the gas engine for starting
purposes. Other concerns interested In
the development Of these devices have
brought their problems to Mr.. Conklin
and he has the reputation Of fathering the
first successful electric lighting and start
ing system. The apparatus worked out
under his guidance II now found ON .
number Of prominent cars ranging in price
from $500 to 5000.
The Mschelin Tire Company announces
that II has withdrawn from further par
ticipation in automobile racing. This
statement comes as a surprise. especially
as II is made at the close Of an unusual-
ly successful season. Aichelin this year
having won the Grand Prize, the Van
derbilt. the Elgin stock Car, and Free
for-ali, the 500-mile race at Indianapolis.
and many minor contests. When asked
for the reasons that led the company
to adopt this radical policy. J. Hauvette-
Michelin. who Ii head Of the big works
at Midtown. N. J.. said:
"Our interest in automobile racing has
always been confined to q study Of the
effects on tires of fast driving. quick
braking, taking turns at high speed, and
other severe contingencies seldom expert
enced in everyday service. The knowl-
edge gained In seventeen years close
study Of the effects on tires of long-dis-
tance road contests has unQuestionabiy
helped us to improve our product. and
in this way the motoring public has also
profted-
Road racing 10 dying out because
many manufacturers Of standard models
are not willing to compete against spe-
cially built racing machines Track
races and other hippodrome perform
ances survive, but the average consumer
certainly does not expect to drive on
the race track, SO We have no desire to
make tires for track racing. On the 9TH
er hand. contests like the Vanderbilt
Cup, the Elgin Stock Car. and the In
Grand Prize have unQuestion-
ably aided us in giving the motoring
public better tires.
Another fact that We cannot overlook
is the regrettable number Of serious ac-
cidents that have occurred this season.
We feel that a strong public sentiment
against racing has developed which We
believe it would be unwise to ignore"
II it were not for the fact that F. W.
Ellis. assistant sales and production
manager for the Cutting Motor Car
Company. Of Jackson. Mich, were thor
oughly domesticated. his recent hints
that he might return to the racing game
would assume a suspicious complexion.
Mr. Ellis own experience makes the
suspicion we'll founded. A recent con-
fession on the proneness of the fair sex
to hero worship Is the damning revela-
ton.
Mr. Ellis is one Of the veteran auto
mobile drivers. In his day he piloted
his car to victory in many thrilling con-
test. and he is still clinging tenaciously
to several road and track records in
spite Of the efforts of the recent speed
kings to dislodge him from those hon.
ors. Mr.. Ellis in the days Of his driv-
ing figured conspicuously in many dra-
matte events. He was in more than
one violent smash-up. but good fortune
always followed him. On one occasion
he deliberately ran into fence to pre-
vent a collision with a competing driver.
On another, several cars being pocketed,
one of the contestants drove over his
radiator while another, projected from
colliding car. achieved a parabolic curve
six inches over Mr.. Ellis head. In none
of these accidents was he seriously hurt.
but they made him a marked man, a
subject for hero worship.
And the result was this: Mr.. Ellis was
in receipt almost daily of numerous re-
quests for his photograph, his autograph
NJ xuho 10 vicffDn mot
only of the feminine hero-worshipers.
but also of the fair relic hunters. Sped
fly he collected a fine exhibit Of sweet
scented notes. Once he emerged from
spectacular wreck intact, but unaware
of the fact that he left his pocketbook
on the track. A week later it was re-
turned to him from a distant city ac-
companied by a sweet little letter. The
writer wanted to make the acquaint-
ance Of the driver. who lost the pocket
book. ct cetera, ct cetera.
And so 1t went. Those were romantic
days. There Is a far away look in young
Mr.. Ellis eyes when he recounts them.
The life Of the successful speed mer-
chant is a delightful experience. They
all tell the same story. So Is It any
wonder that Mr.. Ellis bankers to get
back into the game?
The feature of the Charles J. Glidden
trip in the interests Of the Lakes to the
Gulf Tour next June, which ended Sat-
urday at New Orleans. was the remark
able run of nearly 700 miles in three
days made by Howard L. Watrous, a
Hupmobile enthusiast and amateur road
driver of note, who left Detroit two
days late and caught up with the
party Friday night at Nashville.
On Mr.. Watrous' arrival in Detroit
after his record breaking run Of II hours
from Chicago in his 20 H. P. Hupmobile,
No. 90. he found awaiting the ''32'' road
ster which he had ordered for his pri-
vate entry In the postponed Glidden
tour and also q blated invitation to
Join Mr.. Glidden and his friends in
the expedition they were making to
arouse enthusiasm throughout the South
on the tour to be held next June.
Mr.. Watrous decided by shipping his
car to Cleveland and making a cross
country dash through Ohio. that he
could catch up with his friend. Mr.
Glidden, in time to accompany him on
the greater part of the Southern trip.
with Thomas Hanlon. Of
world touring Hupmobile fame, he left
Cleveland Wednesday morning and that
night made Springfield, Ohio, a distance
of so miles. On Thursday he ran 315
miles from Springfield to Louisville.
Leaving Louisville Friday at o'clock
g m. end cutting out the Mammoth
Cave control Mr.. Watrous and his COM
panion entered Nashville only three
hours behind Mr.. Glidden and his party.
The tourists got to Nashville just in
time to take Q prominent part In the
hanouet Rfven INV the Automobile .CIuh