The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-30
PLANNING A RACE
IS HARD WORK
Many Intricate Details Must
Be Worked Out and
Publicity Secured.
BY C. {. STUART.

up for 1911 on Memorial day, is much
the same as for any other large enter.
prise OF the kind. 1t hinges entirely
upon careful attention to minute de-
tail and the systematic application of
ordinary promotion, business and ad-
vertising methods.
Primarily, the success of any public
spectacle or exposition depends upon
the ability of the promoters and their
agents to reach the public through the
various advertising channels, and to
create a desire in the minds of their
hearers and readers to witness the
contest which they are offering. In
this instance the methods employed to
reach possible spectators in every
part of the United States and Europe
are thorough newspaper and magazine
publicity: through circular .advertis-
ing matter sent out in the mails to au-
t0mobfle clubs, automobile garages,
and the community in general, by
means of posters spread broadcast ov-
er the entire country and placed in
such positions that they will catch the
eyes of those who would be likely to
be interested in such an affair. These,
in a general way, along with word of
mouth advertising, which is perhaps
the most valuable, and only can be
given by those who have witnessed a
previous contest of the kind-consti-
tute the more important methods of
telling the public what we have to
offer.
Under each general head comes a
mass OF detail which takes months of
things which would not be apparent to
the, casual observer come up constant
~.
Six Months Work Required.
Eor such an event as 5O0-mile in
ternat1onal sweepstakes race, it takes
at least SIX solid months of prepare
1on. This preparation involves adver-
Using the race, obtaining entries, pre-
pairing the course for the accommoda-
ton Of the crowds, and running of the
event: the disposition Of seats, and
taking care of accommodations for Wis
Mors from outside the city.
Each of these means seemingly an
unendless task in the beginning. but
systematic and constant application
fl the only remedy which can be ap-
Piled to straighten out the myriad
little difficulties.
Success in obtaining entries for
race of this kind depends to a great
extent upon the interest which is Gre
ated in the mind of the public, thus
It can be said that advertising the
tno ~ 5o he ~, ,
feature of all. If the manufacturers
and other contestants find that the
motoring world is devoting a large
amount of attention to the race, they
see where they can derive greater
benefit from 1t than if it were passing
by apparently unnoticed. On the 9TH
er hand. when the public sees that the
manufacturers and contestants are en-
tering in the race and constantly in
creasing the magniture of the event
1t becomes more interested than be-
] fore. In each case the progress of one
! condition is dependent upon the pro-
i. gress of the other.
Speedway Only Track Of Kind.
The advertising and promotion of
an international sweepstakes race is
given a decided impetus basically by
the fame of the Indianapolis Motor
speedway. Having the distinction of
being the only track of the kind in
the United States, it mutually creates
a certain amount of interest, even
I were a smaller event to be staged, but
the American public has become more
and more exacting in it's demands for
entertainment and the old "humbug
idea" of P. T. Barnum has gone by
the boards" Today 1t is necessary to
offer something different than before
in order to attract an unusual amount
OF public interest. Thus 1t is necessary
/ in the preparation for an event Of this
kind to point out to the public just
wherein 1t will see something different
! and more interesting than before
With that plan in mind this second
500-mile race has attached to it the
requirement for better and faster cars
than participated in the last one
A visitor at the automobile race
/ goes essentially to witness high speed
and daring performance. Where these
/ two are combined there is certain to
be an element Of danger both for the
contestant and spectator unless prop
erly protected. Here appears another
phase OF preparation for an event of
this kind. and most important phase
/ is the provision of absolute saftey for
the spectators and in so far as posi-
BILE for the contestant. Every possible
means must be devised and tried out
to prevent the public in moments of
excitement from putting itself in dan
ger. Again the promoter is stared in
the face by hundreds of details which
come up daily and many perplexing
problems which must be solved with
out question of the correctness of the
solution. for should mistake be made
1t might prove fatal.
Another item of preparation which
must be given due consideration is
the feeding of the large crowd and the
provision of the necessary comforts.
This again brings on a mass of detail
which only can be worked out in the
same systematic manner. Again the
solution of the problem must be cor.
rect or hardships will be worked unon
not Nf he