The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-30

Louis Disbrow was the great sensa-
ton OF the first days racing meet
furnished by the Richmond Automo-
bile club, yesterday afternoon. The
famous driver showed his superiority
in all of the races. but 1t was in the
final event that ne exceFfed and pro-
vided one Of the most sensational
races ever seen in this city.
Driving his Zip car from scratch,
he passed car after car until only the
Jimmy, Jr." was In front of him.
Then began the race proper. Slowly
and surely the little red car crawled
upon the Kline bug until In the
home stretch of the eight mile ne
passed 1T. bringing yells OF delight
from the stand.
From that time on he was never
In danger of being passed and won
the race. the feature event of the
card. In iI:0s-
Last Mile Is Fast.
The last mile was made in I0:i.
which is record for the fair grounds
track.
Contrary to the opinion OF many,
the track was in good condition and
the drivers let their machines out
to the limit in their efforts to cap
ttre the purses II Is true that in
several places on the side opposite
the srandstand tho track was some
what soft, but the burning Of gaso-
line and straw took off the water
and left the outer edge hard and
dry. A great part of the night be-
fore had been spent in scraping of
the track. rolling IL and burning the
gasoline TO get 1t ready for the first
real automobile races which have
been staged In Ricnmono.
Last night additional work was
done on the course and today it
should be in the best of condition.
Fans Turn Out.
Richmond racing fans turned out
In large numbers to see the sport
yesterday and yelled their enthusiasm
throughout two hours of the racing
The cold weather seemed to have no
effect whatever on them and all of
the 1900 persons present followed
the events with the greatest interest
The days sport began with three
touring cars with professional drivers
In competition for the jefferson ho-
tel cup, Morton. driving Kline car.
took the lead at the start and was
never headed
In place of the fve-miIe race for
touring cars billed as the second
event, an exhibition mile by Disbrow
in his 30e-horse power jay Eye See
was substituted. Disbrow took the
start with a dash and constantly in
creased his speed as he neared the
end. His. car skidded frightfuiiy
around the curves and did not regain
the center Of the track until 1t was
nearly time for 1t to take another
curve Several times the spectators
were held spelihound. as 1t appeared
that the nervy driver was bound to
90 into the fence. He did not, how
ever. and completed the mile in
1909 Ia
Probaly more interest was mani
Tested in the next race than in any
of the others as IT was open only to
amateur drivers. at the wheels of
runabouts or small touring cars. The
all of the cars well punched and GO
ing good. Soon. however. the Buick
began to draw away and gained some
what OF lead. The Ford gradually
cut down the lead until the cars were
running nearly opposite. Again the
Buick began TO draw away and this
time managed to keep Its lead. The
gap gradually widened between 1t and
the other cars, then began to lesser
as the Buick drew up on the Maxwell,
which was running In third place. 1t
was passed by the winning car on the
ninth lap. but missed being passed by
the Ford by the barest fraction. The
others cars finished, Ford. 1895, and
Maxwell. 1888.
6ix In Handicap Race.
Six cars were entered for the fourth
event, which was to be run In three
heats OF one. two and three miles, re-
spectiyely. the winner of the race TO
be the winner Of the best two out OF
three heats
Disbrow. guiding the Zip. had no
trouble whatever in winning the
initial mile, making the distance in
1:13.
Tho second heat was divided into
two parts with the Zip, Stutz and
Jimmy. Jr.. cars forming the first
division and the Jimmy. Mercer and
Case Bullet cars making up the en-
tries for tho last heat. Disbrow show
ed superiority In the first heat and
won the right for competition IN the
finals. His time was 2:24 lie.
Thu Jimmy" won tho second heat
In AIS and faced Disbrow. In the Zip.
for the final.
The Anals were a. closely contest-
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