New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-25
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY.
Two Days Grand Prix Race in
France Begins To-day.
AMERICA IS INTERESTED
Bruce Brown and De Palma Are
to Drive Flats, and a Ford
Car Is Entered.

Road racing in Europe. which has besn
allowed to lapse for a long time, will prob.
ably stand or fall on the outcome of tho
Grand Prix, a two days contest, which
will begin this morning over the Diepno
circuit. There was a Grand Prix a vea-
ago, but 1t was not energetcally con
Quoted and amounted to little with The
rank and file of manufacturers ITS win.
ming, however, was notable achieyemont
for the Fiat Company.
The race starting to-day viii probably
be the longest ever staged over public
highways Its total distance will be az
miles, which will test TO the full the
stamina of the drivers and the speed and
dependabiity of the cars engaged
The Dieppe circuit is 49, miles In length
a rough triangle in shape, with legs an
proximately of sixteen miles Having been
used in two previous races for the interna.
tlonal prize, it's speed is well known. aud
1t is said to be In almost perfect condition
at the present time. Those who lays
studied It predict a speed of between 70 and
10 miles an hour for the winning car IN tbs
big class.
American speed enthusiasts are intensely
interested in the contest, for the reason
that David Bruce-BroWn and Ralph Do
Palma, two Of the most famous Of Ameri.
can drivers, will have mounts in the large
car class. Both are 10 handle Flats, which
are of the type, If not the same cars, that
were used in the Grand Prize at Savannah
last November.
BruceBrowu won the last Grand Prize.
as well as the one OF 1903, and is considered
as great a driver as the sport has pro.
duced. His enormous strength is expected
TO stand him in good stead I'm the approach.
ing race, which is double the length Of the
Grand Prize.
De Palma, well known and we'll liked IN
New York, is also believed to have a good
chance for the international honors lie
has been distinctly unucky throughout his
career Of racing, never having succeeded
In winning classic race, although always
in the hunt. His most recent III luck was
the losing Of the Memorial Day speedway
race, when his Mercedes failed while hold
ing a big lead five miles from the finish
Another point Of interest for Americana
IS the fact that Ford car of some IN
known type is named for the big class. Il
will not, Of course, be a model IT" bU
the name alone invests the entry with In
terest.
In the free-for-a all class there are seven.
teen entries, consisting Of three Lorraine
DieTichs, two Peugeots, three Dsrracqs
Matthias, Ford. an Excelsior, thrss
Flats. two Roland ilians and a Sigma.
knight, the last named being the frS
Knight engined car ever entered in road
contest
In the light car class are two Lan-Pei'
geots, a Dsrracq, four Gregories, four sun.
beams, two Singers, three NauXhalls, thrss
Alcyons, three -Deguignands, three
Slzaire- Naudins, three Arrol-Johnstom
three Calthorpes two Schneiders, ons
Koecklin, two Colts. four Hispano-Suiza'
and a Lorraine-Dietrich.
One of the most important and signihcsH,
announcements OF recent weeks in The az.
tomobile industry is 10 the effect that W.
J. Mead IS to retire from the mana cement
of the Olds Motor Works, At Lansing, 70
become president and general manager #
the Amplex Motor Car Company. Of Misla-
waka, Ind. successors to the simplex
Motor Car Company.
The Amplex company represents the ~.
organization OF the Simplex company, and
while the name of the company has been
changed, Mr.. Mead states that the prodrt
will still be styled the AmpleX car. The
chassis is to be fitted with two types II
motors, a siX-cylinder. long stroke, four
cycle, poppet valve motor OF standard siss
and four-cylinder, latest type knishi
motor. this latter I'm a limited number orb,
to supply the demand for this particulG
type.