New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-13
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY.
De Palma Will Leave for EIuin
Course Next Week. F..
WAS DELAYED IN EUROPE
Hundreds of Motorists Are In.
terested in Army Maneuvres
in Connecticut.

Ralph de Palma, who reached this coun.
try from Europe on Sunday. will be one
of the first of the noted pilots to begin
practice over tho Elgin circuit in prepara-
ton for the races at the end Of the month.
He expects to leave here with his car
not later than next Tuesday, and will
be out the first morning the course is
thrown open for official speeding. From
Elgin he will go direct to Milwaukee for
the Vanderbilt and Grand Prize races
De Palma's long stay in Europe, follow
ing his unsuccessful essay in the French
Grand Prix, was due TO the slowness OF
German railroad service and the deliberate
method with which the Mercedes factory
attacked the problem Of fixing the motor
that broke down in the next 70 the last
lap Of the Indianapolis race. when the car
was far in the lead and appeared to be
certain winner.
1T took fifteen days 10 get the motor
from Bremen to the factory at Unterick-
helm" Ralph said yesterday. The jour
ney by train can be made in twelve hours. :
Here It could have been traced and hur-
ried through, but there | could indPno ons
who had the slightest idea Of how 10 To-
cate it, so there was nothing to do but
wait.
After 1--WE days I took a run down TO
Italy and Switzerland and killed some
time that way. When I got back to the
factory | felt certain that the motor
would be there, but there was no sign
OF it, nor any way TO find II. When iEi
did arrive 1 lost another three weeks
waiting for the replacement OF two piston
rods and two cylinders. Finally saw Ia
boxed UP and shipped. II will reach here
on the Berlin tomorrow"
German automobile mechanics, accord
ing to de Palma. are poorly paid. Fore
men, he found, received the equivalent OF
only so a week, and other workmen ars'
paid In proportion. He distributed about
$40 In tips, In order 10 accelerate work on
his motor, and IL almost turned the fac
tory upside down.
Hundreds Of automobilists in New York,
the New England States and New Jersey
have been attracted 10 the extensive mill
tary manPuvres in Connecticut, and ths
roads are filled with tourists on their way
10 the various camps.
Automobiles going from the metropol-
itan district may avoid the rough portion
OF the Post Road by taking North street
from New Rochelle. the Quaker Ridge
Road, Weaver street and Mamaroneck
avenue to White Plains; through Chenille
10 Greenwich. From Greenwich the Post
Road is open and in fairly good condition
Entering Bridgeport disregard the signs
and keep left on Fairfield avenue. At a
large stone church turn left ard immedl-
ately right on Washington street, bearing
right on Golden Hi street. turn left on
Main street to the Stratfield Hotel
Motorists from the eastern part of New
York State may go through the Manga
tuck Valley via Waterbury, where they
will find running directions at the Nau-
gatuck Valley branch of the Touring Club
Of America, in the Hotel Elton. Motorists
from New England should call at the
clubs bureau In the Hotel Taft, New
Haven. for running directions At Bridge
port inquiries will be attended to by r.
c. Griswold. manager Of the Strattield, or
his staff OF assistants.
The aeroplane fields are located at Par
adlse Green, north Of Strstford and about
four miles northeast OF Bridgeport. and
can be reached by taking the first right
turn beyond tho Stratfield in Congress
street and following il into Williams
street. Go straight ahead where the troll
ley turns and take next right on Bsrnum
avenue At the end of Barnum avenue
turn left on Stratford avenue, following II
for three-fourths OF a mile; then turn
right on a very narrow farm road, which
leads to the headquarters, about one-thTd
of q mile