El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-10-26
Tonight the Fifth Annual
Race, Los Angeles to
Phoenix, Begins.
NO CAR is A
HEAVY FAVORITE


80 900 <s5S5-S5-<s,- - .
Tonight at Los Angeles begins the
fifth annual Los Angeles to Phoenix
automobile race. The pOpulace Of the
entire southwest is interested more
than ever before in the contest.
Everybody who knows anything
about automobile racing and who has
kept posted on the history Of this IA
nous race viii agree that this years
event viii be the fastest Of them all.
Ten Of the machines entered are good
for so miles an hour or better, while
the smallest Of the cars will be tuned
up to the 5O-mile mark and depend
upon its endurance to finish among the
leaders.
The winding trails of the desert have
been studied by . mem for the past few
weeks and they know every inch Of the
road. Every water hole on the desert is
stamped indelibly on the mind Of every
man participating. The high centers
and the bad WashOuts are known; the
short cuts over barren wastes of land
where a mistake might be paid for
with a human life, have been traversed
by the drivers and their mechanics;
the machines have literally been beaten
as with sledge hammer force over rocky
barancas for the purpose Of detecting
any flaws in the machinery should any
Turk
DIVERS Alone know.
Only those who have attempted to
race over this road can understand the
fatigue that the participants in this
o.
aching bodies, cramped hands and
blurred eyes. Alkau dust is not the
most pleasant thing in the world and
it burns the throat like acid.
Betting on the great race IS spry, but
no one outside the various entrants
have ventured to name an Odds-on IA
vOrite. Many have overlooked the
Buick in their enthusiasm for the
Franklin, whose driver has the repu-
tatiOn OF almost winning IN years past
Louis Nikrent is a driver who should
not be showed backward. He comes OF
racing stock, he knows how to build
a desert car and he knows, too, what to
90 with the wheel OF q IaSt machine
NikrenJ, while not an Odds-On faVOrite,
should be classed among the leaders.
The ATnericans have all the power nee
essary and Grundy's mount has a man
who has made several marks IN va
riOus parts Of the country. Bunnell
knows me game with the best Of them
and must be given MS share Of the cal
cium- The CadlllacS come nearer being
IaVOrlreS than any other cars IN the
race. With three Of them entered they
should not be worried about one Of the
money places If not the first Charlie
Soules needs no Introduction to south
ern CallfOrniauS- His prOWeSs as a
rack driver is well known there. His
acquaintance with the desert country is
as thorough as any other mans in the
race, and his car Is surely as good as
the best
Bill BramIette on the second Cadillac
has last years mistake to rectify and
Bill is 'On the wing" Bramlette has
camped on the desert trail longer thai.
any other man in the race, and his car
has received the careful attention as to
detail that probably was neglected a
year ago
Bert DingIey Aids.
Fred Fuller and Ed Swanson in the
National may be termed the real dark
horses. They have not even ''peeped"
for the past three weeks, but they have
been saving wood night and day. Full
Ter knows the desert country, in fact
lives on 1t, and he knows all the roads
in the Imperial valley. He IS fortunate
in having Swanson. who rode with Har-
Vey Herrlck, winner Of last years race
and he has the same car that Herrick
used. Bert Dingley is mountain Of
strength, and his advice, should Fuller
bend TO receive it, VIII be invaluable
Charlie BlgelOw is the peer of them
all when it comes to desert roads, and
MS mysterious actions regarding the
fast Mercedes, which by the way was
amaker, the Philadelphia millionaire
and secured by BigelOw through the
aid OF George Wilder, the wealthy mag
azlne publisher, leaves BigelOW an IN
known quality. BigelOW chose to start
last in the race, and it may be that he
intends to Overtake every other car in
the race.
The smallest car in the event. the
HupmObues is driven by the youngest
man in the racing game, Leonard Jones,
who IS but - years Of age Jones has
driven some on the coast but this is
his first attempt at the desert work
He has built his car well and may sur
prise US by a week from today.
It VIII be great race, and a fast