The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1913-05-15
Foreign Cars Entered This
Year in 5oo-Mile Irterna-
tional Sweepstakes Race
Are Puzzlers.
HOOSIERS EAGER TO
KEEP RECORDS HOME
The World-Famous Speed
Course Furnishes An Ex-
hilarating Sport and a Gala
Holiday Carnival.
(By GEO. M. pIcksoNl

When the first self-propelleds vehicle
was made to run-and then more re-
markable. was actually stopped at
will. people laughed. That laugh soon
changed into an ever-increasing cheer
all over the world.
When four Indianapolis men n,presum-
ed to suggest a Speedway upon which
automobiles would be raced at un-
heard OF speeds, the same people
smiled knowingly. That smae has
changed into look of surprise and
admiration.
Such is the progress in Indiana
where the first car was built and
has been made.
These four men who conceived the
now world-famous Speedway are Carl
Fisher. A. c. Newby, James Allison
and Frank Wheeler. all connected with
the motor car industry of Indianapolis.
Rapid Growth Experienced.
In 1909 the first meet was held on
the two-and-a-halfmile Speedway. The
track was not paved then. At that
time one manufacturer watched his
cars practice and suggested that the
day would come when he could do q
mile minute on the track. Last year.
cars travelled at the rate of 100 and
| more miles an hour on the Speedway.
Such is the rapid growth in the motor
car building.
The Speedway has done much for
the entire motor car industry: IL has
done much for the particular car build
ers who entered their product; IL has
done much for the city of Indianapolis
and more surprising. it has declared
dividends for the owners.
The next contest to be waged for
cylinder-supremacy will be held May
30th. At that time American-made and
Foreign-built cars, driven by intrepid
experts, will "go after" the Interna.
tional Championship in the 50o-mile
race. 200 times around the two-and-one
| -half-mile track. The track has been
paved with brick.
Last year the largest paid admission
| that ever attended a sporting event in
the history of the world, paid real
| money to come inside of the speed are
ma and watch the National car hang up
new Worlds record. Last years
sual features; the two cars that gave
the National the hardest fight for vic
tory were two European cars, n Mer-
cedes and Fiat. The Nationals ac-
i tual running time was s1.72 miles per
hour. The Mercedes, driven by Ralph
De Palma, made a marvellous race. GO
| ing out In a dramatic fashion that
brought signs of regret from every one
just as the worthy pilot was nearing
/ the end of the errific run.
Joe Dawson, an Indianapolis boy.
drove the National to victory last year
and the year before that in the first
5o0-mile race, Ray Harroun. another
indianapolis boy, drove the Marmon
Wasp" to victory. Harroun's elapsed
time average was 74.61 miles per hour.
Who VIII VIM
Who will win this year is a matter
that even the most skilled "railbirds"
hesitate to predict. The record as now
hung up Is fast: some of the foreign
entries are puzzlers as no one knows
just what they are capable of; some OF
the American-made cars may spring
some surprises and the Hoosiers are
eager that the record be kept at home.
A Practical Benefit
The Speedway has had a practical
benefit furnishing an exhiIarating
sport and gala holiday carnival II has
been a great manufacturing adjunct
, The manufacturer who can put his
craft through miles of sustained terri
fic speed. and then makes an analysis
of his car. every part of il, can learn a
great deal This is proven true by the
Il fact that when the track was first
built. the cars could not produce near
ly as great speed as they can today. In
the early days the cars were not as
perfect as now; were not as reliable:
were not as sure under every emergen-
i cy as now.
, This speed-battle-grounds contains
: 32s acres: the grounds will accommo-
, date 200. ZOO people; there are parking
, spaces for 10000 automobiles; the
turns of the track are banked Is feet
} and have a radius of 500 feet; $780,
! 900 brick were required 10 pave the
track; and there are forty-one building