The chronicle=news., 1913-03-01
T PALMA NOT
DAREDEVIL
DRIVER

NuNkuR wy, MuTCH just ABOUT
every time you talk to real motor
racer .ou, suffer a frncturc In ono
or more pretty littlo theories. An
honcst. b. good acss racing driver is
no theorIst. II he was hs would
havc come other Job. Or else no
would bN displaring few cubic fest
of terra flrma In some nicc, quiet
spot.
Now. there IL Ralph DE- Palma.
road racing champion OF 1912. He Ia
At tho motor show. You would take
him for a practical man at first
sight. This morning. lust before tho
opening hour. he was in his shirt
sleeves. which were rolled up. prod
ding the viscera OF u Mercer road
car with u long screw driver He
looked like n regular follow. Hc IL.
nut I'm afraid ! can't tell you
anything very heroic or romantic
about a drivers sensations, going at
90 an hour" he said. "You think
about tho car. mostly. Aud wonder" :"
"Wondcr?"
"Yes. Wonder what's going 10 mop
next. And hocp 1t won't. because
that means trouble
Sometimes II means n mixture Of
battle. murder and sudden death. too
Just linking about little old
friend car" he said. "and remember
Ing she's got weakness In on" spark
plug and easing the juice TO save II
when You can. And saving hcr on
tho had turn whcf" She shed tire
tho last lap. That's about all.
And on cross examination DcPalM1
admitted that hc trusted PrOvi'lcnc"
with tho rcSt-nnd u was pr"t'f
lair little consignment. 100.
"Still. ! always drive with u
sprc,io meter" he qualified. "Noh
can't gucs accurately how fast ynu'r"
going. After you're coming to a hair
pin turn you want iO know lew
you're proceeding. No usc Siving
yomr guardian angel any extra work.
He's got enough M II is."
Following which Mr.. DcPa'n.,
blew out q fine spun theory nhtn'
wind pressure making 1t hard I"
| breathe.
You get used to II. just III. n
sca diver. I suppose. Pressure there.
|, NIL right. Al 30 an hour YOU co,iiuh'; (;
fall out IL you tried. You're nailed in
| hut no trouble 10 breathe. wear n
| mask sometimes. Not on accom-; oI
tho wind. you know. hut to stop ol.y
Sravci aud dus, aud things like that,
Chops your face MP
Why. he coul. even whistle
against tho wind. going 90 an honr.
lie tried Il. Any particular air? Well,
TO. No preference. Not NJ hat gait.
/ DeI'almn's record. which gave him
.hc road chainip ipOnship y. last rcar.
included wining four Ou' Of hr" oi
t.,c biggest road races. itis greatest
spcc.: record is l20 miles In % MIN.
uic.i..-n record that uap'$ Tor the
distance. and is likely 20 i"r some
tiTc. Nc locomotive. or Gyin., ma
chino. or other conveyance. eve. a.i
tin,t!cd at that par" for that DIS
t.nrr And no motor car. oth": than
thsn no driven by Ralnn Ec:'r'mr.
I'ut. as has been remarked. les q
au.-t chap. Good LOOKING. 800. with
cic.' dark cvcs and ia. color In
HIS checks. IIc has one little motto.
and he Isn't nt all evanEclistic with
II. II is:
"Oii OF JOY and gasoline makes a
bad mixture"
| And he never minElcs the two.
| Nothing heroic In n-Palma's pose,
Nothing to suggest the consciOus
dare devil, IIc wont even admit that
there Ia n nerve strain nt 30 an hour
hour after hour. lap after lap.
hut YOU notice In hi thick. wavy.
dark hair. juf above tho forehead. n
| ingic lock OF liver white.