Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-16

4 4
there is satisfactory number
Of high-claas entries in by Oc-
tober /, the Grand Prize and Wander
bilt races will not be run over the
Chatham County course this fall.
This positive declaration was made
by Harvey Granger, president of thu
Savannah Automobile Club, upon hi
return from the Elgin races, who is
far from optimistic about the outlook
for the big events. The manufac-
turers and others, who own racing
cars balk at paying the entrance fees.
and in some instances even demand "a
bonus for running their cars.
President Granger says the Savan-
nah races viii not be of the hippo
drome character, and that is what
they would be If entrance fees were
waived and no restrictions imposed.
Unless the same high-class events
can be had as have always been held
here the races will be called off. That
is why President Granger has ar
bitrarily fixed upon October ! as the
outside date when the entries are
to be in.
Manufacturers BaIk.
President Granger says neither the
cars nor the drivers were entered
in the Elgin races, and the disposi-
tion Of the manufacturers of the best
class Of racing cars is not to pay
for the privilege OF entering their
cars in a trophy event. All Of the
manufacturers have been sounded out
on the proposition, and almost to
man the demand has been made for
a waiver OF the entrance fees. This
will not be done, As already statedk
the Savannah club does not care to
run a hippodrome down here
In the 1911 races the receipts from
entries alone amounted to $4,000.
And then the margin OF profit on the
whole racing proposition was small.
II all of this amount were waived
to the car owners, where would the
promoters get Off The situation was
different at Indianapolis where. Presi-
dent Granger says, perhaps more than
so per cent Of the entrance fees were
rebated Then there were more than
100000 paid admissions, which av-
eraged SO a day. There the main OBJ
iect was to get cars on the track to
entertain the people, the same as a
vaudeville show manager gets actors
without particular regard to the class.
Mr.. Granger says IL was never the
intention Of those who started the
Grand Prize Trophy that it should
he cheapened in this way. and he
feels the same about the Vanderbilt
cup. He has written long letter TO
Mr. Vanderbilt explaining the diff
Guilty he is having in interesting the
racing world I'm the fall events on
high-clas sporting plane. He also
advised Mr.. Vanderbilt that unless
"A high-cIass list OF entries had been
received by October 1 the races would
be declared off BY satisfactory, he
means class and number Of cars and
first-class drivers.
Some of the prospective entries
even want the Savannah club to paw
the freight on their cars here.
Will Make the Effort.
I'VE owe the Motor Cups Company
an honest effort to get entries to run
the races" said President Granger.
I'VE will make that effort. That is
the reason we have fixed an outside
date for the entries The manufac-
turers certainly ought to know by
October / whether they intend com
ing in. If they know it We are en-
titled to be advised. There will he
plenty of time for us TO get the course
in condition after that time If the
prospect is satisfactory. In fact. we
could get ready for the race in ten
days or two weeks.
II went over the situation thor
oughlv with the owners and drivers
Of the cars entered in the Elgin races.
On my arrival at Egin I found
through Mr.. BeaCrOft, official referee
there. that to secure the cars which
participated in the various events, all
entrance money was guaranteed to
be refunded if the cars showed up
at the starting line ! went into the
entry proposition with Mr.. Stutz,
owner of the car which won the prin-
Cipal event; MI Dusenberry. man
ager of the Mason racing team. and
others While they are all willing and
anxious to come to Savannah they
take the positL2n that all entrance
money shous - refunded. and tha-.
in some cases, the freight on their
cars should be paid
Il made it plain to both Mr.. StutZ
and Mr.. Dusenberry. as well as the
others, that unless the fees for en-
trance provided in the blanks Of the
Savannah Automobile Club for the
Vanderbilt Cup and Grand Prize races
were paid. and that unless there was
a satisfactory list Of entrants. both in
number Of cars and in character, re
ceIved before october l. there would
be no races this year at Savannah
Little Interest in Game.
The trouble is that the manufac-
turers are taking little interest in the
racing game. Instead Of having fine
racing teams, az in the past, the
whole scheme Of things has been
changed so that It Is more Of a
htppodrome proposition now. where
the independent. professional driver
goes into the race purely for tn"
money he has a chance to win. aud
not for the honor and glory Of own
Ing the handsome trophies which are
offered. The racing game has swung