Arizona republican., 1914-02-26
General Opinion Expressed by Officials of Great Van derbilt Cup Race to Be Run at Santa Monica Today
MANY NERVY MOTOR
 PILOTS ENTERED
Fifteen Thousand Dollars
 Great Stake of Automo- bile Classic Thousands
 of People Throng Los An geles to Witness Event
Special to The Republican,
 lRN Nle 4 AhhOtN


 LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25.-Referee G. P. Bullard, of the Vanderbilt Cup race, agreed today with Starter Fred Wagner that the world marks will go to smash on the Santa Monica course tomorrow. when dozen of the worlds most famous nervy motor pilots fly at it in the most savage competition of modern racing Wag- ner confidently put the mark at so miles an hour, depending, of course, on the state of the weather. Grant ing that some of the lighter machines can get through without tire changes or with very few, the forecastngs of the two motor fans will undoubt- edly come through.
 Phoenix and Arizona motor fans are here in numbers, in spite ot the delay. Arrangements will be made to house all in one of the reserved sections of the grandstand.
 As to the course, opinions vary some claiming it to be undamaged by the torrential rains, and others believing that the turns are softened perilously. Accidents in practice have cost the race several good possibili- ties. Harry Grant turned over in his usual sensational manner this morning and drew down a burst pis- ton out of the wreck, and although he will start, his entry will not be as dangerous as it might otherwise have been.
 The eight-mile course is already the scene of myriads of camps Parked automobiles are even now oc- Cupied by sleeping fans who are waiting for the first car to flash past shortly after ten o'clock to- morrow morning. Big sports, sport ing writers. and fans from all over the country are in convention here daily, and many are the conclusions they draw from the old dope bucket Hotels are crowded with men of af- fairs from far and near, who speak Of the race between sentences brist- ling with stock quotations and the jargon of business.
 It is possible to trace the waning popularity of the auto racing game in the east and it's steady growth out here from the conversations ol onlookers.
 The nerve strain among the drivers and mechanics is terrific The watch like monsters of steel and copper are guarded jealously in many pri- vate garages, while drivers pace UT and down. experimenting the last tunings No one. no matter how important and closely connected ht may be in the racing game. can ap- proach these mighty steeds of moderr racers
 Jealousy among the entrants, lead. to numerous rumors of dark hors, work and pre-formulated alibis ar, thick. No one can claim to be al absolute favorite. Arizona is watch. ing Barney Oldfield and Spencer Wishart, while California fans ar, banking on Earl Cooper
 Cars and drivers in the Vanderbilt Cup race, 294 miles on an S-mil, course:
 Isotta, Harry Grant; Mercer. Spen. cer Wishart; Stutz, Gil Anderson Mercer, Edwin Pullen; Mason, Dav, Lewis; Mercer, Barney OIdfield Stutz, Earl Cooper; Fiat, Frank Yer beck; Mason, w. Carlson: Apperson Frank Goode; Mercedes, Ralph D, Palma; Sunbeam, J. B. Marquis Marmon, Guy Ball. Touraine. Geo Soerimann; Alec, Tony Janette.