Arizona republican., 1914-02-27
Grizzled Italian Leads Bar ney Oldfield Over Finish Line by Scant Minute and Half While Thou sands Applaud
NONE INJURED
 IN GREAT GRIND
Ninth Vanderbilt Cup Race Most Spectacular of All Over Now Famous Santa Monica Course - Grand .Prix on Saturday
BY LYLE ABBOTT
pecial to the Republican,

Especial to the Repubican)
 LOS ANGELES, Feb 26-When ten out of the fifteen starters and much ot the course of the Vanderbilt cup race had been waited to the side lines, Ralph De Palma, the veteran Italian driver of many classics, tilted spiritedly with, and won narrowly from Barney Oldfield in the ninth version Of Willie KS motor stunt on the Santa Monica eight mile oval today. Time: De- Palma, 3.59:41: Oldfield, 3.55:01.
 The friction between the machines and the track soon reduced many of the former to still silent monsters in the by lanes. and a goodly portion of the bituminous cover of latter to fine black greasy powder which settled lat ter on the neat white counterpanes and table habliments of the Santa Monica housewives. So severe was the pace set by the few that many were early eil- minated. No one escaped entirely from the attentions of old man trouble and the pitmen were kept moderately busy repairing the sore hurts to steeds.
 Oldfield. clasping the wheel of his splendid sweet running Mercer in hls grimy hands and the stub of a frazzled cigar in his dusty lips followed his old enemy De Palma with dogged persis- tense, until it began to look as if the pilot of the unfortunate Simplex in the last desert race would cap his long career with an ultimate victory in this, his most fondly contemplated event. i,,I of Q hl9Z- ing hot asphalt of the longest straight stretch sent him to the pits for new wire wheel in his thirtieth lap and the Italian sped by with triumphant wag of his iron gray head over a hunched shoulder
 Oh, it was thrilling enough, when the thing did happen. After few laps, when the cars became strung out and were passing every minute and some times in punches, it was good to sit in the luxurious press box, munch juicy sandwiches provided by his honor the mayor of Santa Monica and gaze upon the spectacle of approximately a hun dred thousand fans and fanettes in the grand stands, enjoying the race and each others company. And then the course. which circles for $40 miles in the rolling hills near the seashore was packed with parked automobiles and motor bikes and folks. But after the stentorian- toned announcer had told the fate of half a score of cars in engine, gear or tire trouble and the corner became intermittently empty it was less like a nerve straining motor race than huge picnic of motorcad- ists.
 By far the most entertaining thing to me was the preliminary inspection ride with Referee George Purdy Bullard Editor Incabiaugh of Motor Age and Lieut. Murray of the National Guard regiment, over the course. At exactly 30 the car was sent away down the stretch. Groups of fans recognizing its appearance meant an early consumma- tion of their desire to see the wheels go round cheered as we went by. For several miles while inside the city limits we passed through lanes of blue coats from Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Then these were supplanted by militia men who at bugle call from man in a car stood at attention and saluted as we rushed past. To say this prelimi- nary rush tickled MT Bullard would be putting it too mildly. Arizonans, occupying cars in the park spaces along the course recognizing their fel- low Hassayamper yelled their greetings to which he responded with excited waves of his hand and hat. while bal ancing himself perilously on the back