Atlanta Georgian., 1914-02-27
RALPH DE PALMA
WINS CLASSIC
CUP RACE
Barney 0IdfeId Runs Second in
Spirited Contest for Van
derbiIt Trophy.

SANTA MONICA RACE COURSE.
CAL. Feb. 20. Ralph DE Palma,
driving Mercedes car, this after
noon won the Vanderbilt cup classic
in the most exciting automobile race
ever staged on the Pacific Coast.
The intrepid Italian who has been
the hero Of many racing events won
to-day after the hardest speed battle
Of his career. DE Palma's time vas
hours II minutes and II seconds,
an average Of 74.5 miles an hour.
Barney Oldhed, who was second At
the finish, made one of the gancst
an opponent ever seen on any race
track.
Oldfeld Was Favorite.
A favorite with the crowd, carrying
most of the money that was wagered
on the outcome Of the race, the vet
cran battled De Palma for every inch
Of the distance that separated them
during the last thirteen laps Seconds
only separated him from De Palma
and at the end he was one minute
and twenty seconds Behind
At the end OF the first lap Spencer
Wshart, the young millionaire Mer
Ger driver, was leading, having nego-
tiated the eight and four -tenths miles
in six minutes and twenty seconds.
Gil Anderson in Stutz took second
place a few seconds behind him Ed
Pullen in Mercer was third, and
Barney Oldneld fourth.
First Accident.
The first accident of the race, 3c-
CURED when Edwin Pullen, Mercer
driver who was leading the field with
good margin. crashed into the iron
fence and wrecked his machine. Mel
ther Pullen nor his mechanlcian, A.
Vollman, was hurt, but the leader wa
declared out Of the race unless he en-
tered the curve. Pullen was making
the 50 miles an hour. After the ac-
cid mt the police moved the crowd at
tie curve back 300 feet Dave Lewis,
driving a Mason and Frank Nerbeck,
in a Fiat, were pulled out of the race
on account of engine trouble, and
Harry Grant, twice winner OF the
Vanderbilt cup, was forced out for
the same reason The accident 10
Pullen's car put Gil Anderson's Stutz
car in the lead and gave Barny ODD
field second place.
After ming eleven laps Frank
Good in an Apperson ear. was de-
clared out A broken oil lire forced
him to withdraw Good was running
in tenth place.
DePalna in Lead.
AT the end of so miles Anderson was
only a few seconds ahead of Oldfieid,
and both were pushing hard on the
straight aways and taking the curves
at death defying pace.
With the race half over Gil Ander-
son was stilI IN the lead 1ut on the
eighteenth lap he took the soldier .
home curve too short and broke
wheel, putting himself out.
The accident put DePalma in the
Lad with two minnie advantage
over Barney Oldheld who was second
DePalma tim fer eighteen laps was
hour and SO minutes fiat The
other drivers were running IN the fol-
lowing order:
Oldhcld. Ca on ..arl Cooper in q
Stutz; Janette in an Also. and Joeri-
mann In a Touraine. DePalma was
three laps ahead of Janette and Jeeri-
mann.
A Narrow Escap
In his eagerness to increase his
lead over Oldtield the dare devil DE
Palma risked his life and his chances
TO win the race by taking death
curve" with full power on. He was
on his twenty y-second lap when he
entered the curve without slackening'
his speed. The big Mercedes ca9
skidded and swung fifteen feet out of
the path.
With a mighty effort De Palma re-
gained control of the car and sent 1t
hurtlng back upon the course and
took the straight away at top speed.
The crowd at the curve expected to
see him and his mechaniCian hurled
to their deaths.
olddeld went into the lead at the
end Of the twenty third lap with De
Palma close second. The crowd
went wild when the announcement
was made.
Race Ever in Doubt.
For the last ten laps DC Palma anu
OIdhcld drove the race &C their event
ml lives. The two masters OF tn"
racing cars ran neck and neck around
the eight mile cours for the last 81
miles or the long 2a4-milc course, each
receiving thuudcrous cheers as i'e
passed the stands, It was a thrilling
battle of endurance and nerve with
the hooded monster straining TO ev-
cry ounce of their power.
At no time from the start of the
long, hard grind was the result at all
certain. The lead changed hands
quickly to be picked up by the next IN
line ald lost until when half of the
race was over De Palma had a sligh.
lead and retained il only through
maSttrful driving and an utter lack
of fear nd disregard OF tho Chanc IS
of losing his life that he took at every
turn in the rectangular course
once On the death curve DE Pai-
ma nearly gave Up his chances to win
and his life when he took the most
dangcroLs turn on the track with fni,
mower on. The next time he went
around the curve hat had spilled Ed
Puilen of the Mercer tea and robbed
him of tho race, DE Palma went m 1re
slowly, and when he did, Oldheld