Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-05
Contingent from Gate City Wearing
white Hats Attracts Attention
More Than Thirty Thousand
Persons See Race.

9-Mel Stringer 19-George Jessep
lO-Harry Grant 9-Blly Chandler
SIOUX CITY. July 4--(special Tele-
gram. m.l-Eddie Rickenbacher, formerly Of
Omaha in Deusenberg special won Sioux
City's first auto racing classic, the 800
mile sweepstakes event here today. His
time was S:4s.O2 Spencer wishart
Wishart was second in Mercer his time
being S:51:20. Ralph Mulford driving
a Deusenberg special ia which he
had replaced Alley when the latter wac
scorched, was third. Gil Anderson in a
Stutz was fourth. and Patschke in a
Marmon was fifth. The average time was
about rs miles an hour.
The nearest approach to a serious ac-
cident occurred when Alleys car caught
fire at the pit schorching Alleys eye
brow. Mulford whose Peugeout was put
out by engine trouble took the wheel and
finished the race. Perfect weather pre-
vailed and aside from trouble, with the
score boards it was declared by American
Automobile association officials to have
been the most satisfactorily handled race
ever run in America.
After the first five cars had finished
a big part of the crowd stayed to see
Deluge drive by Knpper and the
Braender bulldog driver by Chandler.
the Chalmers the White, and the Gray
Fox chase around the track in a little
scrap for the smaller division OF the
purse.
The Deluge was finally awarded sixth
place. Wilcox in the Gray Fox finished
seventh. The Chalmers, the White and
the Braender bulldog were permitted to
divide the remaining purses.
The oiled track held up surprisingly
we'll through the long grind, began to
tell on the turns and late in the race
Harry Grants Sunbeam was put out by
a bad skid. A skiddlng accident also
befell Babcock's Sunbeam, and being un-
able to turn around the car was backed
to the pit
Exciting Brush for Lead.
One Of the most exciting features of the
big race was the struggle for the lead
between Rickenbacher and Wishart, be-
tween the 300 and 25O-mile mark.
Patschke was also a serious contender
at this stage of the game. but was more
unfortunate in the matter of stops. Rick
enbacher and Wishart classed about
equally in this respect. Just as Eddie
Rickenbacher finished a rear tire blew up
with a terrific report startling the spec
tators in the grandstand. Eddie held
the machine in control and wobbled
around to the pit with a terrific ova,
ton.
The crowd was estimated between
90, 200 and 1000 A big delegation from
Omaha fairly glistened in the stands, by
virtue of white hats which they wore as
a distinguishing mark. The complete
hospital corps of the Fifty-Sixth Iowa
National Guard was on the ground with
full equipment, but found little to do.
Time IL Near Record,
The time. S:49:O2, has been exceeded but
few times. Automobile race and time
records for 800 miles follow; Time.
Jacksonville, March 81. 1911, Dis
indianapolis, May ~, 1919. Daw-
son .S:4S;f ~
Galveston. July 80. 1913. Disbrow. Am ~
Three-hundred mile records at Indian
apolis speedway:
Driver and Car. Time.
'De Palma, Mercedes, May 30. 1912. 43:2
Dawson, National May 30, 19l2.......3:4S: 80
Goux. Peugeout, May 3O 19l8.....,.... 3 56 50
Thomas, Delage, May 10, 19l4.........3;3S: :29
sDe Palma did not finish IN 1912 race
and his 3OO-mile record not recognized
officially by American Automobile asso-
ciation.
Three -hundTed-mile records made by
drivers in the Indianapolis international
sweepstake race May SO 1914;
Driver and Car. Time.
Thomas. Delage. .3:3S :29
lDuray, Peugeout. 3:SS :54
Guvof DelaRe :43 :37