The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-26
Vanderbilt RACE
De Palma and Oldfield Are the
Competitors.
De Palma Leads 18th Lap
Four Cars Out.

SANTA MONICA, CaE, FeD zo.-W1tn
perfect weather prevailing and
thousands of motor enthusiasts on
the course, 16 racing drivers brought
their high powered cars to the Santa
Monica race courses tarting line to-
day and awaited the pistol crack
which was to send the first car away
in the 1914 Vanderbilt cup race.
Barney Oldfield ruled favorite when
the race began with Earl Cooper,
winner of the last Santa Monica road
race, a close second.
The $40 mile course over which the
race was to be run was closed at 9
o'clock and pronounced in perfect
condition. Car No. 1, driven by Harry
Grant, was to be sent away ,on the
294.03 mile grind promptly at 10
o'clock and the other contestants at
ten seconds intervals in the order
named:
No. 2, Spencer wishart; 3, Gil An
derson; 4, Edwin Pulen: 5, s. Harry
Ham: 6, Dave Lewis; Z, Barney Old
field; 8. Earl Cooper: 8, Frank Yer
sock: 10, William Carlson; IL. Frank
Goode: IL. Ralph De Palma; IA. J.
Joerimann; II, Tony Janet.
No driver was given the number 13.
With a course record Of 1912 miles
an hour to beat, 16 big cars piloted
by some of the best known motor
drivers in the country, started today in
the first Vanderbilt cup race run on
the Pacific coast. The best time here
tofore made in a Vanderbilt event was
74.07 miles an hour. The sixteen cars
were sent away at intervals beginning
| at 10 o'clock. The distance is 294.O35
| miles. or 35 laps of the 8.4O1 miles
course, which ought to be covered by
| the winners in less than four hours,
| it is said.
The veterans, Oldfield and De-
Palma, and Earl Cooper, who won last
years San Monica road race, were the
favorites.
Cars Are Off.
Car No. was sent away by Starter
Wagner at 1O:O5 o'clock. and the 9TH
ers got away at fifteen seconds inter-
walls. Spencer Wishart in No. 2, made
the first lap at 80 miles an hour, al
| though a soft spot developed by the
| recent rains caused the cars to skid
| dangerously at one of the turns.
Three Cars Out-Engine Trouble.
With less than a third of the race
completed cars No. 2, and were
officially declared out on account Of
engine trouble.
Edwin Pullin in No. 4, drove the
| tenth lap at the rate of IS miles an
| hour. On the fourteenth lap, while
| leading, his car crashed into an iron
| barricade. The car was wrecked, but
driver and mechanician escaped un-
hurt.
| Anderson in the Lead.
| Gil Anderson. driving No. 3, led in
| the cup race at the end of 12O miles.
| DePalma in No. IL was second; Carl
| son in No. 10 third: Oldfield in No. z
| fourth.
Anderson's pace was better than 81
miles an hour.
Now DePalma Leads.
DePalma took the lead in the 18th
lap.
| Seven cars were out Of the race at
| 120 mile mark. These were:
Harry Grant 1, out on first lap bro
ken connecting rod. Spencer Wishart,
No. 2, out in third lap, engine trouble
Dave Lewis, No. 6, out second lap,
burned bearing. Frank Verbeck, No. 9,
out 9Th lap. burned bearings. ]. B.
Marquis. 10. A. out in tenth lap, bro
ken axle. Frank Goods, No. II, out in
11th lap, broken feed line Edwin Pull
len, No. 4, out in 18th lap, car wrecked
| when tire burst.
Anderson went out Of the race in
the eighteenth lap with a broken driv-
ing shaft. In the twentieth it became
a contest between De Palma and Bar
ney Oldfeld, with the former leading
| nv trifo moro than tu,o v,oin:,fac