El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-12-26

DY HIS thrilling Vanderbilt victory
at Santa Monica and double win"
IL at Elgin, Ralph de Palma energies
from the 1914 road race year as cham
piou. beating out Eddie Pullen for the
premier hOnOrs by small margin. Had
Pullen won at Elgin instead Of finish
ing second to De Palma, the Mercer
driver who electrified the speed world
at Corona Thanksgiving day would be
hailed as the 1914 king Of the road.
In his annual resume in Motor Age,
c. G. Sinsabaugh, the automobile eX-
pert, picks De Palma and his Merce-
des as the winning combination Of
1914 as follows:
THE choices are made only after
careful review Of the situation, which
was more complex than ever before
because Of the wonderful showing
made by the Mercer and Pullen. Old
field. too. has been a most consistent
performer and a most important factor
ia the big events Of the season Just
closed so Motor Age feels that in Civ
ing him distinguished mention that it
is only just recognition Of their many
sterling performances. A need Of
praise also should be handed out TO
the Stutz which Oldfield drove to vic
tory in the Los Angeles-PhOenix desert
race. probably the most strenuous
speed contest Of a decade.
Consider Only Three.
Enthusiastically only three pilots
can be considered for the driving cham
piOnship-De Palma, Pullen and Old
field-and when the evidence is sifted
TO the bottom it leaves De Palma bow
ing that the laurel wreath may be
placed on his brow.
DE Palma won three of the five big
road races Of the year, scoring firsts in
the Vanderbilt at Santa Monica last
February, and in both events at Elgin.
His other two starts were the Grand
PriX at Santa Monica and the recent
al In hn he
finished fourth after having once been
in the lead. In the latter he also was
fourth and both times the winner was
Pullen.
ION Pullen's side one finds that he
has a record of two firsts and a second
SIN his five starts, twice being unable
10 finish. He and De Palma competed
in the same five races, which makes
the comparison easier. Pullen started
the season at Santa Monica with a vic
tory in the grand prix, which followed
his elimination in the Vanderbilt at q
time when it looked as if he would be
a winner, a broken wheel, the result of
taking Death curve too fast, stopping
him when he was far out in the front.
Sets New Record.
at Elgin Pullen again stacked up
with De Palma and the hOnors went
10 the italian, who shattered preCe-
dent by cleaning the card, winning botn
classics. Pullen failed to finish the
first day, but on the second he was
runner up to De Palma, establishing a
nonstop record which was beaten only
at Corona by Oldfield in the Maxwell
Pullen's championship stock went up
notch at Corona, where he established
a worlds road racing record that is so
sensational that critics still are gasp
ig at the dizzy speed. Stacking up the
respective claims OF DE Palma ana
Pullen, one must admit that while 10
the Italian belongs the championship
title, yet the most ardent admirers Of
the Mercedes pilot must admit that
Pulen STANDS very close TO the throne.
Oldfield drove in the same five clas-
sizes as did his two rivals and he went
them one better by participating in the
cactus derby in which he carried off
the honors. The six starts Of the mas
ter driver Of the world" Melted him one
first two seconds, one third, one fourth
and one time not finishing. Surely
that is a showing which entitled Che
veteran TO some consideration, and so
Motor Age hands out to Barney that
Jewel the consistency title.
THE Oldfield ticket shows that in
the Vanderbilt Barney was runnerup to
De Palma, a puncture on the last lap
showing the veteran when it looked as
II he would break into the limelight
in the grand priX he made a gallant
showing as long as he was running. in
both these Santa Monica events Old
field drove a Mercer. At Elgin In a :
StutZ he landed fourth in the ChicaEO ]
Automobile club cup race and third in /
Elgin National The next big race was ]
the cactus derby and when Oldfield in I
Stutz was declared winner in the 1
grueling grind from Los Angeles to |
Phoenix IL marked Barney's first road /
race victory. Shifting TO a Maxwell at |
Corona he was q gallant second to |
Pullen-
Honor for NIIzrent.
"Of the 103 different drivers who /
participated in American road races in /