The Washington times., 1915-06-12
CHICAGO SPEEDWAY
READY FOR CLASSIC
All Track Records Expected to-
Fall on June 19 When Big
Race Is Run Off.

CHICAGO, June 12.--Chicago became
the Mecca for the demon speed mer-
chant this week when the vanguard
Of forty leading American and Euro
pean drivers arrived here to prepare
for Chicago's first international 6oo-mile
speedway derby at Des PLANES river
and Twelfth street Saturday, June 49,
Nearly one-third OF the pilots are at
the scene of activity. and by the mid
die of next week the remainder Of
the greatest field OF motorists ever as
sembled will be circling the newly
laid two-mile course.
Contractor Shank. who. within Ave
weeks finished the Hercuiean task OF
building course which contains TO-
100000 feet Of lumber. removed the last
carpenter from the track lest Thurs
day. and Immediately the FIRST car
rumbled over the oval in the initial
test. True to early predictions, an
amazing speed was shown. but the top
Ralph de Palma. winner Of the last
Indianapolis race at the record break
ing speed Of nearly ninety miles an
hour. was among the first Visiting
He was astonished at the remarkable
earlier drivers. De Palma was mere
ly q spectator, as his car which won
the Hooster classic Is not yet In the
condition he desires 1t to be for the
b0-mile race, and will not be for
several days.
To Hardest Test.
The Italian driver was forced to put
his Mercedes to the hardest test ever
given a machine in any race to create
new world record. and he Is anxious
to prepare 1t with the same care as
was shown prior to the Indiana con-
test. He says he will not attempt to
drive the speeder unless he is assured
1t will stand the test. for he realizes a
victory In the Chicago classic will give
him more prestige than any event
After giving the cars the "once over
during the trial spins Thursday, De
Palma expressed an opinion to Presi-
dent Reid Of the Speedway Park As.
soctation. 1t was az follows:
"W1th conditions as favorable as thos,
Of Memorial Day at Indianapolis. and 1
| my car shows II 10 able TO bear up unde
the test, watch out for another world
record. They told me after the Indianop
for years. do not believe 1t will las
for three weeks
II am certain that II conditions ar
right, and no mishaps befall me shal
DO aple 10 go Detter tnan ninety nile
an hour I make this prediction becaus
the Chicago track is built for the high
est speed possible. The turns are ex
| ceptionally wide and It will not b
| necessary to cut down much spec
when a driver makes these curves int
the straightaways."
The entry list will close next Thurs
day at which time Director Of Contes
F. e. Edwards expects to have betwee
| thirty-five and forty cars enrolled 70
the contest. Edwards Is not particular
anxious to get many more entries In tn
remaining few days. out will accept an
and all. Edwards says he already ha
the best pilots In this country and thes
will servive the tests.
| Must Do 81 Miles.
Although no time limit has bee
placed on the elimination trials, tn
speedway officials are sure that th
lowest qualifying car will have to
better than eighty-two miles an hou
two more miles than the limit let b
the Hoosier authorities. At least eigi
to twelve cars will be dropped becaus
1.-THE American Automobile associate
rules prohibit more than twenty-seve
cars in the race.
With every organization backing Il
speedway project to the limit and 9
the leading officials lending their ASST
tance. Chicago expects that betwet
100, 600 and 10000 will see the first Co
test Of it's kind ever held in this cit
The advance sale which has been goir
on for the last month. presages tn
kind of a crowd. Since the track Is q
| lions within a 200 mile radius and RAJ
road, hotel and other facilities are OF Il
best, the officials are sure they will
able to take care OF any number.