El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-10
SMOKE TROUBLE =
ON RACECOUR5E
No Necessity For an Auto
mobile Smoking, Says a
Factory Expert.

To formulate some rule which viii
enable officials Of an automobile race
meeting to cope, on a definite basis,
with the smoke nuisance which has
prevailed at virtually all the California
race meetings during the winter, viii
undoubtedly be the function Of the au-
thOrities OF the sport at no distant date.
Smoke from the exhaust Of racing
automobiles has been long a stencil in
the noses Of spectators and q source OF
accident TO competitors. It arises from
the incomplete combustion Of gasoline
and from the surplus Of lubricating oil
with which some drivers insist on
drenching the motors Of their cars
In the early days Of the sport, this
smoke was accepted as a nuisance
which could not be avoided. That the
time is now ripe for engineers TO design
cars which viii not smoke or else 10
suffer the penalty for inefficient mo-
tors and carburetion is a view which
is taken by many racing authorities.
This was, in fact, the stand taken
by the management OF the recent Ven
ice. Cal, Grand Prize race. The course
at Venice was only three miles in cir
cult and contained several narrow
stretches, on one OF which the grand
stand happened to be located. The
turns were sharp in several places and
the danger from smoke especially
great.
Acting on the power conferred by the
American Automobile association rules
for the protection OF spectators and the
ice authorities. backed by Chairman
kennerdeu, Of the contest board, an
nOunced before the race that any au-
rOmoblle reported as smoking. either
on the course or on leaving the pits.
should be tagged TO e stop and the
crew compelled to drain the crank case.
This precaution worked wonderfully in
reducing the amount Of smoke on the
course While several drivers COM
planned bitterly over what they pro-
claimed hardship, and although the
restriction may have eliminated a few
cars during the race IL was generally
voted that the experiment. had been
success.
As a matter Of fact. the offensive
smoking is, TO a great extent, q driving
trick. used by the crew Of car that
is being overtaken 70 prevent the car
following good enough view or the
roadway to enable il TO pass. Hitherto
such tactics have been deemed semi
legitimate. The more advanced school
OF engineers and racing experts unite
in predicting the elimination OF the
smoke nuisance
There is really no excuse for a
smoking automobile either on the race
track or in the hands Of a private
owner on the road, declares Ray Har-
roun, chief engineer of the Maxwell
Motor Co. whose cars have been prom
inent in all the recent speed COMPETE
tons for their consistent performance
and their economical needs of gasoline
and oil. Perfect chrburetiou and a
correct lubricating system are all that
is necessary TO prevent excessive smoke.
AS a matter Of fact. we believe that
the lubricating system Of any car-rac-
ing or rOur1ng-shOuld be so designed
that excessive smoke will be impossible.
A well designed motor does not need
10 be drenched with surplus oil. even at
the highest motor speeds. Our racing
experiments have proved this beyond
question We Will welcome any rea-
spuabIe restriction regarding smoke
from our racing cars. I have never
seen them smoke in any Of their recent
races and don't believe it possible for
them to become offensive or danger
Gus. nor have 1 heard a competitor com
plain about them on this score