New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-07
CLASS LACKING IN
AUTO RACE LISTS
Entries at San Francisco
Have Attracted Small
Number of Stars.

If the entries for the Grand Prize
and Vanderbilt Cup races at the Pana-
ma exposition in San Francisco, TO be
decided late in February, may be taken
as a fair indication of what the re-
mainder of the season will bring forth,
it does not appear probable that the
great road and speedway contests OF
1915 will attract nearly as much class
among drivers as recent years.
The foreign leaders, for obvious rea-
sons, are not likely to visit America
this year, although Italy may furnish
enough expert handlers of speed cars
to give an international flavor to the
contests. One of the Italians-Resta-
is already here, and will make his first
appearance in the races on the Coast.
Others are likely TO welcome the OPP
portunity OF winning one of the big
prizes, especially if the Chicago sports
men who are planning speedway for
the Windy City are able to get their
circuit ready for race in midsummer.
Thus far nineteen entries have been
made for the two big races to be de-
cided at the exposition. They include
Eddie Pullen, who, with a Mercer, made
the worlds road race record last fall:
Louis Disbrow, who will handle the
Simplex Zip, one of the fastest cars
ever built in America; Anderson,
Cooper and WilcOS, who viii handle
the Stutz trio. and OldHe!d, Carlson md
Rickenbacher, VINO are 10 pilot Max
wells.
The remaining entries are of men
who have gained small regulations in
the racing world, although they will
handle some fast cars, including one of
the Delage flyers that raced at the
indianapolis Speedway last year, and
two Marmons, 10 be handled by their
owners. De Palma and Resta are
among the half dozen whose entries
have been expected and who may be
named during the coming week.
1t is quite probable, of course, that
the much larger prizes to be offered in
the speedway races later on will have
the effect of inducing some of the bet
ter known Europeans to visit this coun-
try for the purpose of competing.
Thomas, winner of last years race at
Indianapolis, will be able, it is report
ed, to get away from his duties as
member of the French aviation corps.
Boillot and Goux apparently have given
the matter no thought.
The indianapolis people assert that
they can name now at least twenty-five
who will enter for the Memorial Day
race. Others who follow the speed
game closely believe there will be diff
Guilty in enlisting so many participants
unless il should prove that with the
almost certain foreign winners out q
greater number than usual of American
firms will take a chance.
The car that Resta will drive at the
Speedway, by the way, is now on exhi-
hition at the local salesroom of the
Peugeot Auto Import Company. It is a
sister to the tiny machine which, in
the capable hands of Arthur Duray,
captured second place last May. II has
piston displacement Of 1888 inches,
and with the limit reduced this year
TO 300 inches must be considered n
formidable bidder for the chief prize.
1t still shows the number "19" assigned
to it when it last appeared, at the
Brooklands track, near London.
All Of the entries made thus far IN
the San Francisco races are for both
events. In addition to the $4,000 in
rrizcs offered for the speed carnival,
several thousand dollars in special cash
prizes have been offered by accessory
manufacturers. The Bosch Magnetic
Company, Wheeler q Schebler, the
Weed Chain Tire Grip Company, the
Rajah Auto Supply Company and others
are Offering substantial bonuses to driv-
ers using their respective equipments:
The forthcoming races are to be
staged on the shortest course ever used
for classic road race. The EXPOSE
ton speedway measures 3.9 miles IN
circumference, which means that the
IL L. a a
76 lgps in covering the 29I miles, while
IN the Grand Prix 100 laps will be
,oeled off 70 attain the mileage for that
cvent-lO2 miles. Inasmuch as frequent
launching of the cara will be occasioned
on this short course, the race should
be replete with thrills, and cars over
taking one another so frequently will
add greatly to the excitement Of the