Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-06

Orr (MaxwelD, third. Elapsed
time, 3:4O317.25.
Donaldson (Emden), fourth.
Elapsed time, 4:5O:36.25.
Eddie Rickenbacher, driving a
Maxwell, won the first annual 800
mile gasoline classic at the new
Omaha Speedway yesterday His
time was S:17:39.2O, an average of
91.74 miles an hour.
Eddie O'Donnell, captain of the
Deusenberg team, and Rickenbach-
ers old mechanician, was second,
clipping the distance at an average
of S6.16 miles an hour. Tom Orr,
Rickenbacher's Maxwell teammate,
was third, travelling at an average Of
$3.50 miles an hour, and Lou Don
aldson piloted his Emden into fourth
money. w. w. Brown, in Du Ches-
nau. was tagged off the track after
he had done 30 laps. Brown will
get a good-sized chunk of the prize
money for his game showing, as he
Anttred the race after it had pro-
crossed 100 miles. Thirty thousand
people saw the race,
An Omaha product won Omaha's first
big automobile race. That was Eddie
Rickenbacher. Eddie was a resident OF
Omaha for several years and he learned
the racing game on the half-mile art
track, on West Leavenworth under the
telelage of Roy Coffeen. So 1t is only
natural that every speed enthusiast in
Omaha regards Eddie as a personal friend
and take a personal delight in seeing the
daring lad win race. 1t was great
ovation hee got when he waved his hand
In air in answer to the finish flag.
Rickenbacher was given first position
at the pole and he paced the preliminary
lap around tire track. On the flying start
Rick was leading the first and he re-
ceived the flag from starter Fred Wag-
ner. When the flag waved again 1t was
to herald the last lap of the Maxwell
pilot, and when 1t waved a third time 1t
announced that Eddie was the victor
Never Loses Lead.
Never once did Rickenbacher lose the
team was in hot pursuit for few miles.
but Bnly's car went TO the bad and he
was forced to succumb. When Chandler
left the race Eddie O'Donnell took up the
chase. but Eddie couldn't drive the turns
quite as fast as Rick, and even though
he passed him occasionally on the stretch,
Rickenbacher came in fifteen laps ahead
at the finish.
O'Donnell and Rickenbacher furnished
some merry sport for the speed enthusi-
asts Brushes between these two were
frequent and xciting. First ODonnell
would come roaring down the stretch and
pass Rick The crowds in the stands
would rise en- masse and cheer and yell
Then Rick would pass the Deusenberg
and the crowd would again rise to its
feet to give, this time, a still louder
cheer and yell
Has "A Narrow Escape.
During one brush O'Donnell narrowly
escaped serious accident. Donaldson
was just ahead of the speeding daredeviE
and O'Donnell was a trifle in the lead oi
Rick. He attempted to swing high into
the curve to pass Donaldson, but couldn
make it. II looked for a moment as 4
~ DOnnell Woulu CRASH uOWn INTO ION
aldson or turn broadside before Ricken
bacher. But the Deusenberg driver threw
his wheel over and plunged straight dow
off the track and ploughed along the dir
safety track for several feet. then 4
swing up on thG. boards again safely. l
was a clever bit of work and dangerous
Tom Orr who drove his Maxwell int,
third position. also put up a might!
pretty race. While Rickenbacher AM
o'Donnell carried away the honors. or
did some mighty good work and was CON
graduated for his showing.
Makes Game showing.
Lou Donaldson. driving the Emden an
w. w. Brown gave an exhibition o
gameness that is seldom paralleled. Whe
the first three cars rolled over the tap
and received the finish flag. these tw
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