El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-10-30
DAY Of THE lone
AUTO RACES PAST
Track of Small Circuit, and
Built of Board, is Only
Answer, Saws Expert.

Chicago. Ill. oct. 3O.-"The day Of
the $50 mile and 500 mile automobile
race is ended" declared. John 3
(~Jacl') Prince, pioneer builder Of
wood tracks for bicycle, motorcycle and
automobile racing THE SheepShead
Bay race was most tiresOme TO the
spectators after the first $50 miles was
covered, and only the fact that new
worlds record was hung up saved the
day
Likewise. the construction OF huge
racing plants involving expenditures
ranging from S1,OO0.OO0 TO S4,00000O is
a thing OF the past The long distance
automobile race craze and the eNtraNa-
giant idea OF constructing speedWays
can be lil1ened 10 the war stock craze
now prevalent in the east
Sheepshead Receipts Small.
THE comparative smallneSs Of the
Sheepshead Bay money receipts and lhe
elimination of fOur-fifths Of the best
cars and favorite drivers before the
finish of the race, was the one thlnS
needed to open the eyes OF the puDllC
to the fact that of the seven big speed
way plants in the country, only Two
have chance to more tnan pay - Iel-
ming expenses. The fortunate two were
constructed on an economical basis ana
require no huge sums each year Tor IN
terest taxes and maintenance
Subsidies to starters.
Another reform that must come 70
pass before alLAi4llohAAF --s----=7
large scale will be successful IS IN tne
matter of substituting the starters IN
these big races rather than squeezLIl5
them for eXOrbitant entrance ices me
famous drivers and their equaLlS "a
nous mounts draw the people INTO the
speedway gates. No one viii pay soou
money Just to look at a speedway
When these great drivers enter an an
uounced race and their names are useu
10 exploit and advertise the race tueg
certainly deserve TO be insured against
a total failure to participate IN the
Drize money on account Of some me-
chanical defect over which they nave
no control. The promoter pockets the
gate money drawn into the strong ooA
by the names and regulations OF cue
drivers and the driver CANDLES every
thing on the chance Of not having
flaw in a piece Of steel
The Drivers Risks.
when such famous pilots as Resta'
CoOper Rurman. DePalma, Rlcken-
hacker. Wilcox. Aitken. Milford, PulIeIl,
Porporato snd other noted drivers 6aHe
M weeks of preparation at big expense
and suddenly found themselves out o.
the money the situation must nave
provide, much food for thought
In the speedways in which 1 am IN
terested 1 shall certainly INSIST IN lts
future that each driver starting IN our
oI-en+s he given a substantial bonus to
insure him a portion OF the money ne
has drawn in our box office me prize
money the more fortunate ones v ~
receive will certainly provide suIIl-
Gent incentive for each man to Try 70
out do the other. Otherwise suIil-
Gent cars for competition VIII not De
found at the end of another year
The board track is the only sur
face for motor spesdNdS- -, - =.
Years ago I pleaded with the promoters
Of the indianapolis Speedway 10 per
T,ft me to construct board track
for them. They refused. ana DullI q !
an ultimate cost Of St5o,VuO =
mile track which has never SHOWN a.
T,fgb sneed- as was shown repeatedly
over a one mile board oval con
structed at Los Angeles in 1911 Las
wear [ built in Des MONIES one illLe
hoard track highly banked over WhlcI
PoInb DePalua in a StutZ car showed
a mile at the rate Of lOS miles an
borr Nv next speedway AT 81
Joseph, No. Will be 1 IL miles AT vLl- '
and 1 am guaranteeing tne Spg5SSlN -
Company that a speed OF 10 miles an Il
hour viii be shown on IL "i-HlH .
months after its completion.
Rig Investments Folly
ITO invest more than Sl5vrVVu IN an
automobile speedway IS the neL51lI - y
fol1v The receipts al Sheepsnead BAY
mounted 10 S225.0OO. With the S9O,OoY
purse offered the money winners m. Ille
act,1al expe-se Of running the mrs.
meet without figuring the oN eL 49,.
charges. interest, taxes, etc, SUI ~
amounted 10 s4a9syvN- IL 49, -
a lightning calculator 10 1isure IHS
Ultimate finish" Of such eNpenslN ets
-.r7,str1cted plants The Chicago speed
way is mortgaged for SlUo1'uuo- ~ >
first meet. with a tremendous attend
auce inst about made actual expenses
ma two subsequent meets lost money
Of Minneapolis there is still a WoIsS
+sre 10 he told The labOrers are De
siegine- the speedway Office caIly
cIamoTine for wages due before lhe
openinc- Of the course on Sept 4
Indianapolis set Example
ssThe promoters Of these eXpensiNely
constructed speedways base their arsu-
ment and prospectus on the success OF
the INDIANAPOLIS speedway during its
first three annual 500 mile races Inc
INDIANAPOLIS cuorse then occupied
unique position in the sport, and that
its success in 1912. 1918 and 1914 VIII
never be repeated, is my guess.
IT have been at this game since us
inception, and should know what am
talking about, Economically and IN
telIigently constructed speedways OPP
Grated economically and iutelliSently
after they arc built, will be the only
survivors. And cooperation between
the speedways and the driver IN the
v7sv of scheduling events at distances
send their cars through the entire race,
and giving these same drivers share
OF the money whether they win, lose
or draw" is the only solution OF the
problem.
And the successful speedways viii
be only those adopting such policy
and managed by men Of experience
rather than visionary stock selling
scheme promoters"