The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-11
Chicago TRACK
FAST FOR CARS
Harroun Says They Cannot
Maintain Speed Because Au-
tomobiles Lack Endurance.
WILL TEST MAXWELLS
Experimental Laboratory to Be Open
ed for These Machines at that
Speedway.

Until America's automobile engineers
have a chance to revise their racing cars
up to the new speed standard set by the
Chicago speedway, there is sure to be a
terrific mortality in motors, competing
on the new track.
So declares Ray Harroun. famous race
driver himself. but even better known
as an engineer and successful designer
of passenger automobiles.
Mr. Harroun, however, sees beyond the
immediate woe which he believes the
first events at the Chicago track are
sure to develop and foretells that the
local course is sure to bring into being
not only faster and more enduring racing
cars but also everyday automooiies'
which, in speed and long life, will be
greatly superior to the generally salts
factory article now in use. In his Of
fetal capacity as chief engineer of the
Maxwell Motor Company. Inc. he has
been closely watching the practice WORK
of the Maxwell racers driven by Ricken-
bacher.. Carlson and Orr. He has driven
the cars of his design many laps over
the beautiful two-mile plank oval of the
Chicago speedway, the turns and
gradients of which are from his own
sketches. made year ago at the request
of the speedway management. His de-
auctions are made in the light Of per-
sonal experience and observation.
Improving the Breed.
1T is a known fact that when horse
racing was in it's prime, the big winnings
possible stimulated the breeding OF the
fastest and sturdiest animals the world
has ever known. The blood of these
race winners has been diffused so widely
as to greatly better the grade OF horses
the country over" Harroun declares.
IN almost the same degree, automo-
bile racing is sure to improve the breed
of everyday cars of the future. Be
cause the Chicago speedway is the
worlds fastest course. it will be a big
help in hurrying us to that day when
the perfect motor car can be designed
and manufactured.
Chicago is the owner OF the only
course | know in America over which
a car can be driven indefinitely at bet
ter than 1O2 miles an hour at steady
pace and with continually wide-open
throttle Automobile engineers are not
ready for it, No driver will dare to
maintain this speed for a long distance
To do so will be to court disaster; present
day materials and principles OF luorica-
ton do not permit it. But we shall see
the time when such sustained speed VIII
be possible. The challenge of the only
race track in America that Is faster
than the cars which compete on II, can
not be ignored by American engineers
New Maxwell Laboratory.
The Maxwell Company will establish
and maintain an engineering laboratory
at the Chicago speedway. Its stan VIII
go to work to systematically develop ma.
teriaIs and details of design we have
never before been able to test by the
Chicago standard.
AS in our prior experiences. We shall
make use of every discovery not only In
our race cars. but in our touring cars as
we'll This laboratory will have at Its
command a chance to abuse motors TO
the absolute limit. Its results are sure
to be both spectacular and practlcaL