The Washington herald., 1915-09-07
AUTO SPEEDERS
Thrill CROWD
Ten Thousand Gather at Ben
ming Track to See Sport
and Are Rewarded.
BARBER THE REAL STAR
Makes En- All Take His Dust in an
Eye-See-Bee Several
Upsets in Dope.
BARBER THE REAL STAR
BY WILLIAM PEET.


automobiles entertained a crowd esti-
mated at 10000 persons.
An old-tinSer passing the track and
hearing the> shouts of the multitude
would have sworn his life away that
horse racing was once more in favor on
the historic course. but the smell of
gasoline was all that was needed to dis
prove this.
The event was the first automobile
races held under the auspices of the
American Automobile Association. and
the contestants were all Washingtonians.
or representatives of the various local
dealers and agents of benzine buggies.
The usual thrills which go to make up
an automobile race were not lacking. A
speedy racer kicked its left Mind tire into
the crowd and romped around the saucer
on three good wheels and a rim. Cars
picked as almost certain winners con-
tracted engine trouble just when things
began to get interesting. while Irving
Barber in car of his own construction
and listed as an "Eye-See-Bee" made
everybody swallow his dust There was
no stopping that brilliant crimson painted
cigar-shaped speed devil
Ford on the Job.
OF course there was a Ford racer and
it started in the first race, got away
sstIic positioh
There were no hills to climb otherwise
the Ford would have breezed home
ahead.
Bill Duckstein and Jim Henley had
whole lot to do with running the affair. /
and Bill was buster than a One-armed
paperhanger with the itch. while Jim
Henley held the only stop-watch at the
track. so his time had to be official.
Taking it all in all. the races were well
l ~ %
crowd of 1000 on a hot day. with moth
ing at the track to drink but near
beer"
The first event went TO the Chevrolet.
driven by E. French. and although left
at the start finished the race in great
style. French brought his car to the
front in the fourth mile. after overtak
ing the whole field. and only the fact
that French was the more experienced
crossed the finish line just thirty sec
onds behind. The third position went to
the Ford car. driven by Frazier
Cole Racer Throws Tire.
The first thrill given the spectators
came in the second race. after Cleve
Campbell, in his Cole racer. had over
taken the other cars. but engine trouble |
was in evidence. and he was forced to |
quit but one-half mile from the finish |
line. Several times during the day |
Campbelrs car would leave the others !
at the start on-y to develop trouble in !
the last mile and be forced to quit The |
Mercer car, driven by Burbage. came !
from behind. and taking advantage Of |
the formers distress, won first money |
Lew Gibson. at the wheel of a Semmes |
Special. came in second, with French. in |
his old reliable Chevrolet, pushing him |
to the finish.
The fans were just getting warmed up |
to the height of excitement when Bar |
ber and his Eye-See-Bee appeared and |
the first two events were easily forgotten |
at the wonderful skill and daring of tie |
Washington crack.
Barber had an easy time in lapping |
every driver in this race at least once,
which is quite performance. Many of |
the crowd thought that in all proba bill |
ity the Eye-See Bee was taking advan-
tage of 'cripples" until the next event, |
when such cars as Mercedes Q20 horse
power). the Simplex and other cars Of !
less notable fame was forced to trail. |
Strickler, at the wheel of a Mercedes,
could not start because of engine trouble. |
Next came the time trials for. the
District championship. and as usual Bar
ber was clocked in the best time, taking |
the trial mile in one minute and seven |
seconds. The other cars that qualified |
for this event were the Mathewson,
Mercer. Marquette, Buick, and Oldsmo-
bile, but the trial was useless, as Bar
Der was still in the running and had an
easy time in tapping the contestants The !,
Eye-See-Bee took first money, Moore,
at the wheel of Mathewson. was sec
ond. with Campbell. p his Cole. third.
This was the first time that Campbell |
was able to make the full five miles
The SentleRen's roadster race and the
gentlemen's touring car race afforded
the crowd the most amusement, as cars
OF every description were entered. The
first of the two found the contestantsI
with two exceptions in distress. with en-
gine trouble, but French in his Chevro-
let. captured the prize. with Keefer, in
his Ford, running a close> second. There
was no chance for the second man in
this event, as only one prize was offered.
The last event of the day was between
the large touring cars, and as in the
foregoing race all but q few were forced
to give up the chase. Olmstead in an
Oldsmobile carried Off top honors in this
event, although at times the other con-
testants would take a sudden squirt max
ing the victorious driver shoot more gas
into his engine. The Metz with Wood
rum at the wheel came in second.
Considering that many Of the cars
were speeding at eighty miles an hour in
some places and that the events were
auto races and not golf matches no mis-
haps were encountered and the ambu-
lance which was on the scene was not
needed. The nearest to an accident came
In the second race when Lanahan. in his
Mercer. rounding the east turn. pull
ed tire. The tire broke through the
fence and was headed for the crowd
when il struck some obstacle which
threw 1t to the side: this alone saved
several persons from being injured.
1t is the plan of the association to hold
races in this city at least four times a
year and with the gathering in evidence
good things are in store for To-
cal fans. In all probability the next
program will be run on Thanksgiving
Day. Summaries:
Five-me scratch race for automobiles up to 30
.uhicinch piston displacement-won by Chevrolet;
ihver. Z. Ffcpch. Second REQ: driver Stewart;
hird. Ford; driver. Frazier. Time. IN.
Fve-mile aratct ace for automobiles up to 0l
.ubicinc ,pissor dispiaocment-Won By Mercer;i
lrivn. Bufbase. Second. Semmes Special: driver
sibsod Third. Chevrolet: driver. French. Time.
IS.
Fivemils race for automobiles from Nl to %
uhicinch pastGn displacment-Woa by Eye-See-