The Washington herald., 1915-04-18
new
FACTOR in RACE
Delay at Pits Now Almost
Fatal to the Speed
Demons.
MAXWELL CAR STARTLES
Lightness. Balance, and Economy Are
Tremendous Helpto
Victory.
CAR STARTLES

The motor racing season of 1915 has
already developed distinct novelty
the nonstop speed performance OF
| 800 miles or more.
At Corona and at Venice, Barney
Oldfield in a Maxwell car ran the en-
tire distance 30l and 305 miles. re-
spectively. without pausins for sec
ond in his mad career. The Corona
| course Oldfield covered at the terrific
average of nearly eighty-six miles an
hour.
The Venice race was over a slower
course. but the nonstop feature en-
abled Oldfeld to win from Billy Carl
son, also in a Maxwell, but who spent
few seconds at his pit.
Carlson Makes Record.
Carlson also established a nonstop.
running the 306 miles of the Point
Iona road race near San Diego with
out hesitating at any stage, losing
first place by matter of seconds
only.
These performances have been
startling to racing men and design
ers alike. They have tacitly served
notice that the time is not far dis
tant when no driver can hope for vic
tory unless his car is able TO go
through the whole distance of its
II llTc i'sich-
ishment of supplies or stop for any
mechanical trouble whatever.
Such feat would have been impos
sible to the speed demons of year
ago. Even now il is almost revolu
tionary. That speed cars should be
built to any other requisite than mere
speed would have been esteemed hear
say in former years. 1t must soon be-
come a creed. For the light. efficient,
well-balanced. nonstop Maxwells ask
no odds of any of their rivals in pure
speed. adding to their ability to roll
fast, a faculty to keep rolling which
is almost fatal to opponents hopes.
With the heavy racing cars of
earlier years, economy of gasoline and
oil was a minor consideration, due
to the fact that frequent stops were
necessary on account of tire trouble.
A pause at the pits of tire changing
was thus made the occasion for tank
replenishment, without additional loss
of time.
Present Cars Much Lighter.
Present day racing cars are so
much lighter that tire wear is less
apid So thoroughly has the problem
of balance and lightness been worked
out in the Maxwells that in more than
in practice and competition on the
Coast circuit during the winter but
one tire change was necessary at the
race track.
Economy in supplies which had been
incorporated into the Maxwell design
by Chief Engineer Ray Harroun, then
became a tremendous asset. a thirty
gallon gasoline tank would, it was
discovered. carry ample fuel for 300
miles racing. The care, in fact, dem
onstrated an ability TO average from
twelve to sixteen miles to the gallon.
even at A sustained speed of nearly
ninety miles an hour. Lubricating oil
was used in similarly parsimonious
way. Reserve water was unnecessary
And nonstop rups began to be re-
corded.
Racing men roughly estimated that
n car loses i mile by full stop of
merely momentary duration. Each
minute spent at the pits loses the car
over mile more. The race cars OF
the present are virtually of equal
speed. For the first time. efficiency and
economy are playing big part in de-
termining the winner.