The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-11
SIX STARS CLAIM
SPEEDWAY CROWN
ReSta, Anderson, Cooper and
Three Others Seek the Title.
LIST OF RECORDS is GIVEN

Two of the Drivers Failed to Race In
the Chicago and New York "Invita-
ton" contests-Two Races Present
Problem.
The frenzied efforts of Villa and Car
rama to acquire the presidency of rev.
olution ridden Mexico are a small at
fair compared to the attempts of sew
eral autoists to prove they have an
undtsputed claim to the title of Amer
lean speedway champion of 1915, sea-
son featured by fourteen races on nine
tracks.
There are at least six drivers who
are deserving of serious consideration
before a monarch is chosen and the
date for the coronation ceremonies
set. The eligibles are Eddie Ricken-
bacher, Dario Resta, Gil Anderson,
Earl Cooper, Ralph de Palma and Ed
die O'Donnell, each of whom can boast
of achievements that would have put
them in the king row in any other sea-
son than the badly tangled one just
past.
Records of Leading Claimants.
The records of these leading claim
ants for the speedway title are as fol-
lows:
Rickenbacher.-Fir in the 300 mile
races at Sioux City and Omaha. first in
the 100 mile event at Providence and
third IN the Chicago 500 mile motor
derby and the 100 mile invitation race
at New York. He was an "also ran"
in the Indianapolis 500 mile classic and
the $50 mile contest at New York.
ReSta.-FirSt in the Chicago 500 mile
event, second in the 500 mile race at
indianapolis and winner of the 100
mile invitation contests at Chicago and
New York. His efforts were wasted at
| Sioux City, the Twin Cities and New
York.
| Anderson.-Finished inside the prize
| money in every race in which he COM
| peted, taking first in the $50 mile
| event at New York, second in the SOC
mile contest at the Twin Cities, third
in the Indianapolis classic and sixth in
the Chicago five century derby.
Cooper.-Placed in five races out of
six starts, his only elimination being
in the $50 mile event at New York. He
was first at the Twin Cities, second in
| two of the Tacoma classics and the
100 mile invitation, race, at Chicago
and fourth in the 500 mile contests al
indianapolis and Chicago.
De Palma.-Won the annual Indian
apolis race, most famous Of all speed
way contests; took second in the Des
Moines 800 mile event and finished
fourth in the century feature at Provi
dence.
O'Donnell.-Failed to win a single
race, but annexed prize money in si1
out of eight starts, finishing second a
Sioux City and Omaha, third at De:
Moines, Twin Cities and New Yorl
and fifth at Indianapolis.
1 Two Races Present Problem.
One of the vexing questions regard
ing the selection of a champion il
whether or not the two 100 mile
events staged at Chicago and New
York should be taken into considera
ton in making the award. They wer
invitation, not open, races, and tw
Of the six leading driverS-AnderSol
and O'Donnell-did not participate il
either. In fact Resta was the onl,
/ member of the sextet to compete il
II both contests, Cooper appearing onl
at Chicago and Rickenbacher and d
Il Palma at New York. The majority Q
II the critics are of the opinion that thes
two races should not figure in select
ing the speedway king on the groun
Il that they were too exclusive
HI If the two invitation events are nc
II considered Rickenbacher can boast c
II more victories than any other drive
! laying claim to the title. He has thre
: to his credit, while Resta, Anderson
= Cooper and De Palma have only on
II each. There are critics, however, VIII
II dispute the Maxwell drivers claim I
II the title because he failed to win an
II one of the four so called major event
II the 500 mile races at Indianapoli
4 Chicago and the Twin Cities and tt
$50 mile chase for the Astor cup /;
| New York-for each of which 5000
or more in purses was hung up.
II Some of Solutions Suggested.
The suggestion has been made tn:
the speedways be put in two division
II the larger tracks at Indianapoli
New York and the Twin Cities beir
/ given major classification and the OF
: mile ovals at Omaha, Des Moines ar
Providence, the banked dirt track
Sioux City and the reconstructed roa
racing course at Tacoma minor ran
m ing-and champion selected for eaC
~ division. Under these conditions al
with the two 100 miles races elm
ID mated there is a tie for the champio
ship between Resta and Anderso
each of whom has first and a secon