The Washington herald., 1915-02-21
DRIVERS SETFOR
STARTERS flag
Worlds Famous Racers Are
Ready for Two Frisco
Classics.
BIG STAKES FOR SPEED
Many Thrills Sure to Develop as Track
Is Smallest Ever Used for
Such Events.
BIG STAKES FOR SPEED

Plans are all set for the running of the
two great automobile road race classics
\, fine Panama Pacific International Ex-
uosition grounds. San Francisco. Tomor-
row, Washington's Birthday. the TENN
competition for the William X Wander
bilt. ir., Cup will be run. and on the
Saturday following. February "a the
fifth international Grand PriX event. for
the gold cup offered by the Automobile
Club of America. is to be staged. Inc
largest entry list ever competing for
either of these races will face the starter
Thirty-four entries have been made Tor
the Grand Prix and thirty-three for the
Vanderbilt and the lists include the fast
est. most famous american and foreign
cars and the greatest of drivers.
The Forthcoming races are to be stag
ed on the shortest course ever used for
a classic road race. The exposition
speedway measures 50 miles in circum-
ference which means the contestants
in the Vanderbilt will make seventy-siN
laps in covering the eo4 miles. while IN
the Grand Prix. l03 laps will he reel"d
off to attain the mileage for that event.
i02 miles.
The circuit is asphalt throughout. with
the exception of one three-quarter-mlle
stretch, which is covered with a board
track. Inasmuch frequent sensa-
tional punching of the cars will be occa-
stoned on this short course. the races
should be replete with thrills. and the
cars overtaking one another so frequent
Iy will add greatly 10 the excitement of
the contests.
Big stakes for Speed.
The Vanderbilt Cup is a Class E.
non-stock affair. open to cars with
motors Of 600 cubic inches piston dis
placement or less. and d minimum
weight of 100 pounds. The Grand PriN
is a free-for-all there being no reStric-
ton as to piston displacement. In addI-
Ton to striving for the trophies in each
event. the competitors will fight for
about 5000 in cash. The sum of 800
in gold is to he divided among the win
ners of the Vanderbilt: the same amount
in gold will be divided in the Grand l'rlN.
While accessory manufacturers and 9th
FRS are offering large bonuses to drivers
using certain equipment.
Gov. johnson. of California, is to be
honorary referee of the races. +. }.
Wagner. Of New York. is the starter.
and the timing. which is to be electrical.
Is in charge of c. II. Warner William
I. Huchson is chairman of the racing
committee. and Hollis f. Cooley. chief
"f special events, has direct supervision
OF the races.
\ large DELEGATION Of New York auto
mobile dealers and spOrtsmen interested
IN motor racing have either reached the
coast or are en- route at present in order
10 attend the races. The same is true of
titles like Detroit. Chicago. Indianapolis.
and other places. Not since the daEs
when the famous Vanderbilt Cut classic
was held on Long Island. when the In
rcrnational Grand PriN was staged at
savannah has there been such wide in
tcrcst in the two events.
Of the American cars entered. some are
products of Detroit. some are from In
dianapolis. and some from the East.
while tho foreigners include pair of
French PcugeOts. a French Delage. and
Italian BuCatti. Dc Palma's German
Mercedes: while the Erwin Special is
propelled by a German motor. OF the
Eastern entries. the Simplex car is A
brand new racing machine. and not the
famous Zip" as was first announced.
II will he handled by Louis Disbrow the
present mile track champion. and it is
the liShtest racing car ever turned out
by the Simplex factory, and develops
As horsepower.
Entries from All Directions.
From Trenton. the Mercer trio. headed
by Eddie PulIen winner of the last
Grand PriN and holder of the worlds
road race record of 81 "a miles an hour.
made in the Corona race. which he Won.
expects to create sensation at the eX-
position. The two Chevrolet cars We're
built right in New York City. and one
Of these will be driven by Jack LeCain
and the other by K. Clifford Durant. son
OF President W. {. Durant, of the Chev-
rolet Motor Company
The Maxwell trio. headed by Barney
Oldfield and the King entry which Ar
thur Klein will drive, represent Detroit.
while the three Stutz racers, with Coop
er. Anderson and Wilcox up. and
D'Alene's Marmon hail from Indianap-
oils: the Cases. to be driven by Speed
King" Bob Burman and f. A. Hearne.
will uphold the honor of Racine. Wis;
the Dusenbergs will have the backing of
Sioux City. the other domestic entries
being from cities which are not essen
TALLY automobile centers. Caleb Bragg,
winner Of the 1872 Grand Prix. doubtless
will be given a wild ovation by Coast en-
thusiasts, for he is to drive a Califor-
MAN. the entry from the far West which
is looked upon as a dark horse, Bragg
being one of the most remarkable drivers
who ever gripped a wheel
Names of Entrants.
With such American stars as Oldfield.
Cooper, Pullen. Disbrow, Rickenbacker,
Burman. Hearne, Grant, Carlson. Bragg.
lie Cain, Anderson and others the best
talent on this side OF the water Is pres
ent. or the foreigners. De Palma needs
no hcralding. Born in Italy. he has
been q resident Of Greater New York