The Washington herald., 1916-12-01
.BRALEY GISH TAKES
HONORS in AUTO MEET
Wins Three Leading Events in Motor
Car Races at Benning.

Bradley Gish. president Of the Haynes
Motor Company, had things about his
own way at the automobile races at
Benning track yesterday, held under
auspices Of the Middle Atlantic Motor
Association, Inc. He won the five-mile
for cars OF 800 or less cubic inch dis
placement, the FIVE mile free for all, and
the fifteen mile free for all. 1t was only
( in the fve-mile handicap that he had
to lower his colors, but that was due
largely to the fact that the Semmes spec
ial, which won the event, had a forty-five
second handicap.
Barber and his Beaver Bullet. the dark
horse of the open ive-mile race. and
Gish. in his Weightman, with Dickinson
| trailing, furnished a pretty race. Dick
inson, who holds the dirt track records
of the East, came to Washington from his
home in New Jersey with his Stutz
geared for fast track.
Course in Bad shape.
| Wednesday nights rain put the
course in such shape that it was ques-
tionable until almost time to start the
first automobile race whether the
course would be safe for cars to drive
upon. A number of touring cars and
! a drag behind the Hudson service car
were put on the track to work 1t UP
and dry 1t out. Horace Chandlee. rep
resentative of the American Automo-
bile Association. finally consented to
permit the race. but only on condition
that the two motorcycle events be
cancelled. 1t was due simply to the
condition of the course that Dickinson
did not make better showing than
winning second place in the handicap.
The two Kline cars, Jimmie and
Jimmie Jr. finished in every race in
which they were entered, Jimmie Jr.
winning second place in the first race
and Jimmie the same position in the
second race, the ive-mile open.
| The start of the ffteen-mile race.
| the big event of the day, was the most
spectacular of the afternoons sport.
| All of the cars got away to a good
start, and on the first turn they were
punched. AS they headed into the
back stretch the Jimmie was leading,
with Gish a close second. 1t was nip
and tuck between these two machines
until the fourth lap, when Gish got
the lead on the far turn and held it
until the finish.
Dickinson and his Stutz were not
able to get up enough speed to more
than trail the leaders. and he finished
third, with the Jimmie Jr. fourth. The
Marquette Buick withdrew on account
Of spark plug trouble. and Burbage
and his Mercer, who had had carbure-
ter trouble in the first two races, also
pulled into the pits before the race
was over. The Eye See Bee. which
holds the track record of fifty-nine
seconds was forced to withdraw on
account of piston trouble.
Almost Go Through Fence.
1t was in this race that the spectators
were compelled to hold their breath In
the far turn Gish and one of the Kline
cars with Don Moore driving. Were fight
ing for the first place. Both skidded. and
it was simply skillful driving that saved
them from going through the fence.
There was question for time whether
the races would be held. The track was
very heavy and the crowd was not what
II should have been. The promoters. the
Middle Atlantic Motor Association de-
cided, though, that so long as the course
was safe, it could not disappoint those
present. The first race was called at
o'clock. and by a quarter to four the
last event had been started. No delays
were permitted, William McCandliss
clerk of the course, who was responsible
for the appearance Of the cars at the
starting line, having every machine on
hand long before the event was scheduled
| to start