The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-24

 and seemed as unconcerned as am right this moment as to any possible danger. I would have been scared blue if I had been in his place. Now what was the se- cret of that situation? Merely this: the
 man had confidence in himself. I dare say if anybody had told him that a man who took the chances I do every time I enter a race, would balk at the thing | he was doing he would have laughed; but | nevertheless it was true. I have absolute confidence in myself in my particular | line of work; that fellow hanging out 1 into space, above New York, had confi- dence in himself. That's the secret of the whole thing"
 "Of course a man, to be a good racer" MT. Rickenbacher said, has to possess \ many other assets. His mind must work quicker than almost anybody else's; he's got to have a reserve force for emer-
 genies; he's got to think, not once, but twice, thrice, when that emergency arises. That's one reason speeders al- ways dislike to take anybody with them on the race course. It's taking such big chance. Of course, the man himself
 knows, or thinks he knows, what he can do, and is willing to take the chance, but when somebody else puts their life in his hands, that's different proposition; it's too great a responsibility. You recall the story about my friend, Barney Oldfield who declined on so many different occasions to allow two of his girl friends to ride with him." said Mr. RickenEacher, land finally they were so persistent that he said yes, provided they wouldn't speak to him during the ride Out they started. Barney let the ma
 chine go. Whizz! Bang seventy, eighty,
 a hundred miles an hour. The girl on the
 front seat with him looked back of her to see how her friend was enjoying it. !, Oldfield, I hate to bother you, but I just
 want to say that Mamie is no longer with us.' We'll that's a good illustration of
 how we feel"
 When did you commence speeding?' I asked.
 ''Back in 1906 was relief driver for Lee Frayre in the Vanderbilt cup race on Long Island" he said.
 "Whom do you consider the greatest driver in the world today?" I questioned. Jules Bolliet" said the young Speed
 King
 He is driving the French President,
 Poincaire, during the war. Bolliet takes
 more chances than any other driver. Bob Burman is the most spectacular driver
 under 10-mile races
 And you are the most spectacular driver in long distance races" I observed,
 having read of this young mans daring
 and the thrilling incidents in his career. when ne and C1l Anderson nave cham pionshipped" the world.
 "Well, 130 or 132 miles an hour is bit spectacular" MT. Rickenbacher admitted. But do you know it is nothing like as dangerous to drive that many miles on | a speedway as it is to drive 50 miles on
 country road? In the latter case, the | chuck holes and cross roads and the i hundred and one obstacles that arise on | even the best built country roads are dangerous and more accidents are heard ! of in this way than in racing The race course is always in perfect form, or sup posed to be.
 T believe that racing will be perfected | in the future" MT. Rickenbacher said | when Roy Harroun completes his racer, which will be 300 or maybe 400 horse
 power. I am driving the factest car in 1 the world today-the Maxwell Special, will be equipped with MT. Harroun's latest devices for racing
 What is the most spectacular incident
 in your career as a speed lxing?" I asked.
 "Oh, that's easy" MT. Rckenbacher ! answered. .'It was when I turned up-
 side down on September T. 1913, at Mime apolis, in a race. You see, I remember 1 the date perfectly. I slid 300 yards with
 the car on top of me, and when I got
 out there was only a scratch over my heart. Ever since that day I've been meeting people who pulled me out I
 meet a man and he says: Eddie, I'm
 the fellow that rescued you that day in Minneapolis; don't you remember me?' And I always asnwer: Yes; you wore a black hat didn't you?' And every last | one of them anser Yes The black hat business that day was evidently going l some''