Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-04-18
DOINGS in THE AUTO WORLD
Bob Bwman Was One of the Greatest Race Drivers
terial Shortage and Congestion of Lines Have Given
Motor Truck Opportunities of Inhaing Gas
oline Engine Exhaust Fumes.

Bob Burman whose death in a crash /
in the Corona auto classic last week
caused genuine shock throughout the
auto world.
Bob Burman was one of the greatest
race drivers that ever lived, and he
established record after record for
fast driving. He knew. no fear and he
admitted that no one could defeat
Wild Bob" because he would drive
his car where many another nervy
driver did not dare to go.
He began his automobile career as a
memEsT of the old and famed Buick
team. Louis Chevrolet and Lewis
Strang were his team mates and to-
gether these three men started out to
win race after race for the Buick
makers. Beach and dirt track looked
alike to him and he went after records
usually made them because he dared
to drive across the finish line on two
wheels if ii was necessary.
About that time Barney Oldheld was
defeating every dricer who came his
way. Burman wanted the car Old
field was driving and finally he got
the big chain driven machine that
made a reputation for him. He toured
the country In it, and record after
record on dirt tracks went crashing
away as Bob shot his machine down
the home stretch without wavering.
There were many race drivers
around the tracks in those days and
most Of them were considered good"
They could hold their records against
all corners until Bob Burman and his
car came into view, and then they
would bite his dust.
Since the height of Bob's glory with
his car, other drivers have Travelled
| fast. But Bob had kept pace with the
| times and last summer found him at
! the Speedway with a big blue car, a
| French machine that had carried Dario
| Resta and others to important victor
| les. Burman did not win the big
races at the track. but there never was
| a moment when another of the drivers
| felt positive Bob had been beaten.
| Bob was typically a track driver.
! He drove in road races, and he drove
well, but in some way he could not
/ find that necessary twist of the wheel
| that sent him safely around corners
| on two tires. He dared to step on
/ her heel' with everything he had: he
! never lacked courage to try anything
but he just couldn't be successful as
/ a road driver.
His racing days were days filed
| with success and nerve. His reputa-
| ton as a driver was the envy OF his
| mates. And at the same time Bob
Burman kept a delightful acquaint-
| ance with men he met on the
streets, and was at all times a good
fellow" The passing of Bob Burman
means more to automobile fans than
the mere passing of a good driver. It
means that the racing game has lost
| a credit to it, and a man who could
do what others dared not do. and who
did it with an assumption that trou-
| bled his friends.
Bob held high records. He drove
his car a mile in % 2-5 seconds in
1911. That was an average of I41
other human being has ever travelled.
1t was a unique achievement that
record yet wild Bob" Burman never
boosted about it. Certainly he would
| tell how il was done, but he usually
told it in his way.
"Before you let someone substitute
another for the carburetor on that old
car of yours-the one the maker put
on-just do a few things that the
doing any way before he proves
y what his carburetor will do"
Before you discard the old trusty
one to 10 these things: Clean the
run kerosene through to loosen up
the rings which may have become
| gummed. That will restore the COM
preston. Now grind the valves and
in putting them back adjust them
carefully as your instruction book
tells you Adjust all motor bearings
too and see that your clutch Is in
good condition. Oh, yes, a clutch
may have a lot to do with the per-
Torrance of a carburetor. Also look
to the ignition system - clean the
plugs. adjust the points and see that
the sparks are accurately timed. Nor
forget the cooling system-if radiator
or sylinders have become clogYed
with lime or other deposits. tempera-
lures will change so rapidly 1t will be
impossible to maintain any carburetor
adjustment-that which seems all
right for the moment will not do af-
pound will remove the deposit and
restore the cooling system to the for
mer efficiency and regularity.
THE wise carburetor salesman In