The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-05-22

something got spark" from the brains Of
these successful business men and started them
aefoplaning mentally to dizzy heights. The
all is that no mater how high ehf
making ambitions either. It was the love of the
sport. and the good Of the industry that they had
in mind, TOR all OF them were automobile manu-
facturers.
When dawn came these men started pros
pecting for suitable site near enough to Indiana
polls where they could build Americas first speed
arena. Five miles northwest of the city. as they
drove along the dusty rural road, they passed
several corn fields where the farmers were begin
ming their days blowing. Time--plus lot OF
fields into a great race course. enclosed BY high
fences and observation towers, endowed with
two and half mile paved track with high
banked curves. and beauti6ed by flowers. lawns
and shade trees to say nothing Of the enormous
grand stands that seat about 100000. There
was nothing homeopathic about what these men
dld-they thought and acted on large scale.
Today, after you nose your way thru throng
OF thousands and thousands of gasoline scented
and dust covered tourists from the four corners
of the map. and finally find your expensive box
seats In one OF the mammoth grand stands 49,
you have no thoughts OF Kidding" the drivers.
One is too awed BY the spIendor and size Of the
grounds. by the spectacular array of brightly
polished cars and the calm rnatter-effact way
the intrepid pilots prepare to firt with death.
Nine Spee6ways Today
The first race on the indianapolis Motor Speed
way. the dean of them ALL was held In August.
1909. It was 300-Haile event. Others have been
run every succeeding year ranging from one.
mile events up to 500-miies and have attracted
the finest creations of Europe to invade America
and exert every possible effort to wrest the speed
laurels. Europe it must be admitted, has had its
lion share of success too, altho few American
made cars have held their own stubbornly.
Following the Indianapolis example other
cities have built speedways, two of which got on
the front pages prominently last year. one at
Chicago and one at New York. There are in all
nine temples coasecrated to the worship Of
Mercury" More than quarter million dollars
were given away in prizes in 1915 at the races
held on these nine courses. 1t Is the world 3
most expensive sport. A single entry costs about
$4,000.
Speed spells safety--it means car that endures
the abnormal strain, vibration and wear imposed
at sustained speed will live longer when in daily
routine private owner service. 1t means that
racing has inspired the industry, has found the
mistakes in mechanical construction and in fact
the race track has been the laboratory where
experiments were made and the analytical secret.
discovered. We may not believe in racing-bu.
we must believe in what It has done and Is still
doing. You may own car OF make that wa:
never in . raee--but chances are ten to one tina,
the steering knuckie on your car is safe because
of what racing taught some other maker abou,
steering knuckles II not this, then the type OIL
motor you have or even, maybe, the shape o
| your cars body.