The Washington herald., 1916-11-26
CLOSE RACES EXPECTED
At BENNING THURSDAY
Fast Cars Entered in Thanksgiving Day
Auto Contests.

The Thanksgiving Day automobile races
at Benning might we'll be termed Wash
ington's motor classic. The list of entries
to date makes this statement an assured
fact. On and after Thursday the track
record Of 50 seconds held by /. c. Barber
and his Eye See Bee will be nothing
more than a memory.
Bradley Gish with his weightman Spe-
cial, a car that at Sheepshead Bay
showed better than 100 miles an hour, in
his practice trials with a poor track has
come so close to this record that It was
all but broken.
Gish. though he has competed in other
meets, is new to the Washington auto
mobile racing fraternity. His skill as a
racing pilot is best attested by the fact
that he was offered hattering inducements
to go West and drive in the Vanderbilt
and Grand Prize races. Americas pref
mier motor classics. He declined the Of
fer, as he did not wish to be gone from
his business the length of time neces-
sary to make the trip and spend in prac-
tice before the race. He has also entered
the Eye See Bee, which machine he re-
Gently secured. E. L. VALLEY. formerly OF
the Stutz racing team, but now with
Gish, has been nominated pilot OF this
car.
Dickinson's Stutz is already here It
arrived yesterday and he will have 1t out
on the track tomorrow for practice. Dick
inson, by the way, is the half mile dirt
champion OF the country, having made
this record last summer The piston dis
placement OF his car and the Beaver Bull
let, belonging to Barber, is Identical. Be-
sides the fact that there is an old score
to settle between these two. this fact of
equal size motors and equal skill as driv-
ers should make the contest between
these two alone well worth seeing.
Myers Re-Eears Car.
Harry Myers, who in previous events
has been unable to make his Marquette
Buick do itself Justice. due to too high
gearing, has put IN a different set of
driving gears, and should be numbered
among those who will come home with
the prize money Milo Burbage is another
that must not be overlooked. His Mer-
Ger always has been fast. but he has
changed the pistons and put in a new
set Of timing gears, which should in
crease his speed considerably. Paul Mi
nor. with his 30 Simplex, is no mean con-
tender. and with his car working right,
he will make them all open up to 60 by.
Ray Semmes, though not saying much,
is preparing a surprise for his opponents
with his Semmes Special, which, as It's
name indicates, Is a specially built ma
chine. Don Moore is another that must
not be overlooked. He has a Mercer that
Is more than fast.
The meet, which Is being held under
sanction of the A. A. A., will be In
charge OF the following officials: Repre-
sentative Of the contest board, Horace
Chandlee; referee. S. S. Grogan; starter,
c. Royce Hough; clerk of the course,
William McCandliss; timers, A. o. Hud-
derly, Roy King, J. o. Wacksmuth;
judges, Howard Fisk. Harry Ward Bur-
ton Leary, jr.; scorers, Monte Sohn, Roy
Livingston, and Charles Brooks.
The first race, a motorcycle event, will
be called promptly at 1:3O o'clock, and
1t is aimed to have the last race, a five
mile handicap, over by 4:30 o'clock.
full band will furnish music Auto
mobiles will be allowed to cross the track
and park on the inner side Of the track,
provided they reach the course before the
start of the first race.