The Washington times., 1916-05-13
De PALMA SEEKS TO
1 ENTER CAR IN RACE
Winner Of the 1915 indianapolis
Classic Has Sold Mercedes,
and Acts for Owner.

Ralph De Palma. winner of the 500
mile race at the indianapolis motor
speedway last year. has wired the speed
way officials for permission to enter his
Mercedes car. Ralph says he has sold
this made-in-Germany race car to Frank
.. Book. a young Detroit millionaire.
who has had some racing experience
and wants to drive at Indianapolis in
the sixth annual international speed
battle. Book will drive a Cadillac in
the Chicago amateur race. and De Palma
says: IT can recommend him as q ca
pabie driver"
Right away speculation is rampant.
De Palma did not get his entry In be-
fore the opportunity closed at midnight
May l. There were various rumors why
not. Now, with the sale of the car.
some who believe Ralph cannot resist
the lure Of the race. are wondering II
Ralph does not expect to let Book start
and then Ralph be the relief driver.
General Manager Myers. of the speed
way, says In order to let the Mercedes
enter as a post entry consent In writing
must be hrst obtained from all the other
entries. Myers Is mailing letters to all
these drivers, but It may be several days
before he gets the replies. In the mean
that Ralph's car. IL not Ralph as a
relief driver, will be among the already
notable list Of starters.
Rigid physical tests must be passed
by all entrants. for safety first" will
be q practice as we'll as a slogan at
indianapolis this year. Following are
but samples OF whole volume OF
rules that are necessary to regulate
such an enormous undertaking as
this race:
an hour in an official speed trial of
one lap of the track to be eligible.
Speed trials will DO held on May %
and 81. Cars shall start In the order
of the time they make In the official
speed trials, the fastest car starting
in first position next the pole. The
racing numbers will be assigned In
the Same manner. the fastest car re-
ceiving No. 1. In event OF rain, the
race Will be postponed until Wednes.
ddsE May I,v. or vs some s1 ,Ss Ss,n
ion Of the officials or speedway man
agement, does not show sufficient
skill and Judgment in the handling
OF his car to make him safe fac
tor in competition, shall be barred
the day of the race. gives evidence
of exhaustion or other physical in.
capacity making him q potential
danger to others on the course, may
be barred from further competition.
The status of hts eyeEight. heart ac-
dition must have been approved by
the speedway surgeon at least Ave
days before the contest. Steering wheel
spiders other than steel or bronze
driven cars must be squipped with
chain guards. All parts of cars. with
respect to safety. shall be subject to
the approval of the speedway tech
nical committee.
INDIANAPOLIS, May. 3B.-The mail
continues to bring In entries for the
May soth race on the Indianapolis
being entered from Haserstown, Nd.
are called Crawfords. Little is known
Of these race cars. except that 1t Is their
FIRST appearance as speed contenders.
mobile Company and were entered by
Billy Chandler. They weigh 2.20
pounds; have four cylinder Duesenberg
motors; 81 bore by 6N stroke; and 2es
Ter expects to initiate these new speed
contenders on the speedway at New
York. and then bring his crew to IN
dianapolis. Lewis and Johnson are the
drivers besides Chandler.
Chandler appeared at Indianapolis In
1914 with the Braender Bull Dog. He Is
an old timer In the game. He used to
ride with Ralph milford. He has been
in many accidents and many more mar
row escapes. but these are nero details
10 him.
T. z. Myers, general manager Of the
speedway, announces the speed elimin-
alton trials will be held May % and "a.
This allows two days. May Is and 70.
for drivers to rest or to work on their
cars, II any eleventh hour repairs are
needed.
PHILADELPHIA. May BIN the
spring a millionaire's sens fancy turns
to automobile racing; at least the fancy
OF Grover Bergdoll has returned to the
dangerous but exhilarating sport. He
has sent in his entry for two cars for
the sixth annual International Sweep
stakes race to be held on the Indianapo-
lis Motor Speedway May 30. He will
drive one Of his cars and the other Is
to be piloted by Eugene Stecher.
It costs money to get cars ready for
such a race as the International classic
at Indianapolis, but this seems to be
the least of his worries. and certainly
the hazards of the sport are not num-
bered among his anxieties. Bergdoll has
had the Erwin Motor Company at Phila-
delphia build him two Erwin Specials,
reputed to be real classy boats. They
motors four-inch bore by Ave and fif-
teen-sixteenths stroke. and a cubic inch
piston displacement of 1855. Harry
Muller will ride as mechanician, with
Bergdol, and Thomas Il. Furrey will
play second fiddle for Pilot Stecher In
the second Philadelphia entry. These
cars are to be shipped to indianapolis
at Indianapolis last year at the wheel
of car named after him. He used to
ride with Willie Haupt. the ex-Ben1
star.