The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-16

although many of these nechanicians have been in every important race for years. It is a notable fact that in ac- cidents the average for injuries is higher among mechanicians than among drivers This is said to be partly due to the fact that the driver has the wheel to keep him from being tossed rom the car, or to protect him in case the car turns turtle: while the mechanician is exposed
 DePalna's Car
 Ralph DePaIma, winner of the 500 mile race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year, has wired the speedway officials Tor permission to enter his Mercedes car. Ralph says he has sold this Made-in-G Germany car to Frank F. Book, a young Detroit millionaire, who has had some racing experience and wants to drive at h. dianapolis in the sixth annual interna- tioual speed battle DePa1rna says: .T can recommend him as a capable driver" Right away speculation is rampant. DePalma did not get his entry in before the opportunity closed at midnight May 1st-
 Rigid physical tests must be passed by all entrants, for Safety First" will be practice as well 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: Each car must show eighty, miles an hour in an official speed trial of one lap of the track to be eligible. Speed trials will be held on May 26th and 27th. Cars shall start in the or der of the time they make in the of ficfaI 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 receiving No. l. Tn event Of rain, the S.~ T,a daH. May 31st. or some subsequentl dale. Any driver. who in the opinion of the Speedway Management, does mot show sufficient skill and judgment in the handling of his car to make him same factor in competition. shall be barred from the track. Any driver. who, on the day of the race, gives evidence Of exhaustion or other pnysi- cal in capacity, making him a. potential danger to others on the cours. may be barred from further competition The status of his eyesight, heart action, blood pressuWc and general condition must have been approved by the Speedway surgeon at least five days before the contest. Steering wheel. spiders other than steel or bronze will not be permitted. All chain driven cars must be equipped with chain guards. All parts of cars. with respect to safety. shall be subject to the ap- provaI of the Speedway Technical Committee.
 The establishment of automobile re- serve corps in every city of the United States. as factors in the present pre- paredness campaign of the United States, Is urged by Jay V. Hall, of the OIds Motor Works. of Lansing, Mich
 sOur county has some four thous- and miles of shore line to protect" says Hall, with the possibility of troops being landed at any point.
 = sl-T fully combating such an attempt would be to throw large masses of soldiery against any given point at short notice,
 With huge fleets of motor cars. such as could be mustered in almost could be accomplished with little trouble, provided the proper organiza- ton be had.
 As matter of fact. the plan has on large scale, and with marked suc- cess
 aGeneral William L. sibert, com nnandant of the Pacific coast artillery and Captain H. D. Ryus. president, of the Oldsmobi1e cornpany of California, Francisco automobile reserve corps and the staging of a series of man. euvers which gave every hope for the future.
 Tn one OF LtA0 nlaneuRSrS. a 4aTS6 body of regular troops from the Pre- sidio. accompanied by a complement of light artillery, was rushed to Half Moon Bay, 8, comparatively inaeces- sibIe spot on the west coast, suitable for invasion, in the space of a. couple of hours, over a route which under or dinary conditions, would have taken a day and half.
 "Concerning the outcome of the ex- pertinent, General Sibert said: The
 
 the first of its kind in Ene esnfted States, will prove of unusual import aHce to the officers of the army in their preparedness plans
 TT should like to see a general ex- tension of the automobile reserve corps principle in every city of the United States.
 s'The United States now has prac- tica1ly 3.00O.0oo automobiles. with the 1 probability that this number will be increased to s.5o0,0oo before the close of the present selling season.
 aIn the nandS of a board of sfrat- egy, these automobiles would form the 1 most effective weapon for offense and 1 defense that can be imagined, capable | of transporting 1O,000.o0O troops to | danger points with deadly rapidfty .
 Had Germany had but a, portion of our motor cars she would have pushed 1 her drive through Belgium to Paris before the Allies could have even be- gun to offer resistance. Instead of i slow pIodding columns of men there would have been an avalanche of mo- tor cars, and all would have been over. l
 ssThe United States can guard 1 against the fate of Belgium and Seryia | by a thorough organization of it's | avaflabls motor car material, now.
 Every automobile deaEers' organ 1zation fn the united etatss should