The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-08-18
CHALMERS BREAKS
RECORD, RUNNING
81 MILES IN HOUR


The Chalmers now holds the name
for endurance.
A stock Chalmers chassis was
driven over the Sheepshead bay speed
way 1,s9s miles in twenty-four hours
at an average actual running speed OF
s1.o9 miles per hour. This dazzling
run Is the highest performance ever
made under the observation of the
American Automobile Association.
The Chalmers thus shattered the
best previous record OF 1919 miles in
twenty-four hours, which was made
by the Hudson I'M May, 1916. The
start of his.record-making run was
made Wednesday afternoon, August I.
The canvGa covering over No. 3 pit
at the Sheepsbhead bay speedway
tapped vigorously in the wind. The
sky was overcast. Alongside the pit
stood a little car, as 1.-THE as a grey
hound, as sturdy as an oak. There
was a crash OF thunder. vivid flashes
OF lightning, and then the rain de-
scended.
The men In the judges stand
crowded closer to the center of the
stand in an attempt to escape the
downpour. The attendants at the pit
sought dry spots. The starter, who
had been waiting patiently at the
starting tape while the electrician tim
ing device was tried out, ran for shell
ter. Only the little black-and-white
car stood in the rain, seeming 10 set
at defiance the elements. Soon the
rain had spent It's force, though It
continued to fall. d,
Climbed Into Little Car.
A white-clad driver climbed into the
ieft-hand seat OF the little car. There
was q whirr OF the self-starter, and
then a savage bark that told that
the gasoIene had taken hold. A
strong left hand gripped the steering
wheel, the right hand gripped the
shifting lever, and, as the left foot
threw out the clutch, the car was
thrown into gear; automatically the
hand then moved to the right and
released the emergency brake; the
clutch was eased in; there was a Sc
ries Of louder explosions, q slowly
quickeninE turning OF the rear wheels 1
on the wet track, q gear shift to
second, then into Highland Joe Daw-
son-no longer smiling Joe Dawson, |
OuN JUG Law sun - VII mrs /
way to prove that the Chalmers, with |
It's 224-inch motor was speedy enough |
and sturdy enough to break the exist |
ing twenty-four-hour stock chassis |
speedway record.
Through the long night Dawson |
drove on, stopping at intervals for
food and for fuel, oil and gas for
his engine, but never for any me
chanicAl repairs.
A heavy fog rolled In from the east
at o'clock in the morning. Denser
and denser II grew. Still the car
hurled on. There was no slackening
not understand how II was possible
to drive SO swiftly
Rolled Up to Pits.
= AtS a. m, Dawson rolled UP to the
pits and turned the wheel over to
Joe Gardham. Take no chances in
the fog, joe" admonished w. p.
Sturm, contest manager, as he patted
Gardham on the back as the car slid
away and was lost to sight not nifty
feet from the pit When Gardham
drew in for gas later he said the fog
was so dense on the turns that he
had to ride up against the outside
rail in order TO keep his bearings on
the turns. A little after 8 a. m,
Dawson, refreshed by a catnap, took
the wheel again, He completed
twelve hours with 95I miles to the
cars credit against 923 for the old
record. The cars average was TEX
miles an hour.
At sos Dawson gave way to Gard
ham again. At 1l:2s Dawson took
the wheel and stayed with 1t to. the
end.
Fred ]. Wagner's electrical timing
device was used, Prof. Richard Lea
veil OF Iowa State University operat-
ing II. II. A. Tarantous, technical
editor of Motor. was the technical
representative OF the A. A. A., under
whose sanction the test was conduct
ed. w. F. Sturm, Chalmers contest
was in charge OF the test.
Moving pictures were taken and these
will be sent to the various dealers
and distributors desiring them. They
show everything from the garage life
OF the crew to the end OF the test
The average an hour for the total
time was 79.OS33 miles. the old rec
ord being 75.s. The stops took up
30 minutes seconds. The actual
running time was at an average of
Sl.09 miles an hour against the old
record OF 7s.6.
Comparative Records.
The following table shows the Chal-
ners performance. hour for hour,
With the previous high record.
ChalmerH. Old
Hour. Performances. Record
::: :: /: !: + !
! .s-..------- ~ ~ - ~
% bh1 20 hs
...... 81 SIS "a ara