Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-10
five FAST AUTO
PILOTS TO enter
SPEEDWAY RACES
Henderson, Thomas, MuIford,
Vail and Patterson Are Ger.
tain Entries for Independ.
enCe Day Classic.

Baby Pete Henderson, Ralpl
Mulford, Joe Thomas, Ira Vail and A
H. Patterson are five of the country
leading race drivers Omaha speed en-
thusiasts will see on the East Oman;
oval July 4 when the annual Omah;
gasoline derby will be staged.
Director Of Contest F. ]. McShant
has received wire from Arthur Hill
manager of the Hudson racing team
saying that he would enter all three
of the Hudson machines. Mulford
Vail and Patterson are the drivers
who will pilot the Hudson mounts.
Hill last year was Dario Resta's
manager. Omaha made a hit with him
and he told McShane then he always
would enter any cars under his con.
troll in any and all events held in
Omaha. When he was made manager
OF the Hudson team he immediately
announced his intention of placing ali
three machines in the local Independ-
ence Day classic.
The Hudsons are all brand new ma
chimes and said to be among the fast
est American cars ever built. Ira Vail
captured second place with his Hud-
son i'll the Cincinnati derby Memorial
day and Milford and Patterson both
finished within the money.
MERGERS to Enter.
McShane also has received word
from the Mercer factory that they
will enter all three of their cars in
the Omaha race. This will be the
first time the Mercer people have
placed their machines on the Omaha
track. Baby Pete" Henderson, Eddie
Rickenbacher's diminutive team-mate
last year, pilots one of the Mercer
mounts and Joe Thomas a second w.
5. Haines is driving the third Mercer
now and he may drive the machine
IN Omaha, but it is thought a driver
Of more prominence will be substi-
tuted before July 4 arrives.
These six care alone assure Omaha
of a fast field. They are all new ma
chimes, built last winter, and of the
attest sixteen-valve type, capable of
ITO miles all hour and better.
Omaha will be permitted to start
fifteen cars this year. Last year sew
,nteen started, but it was thought
'est to curtail the number by two for
safety first reasons.
No Competition.
Omaha will have the Independence
lay date alone this year. The Union
own speedway wants to stage a race
hat day and the consent of the Oma-
Ia speedwy has. been solicited by the
A. A. A. The local management,
however. will protest, and, according
o rules made last fall, Uniontown
will be refused a sanction. Thus
lrivers who wish to compete on In
dependence day must enter the Oma-
la event or remain idle.
Contest Director McShane goes to
Chicago this week for the race at
he Windy City Saturday. He expects
% sign fully d dozen of the fastest
and most skillful drivers in the coun-
.ry in addition to those mentioned
above who already are the same as
Among those McShane ex-
oects to sign are Louis Chevro-
ct, winner OF the Cincinnati race
this year; CASTOR Chevrolet, his
brother, Ralph De Palma, Dave
Lewis, Billy Taylor, winner of the
Unlontown event, and Eddie Hearne,
The famous comeback.
A large force of men has been at
work on the speedway for the last
.wo weeks making improvements.
Holes in the track are being filled
With asphaltum that makes the oval
IS smooth as glass. A fill of asphalt
I'm has been made between the track
md running board, adding to the
iafety Of the speed merchants. The
work will be completed
his week, and next week, directly
the Chicago races, it is ex-
,ected the drivers will start to arrive
With their mounts for practice.