El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-17

| with the NanQerDill cup race IN 1905
but IL was not until 1905. that an Amer
I lean driver and an American car
Robertson in LocOmobile. won thi
! big motor classic
The American Grand Prize race tool
place on the motor calendar In 1905
but only in 1919. when Eddie Pullei
/ finished first with Mercer, mas am
American car ever won it.
At the beginning Of the war, tbs
famous European road races were
forsaken, for lsl witnessed the ias
run Of the French Grand Prix- The old
Gordon Bennett cup classic had beer
| abandoned. however. in 1906
EIgiu Race Given IN.
Here in America. the Elgin road
/ race. which had its first run in 1910
I was discontinued with the event OF
J 1915. The Chicago Automobile clut
cup race. which had been run in con-
uection with the Elgin races during
1913. 1914 and 1915. was likewise dis
continued at the same time the Elslr
event was given up
Probably the drivers are sOmeW nat
Z responsible for the fact that road rae
ing has practically been abandoned, tor
the speedways have opened sreateI
OPPORTUNITIES to them II must pe
! seen, however, that the very salvation
OF the sport itself lies within the
Z efforts of those who can bring back the
( road race as diversion from the
! speedway events which viii soon be-
come too commonplace
A. 4. A. Wants Road Race
II is TO be hoped that iae sent I'M l-t
I Of the contest board Of the A a. A. as
! expressed by David Beecrott al the re-
cent CHICAGO dinner, viii be realized
J before many weeks have passed Tor
! this board is not alone in its desire 10
{ have the Elgin meet resumed this year.
| Mr. Beecroft IN his review OF the sport
! since the contest board mas been the
! regulating factor spoke at length upon
| the importance Of road racing IN gen
4 nd he event I
! as being necessary feature IN not on-y
maintaining the present interest buL
] in the growth as wen OF motor raeln5-
/ Some OF the original promoters or me
| Elgin road race were present when MT.
BeecrOft made this talk ana doubtless
| efforts are already under way TO have
| Elgin return TO the 1917 racing cal
Drivers ". Speedway.
The past year has developed the fact
that the drivers need concern them
selves about little except their motors
and the speedways. principally the
latter. This has been brought out
more prominently by DariO Resta's eN-
perience during the 1916 season. which
demonstrated that tires have reached
the stage where they afford the drivers
but little, II any, trouble In recent
IL was a question OF how many tires
would need for race. but during the
past year II seems TO be rather now
many races one set Of Silvertown tires
will stand"
But the drivers have 70 contend se-f-
ously with the speedways- On some or
the newer speedways last year, the
number Of serious accidents have been
the cause OF suggested regulations Tor
1917 that viii practically eliminate the
old dangers The most impO. taut SUE
gestion is that a committee represent
ing the contest board Of the A A. A
and the drivers make q personal In
spection OF each course before sane
ton Is granted, and further. TO make
the use OF the sanction dependent en-
tirely upon the correction o. any
dangers that this committee may have
found. before the start Of the race
There would be a space Of so days be-
tween the inspection and TIE race
Doubtless this would insure the safety
Of the drivers as well as the specta-
tors.
The stringent regulations OF the con-
test board coupled with the advances
car construction. have already re-
duced the possibility OF accidents, so
far as the cars are concerned. TO the
very minimum What improvements
the manufactures viii show on their
cars for 1917. will add still more to this
great factor OF safety.
There is no speedway where &C
cidents did occur in 1915 that has nos
taken steps TO remove the old dangers.
What the SPeedways Are Doing.
The speedways OF America have care
the past six years. They have been
the means OF developing and holding
the universal interest that had been
previously acquired by road racing.
The frankness OF James Allison. one
Of the owners Of the Indianapoli
-ueedway. and the Presto-Lite COM
pany, in discussing the speedway CUES
ton at the A A. A dinner in Chicago.
s TO be much admired. In touching
upon the accidents during 1916. he felt
hat like everything else OF any mag
nitude. the speedwaFs had to have their
eEinning and AGAIN like everything
else, these beginnings were inter
mingled with. in most cases, serious
accidents These accidents may be
" ttrihuted to many causes. but u is
certain that the speedways are cor
recting their defects IS quickly as they
mana cement is taking time by the
forelOck and those who attend the
aces there this year VIII find mum
Der OF improvements that further in
sure the safety OF the drivers as vel y
as the public
One OF the most commendable por- I
lions OF Mr.. Allison's talk was when he F.
referred to the hotel conditions Of
previous years Al Indianapolis. Those 3
who have attended the races there re- =
member that hotel tariffs were In 3
creased 70 unreasonable proportions
during the racing season But Mr.
Allison has been the cause OF remedy !
ing this for he theatened. and need I
less TO say. would have made good 20 .
take the 1917 events away from In
Annapolis ana run them on other
speedways unless the hotel manage
menus h0uAQ De EaLSfleQ win tneLr
regular charges during the time wnsn
80 many people flock 70 the Indian
ipolis races When the hotel men
icceded TO his request. the most series
obstacle that has confronted the Speed
way MANAGEMENT was removed.
Return TO 800 Mile Race.
Mr. Allison also stated that this year
Indianapolis would return 10 its origi-
lal policy and stage q 500 mile race
Decoration day, May 30 The total
ash prizes will be $4,000. in accord
nee with the regulations OF the a \
4, which require an average Of 500
Der mile for such events.
That the cash receipts OF the Indian
polls speedway has not been all profit.
developed when II was learned THAI
ut OF every dollar Of net profit. fully
Eighty cents has been expended in
afeguards and improvements
What About DayfOnas
Should the A. A A. be successful IN
ewing road racing. as II is seriously
.oped IL viii be. probably DaytOna and
jacksonville viii contribute their sup
'ort in the strsightaway events. II
INST ne remembered that the last
trai Ehtaway records were made bv
-ouis Dishrow and the late BOB Bur
ran on these courses in 1911 Since
hat time these records have never
een equalled because no Other course
as the distinct advantages for HIGH