New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-22
Twenty Daredevil Auto
Racers Will Battle for
Hardness Trophy
By Fred Hawthorne

Dario Rosta. speed king OF 1913
and 1916, Ralph De Palma, winner OF
the sprint championship Of 1917 last
month, and Louis Chevrolet, one Of the
most famous long distance drivers IN
the world, will be among the twenty
dare devil auto racers who will start
at 3 o'clock this afternoon in the third
annual Hardness Gold Challenge
Trophy race on the great two-mile
cement oval at Shccpshcad Bay.
The distance these men will be called
upon to travel in the mad rush around
the track for the 10000 trophy and
the prize money that goes to the sue
cegsful driver is 100 miles. Judging
from the practice trials made this
week at the track, the winner viii
probably average around 1O5 or ITO
miles an hour, barring serious &C
cdents.
Fifty Thousand Spectators
william II. Wellman, promoter Of
the race, announced last night that the
advance sale Of seats is nearly three
times the record made at the sprint
championship event, and there will be
$4,000 81 tickets on sale At the Speed
way to-day. 1t is expected that more
than $4,000 persons will watch the
reckless dash Of the drivers for gold
and glory this afternoon.
Rcsta, although he has not raced
once this season. will probably be the
favortc over the field when Fred
~ TO lou
This is largely because those who re-
member the inyincble manner in which
the great Italian defeated the speediest
drivers in the world last year do not
believe there is a man plotting a rae
ing car to-day able to hold the pace
Dario will set when he throws open
the throttle on his new frontensc ma
chine. He made circuit Of the track
in practice spin at the rate Of ll9
miles an hour two or three days ago.
De Palma. who defeated Barney Old
field and Louis Chevrolet last month
in the series Of sprint races at the
Speedway. will be Resta's most danger
Gus rival. according to the dope al
though Chevrolet also is likely TO be
fl lighting out furious duel for the mas
terry with the leaders.
Ralph Milford. Eddie Hearne. Ira
Vail and Gil Anderson are among
others who arc quite capable Of fore
ing their cars first across the line.
The first event. Il series Of motor
cycle races between the best Of the
two-wheel drivers, will begin AT 2:3O
o'clock. At ( o'clock there will be an
exhibition Of flying by De Lloyd Thomp-
son. champion aviator OF America. who
will attempt to break his own world
record of forty-fye consecutive loops
IN the air.
Futurity Handicap
At Ais O'Clock the Futurity Handi-
can will begin. with four ten-mlle trial
heats. Resta. De Palma. Louis Chevro-
let and Ralph Milford will start from
scratch. Thompson will give some eT-
kibitions N the air at o'clock, and
at 5:15 the final heat of the Futurlty
Handicap. with the first two men IN
each trial heat starting, will get under
way. -,
With clear weather forecast for this
afternoon and the great cement track
in superb shape, the thousands VINO
make the trip to Shcepshead Bay VIII
nrohably see one Of the most thrilling
auto races in the history OF the sport.
With the cars being hurled around
the banked oval At more than 100 miles
an hour. there always turks the chance
Il serious. perhaps fatal, accidents, A
looseued bolt. a piece OF weak steel.
wagering Of the hand that grips the
steering wheel. any of these things are
sur cicnt 10 send a car hurting on the
trock with death as the fate OF the
Jri,.or II is lust such possibilities
that always thrill the spectators ana
keep them in state OF anxiety until
the race Is over