Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-23
MOTORDOM PROUD OF
EDDIE RICKENBACHER
American Ace of the Air Has Proved
Greater Hero ms Flyer Than
When he Drove Race Cars.
IS MOST FAMOUS AVIATOR
Takes tho Place of Major Lufbury
ms Americas Foremost Birdman:
Wears the French War Cross.

In Lieut., Eddie Rickenbacher. ari-
tomobiie racing has khaki-clad
representative In France OF whom
the great fraternity OF motor speed
race drivers, mechanicians, pro-
moters. officials and spectators---can
bo Justly proud
II was only little moro than a
year ago that Rlckenbacher sailed
for France, ranked as a sergeant and
detailed TO drive General Pershing's
car.
Pick OF Race Drivers.
Automobile racing could not
have selected a finer man to tep-
resent tho sport," said Richard
Konnerdell, chairman of the con-
test board of the American Auto
mobile association, when Ricken-
bacher volunteered for military
service last spring.
II this Teulogy also was intended
as a prophecy. 1t has been more
than verified.
For Rlckenbacher has made good
as a soldier OF democracy. He is a
greater hero and idol today than
he was at any time in his specta-
cular career as n race driver. He
IL Americas most famous aviator
now that Major Lufbury. his in
struotor. Is gone. Five German
planes have been brought down by
Eddie 10 date. which entities him
TO the coveted rank Of ace" and
1t was not no long ago that he
showed his heroism and chivalry by
going 10 the aid and rescue OF
fellow flier. whose plane had been
disabled by fire. OF hostile machine
guns.
Ia OF Swiss Descent
Rickenbacher, who In OF Swiss
| descent and not OF German parent
| age as is commonly supposed. al
ready wears on his breast tho
French war cross. While Columbus,
Ohio. In his homs, there are several
cities that claim him as their own.
including Indianapolis. Chicago, De-
trolt, New York, Los Angeles and
Omaha, for In his racing days Eddie
was something Of n gypsy and lived
wherever he might answer the
world-old challenge OF distance and
time.
'Tn tho air, Rickenbacher has
shown the Same splendid daring and
the excellent Judgment that he did
on speedway and road racing course"
said George NJ. Dickson. president
OF the National Motor Car and vehi-
Gle corporation of Indianspo and
an automobile racing enthusiast Of
the forty-second degree. These are
two qualities that make for victory
whether You arc fighting German
avtAtora or engaging In q battle for
epeed supremacy with Resta. De
Palma. Oldsfield and Chevrolet.
Although France is 5000 miles
away. can easily picture Eddie
Rickonbacher as an aviator. He Is q
modest and unassuming hero, for the
fame and the victories that he has
gained In automobile racing never
went to his head. Hc ID conscicn-
tious and thorough In the care OF
his plano. since no race driver ever
worked harder In preparing his car
for a race than did Eddie. When
he makes flight, the spectators
of the greatest show In the world
that he encounters are In for
battle for Rickenbacher II famous
for mixing the spectacular with
logged determination.
"It is one Of my regrets that Rick
orbacher was not driving when the
National company was entering cars
In all tho big events. He would
have been an excellent teammatA
for Johnny Aitken, Joe Dawson,
Howdy wilcox. Harvey Herrick and
other stars that competed for us In
1910. 1911 and 1912 But Eddie
was serving his apprenticeship then
as mechanician and relief driver
and did not come into prominanco
until the summer of 1914 when he
captured two big races inside OF
three days at Sioux City and
Omaha"