The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-12
TICKET SELLING |
TO RACES BEGAN
ONE HOUR EARLY
Greatest Day in. Week Sees
Grounds Swarming Today.
And There Are Two More Full
Days of Exposition.
BIG MOTOR RACES TOMORROW
Friday and Saturday Feature
a Full Program.
Night Show, Exhibits, Soldiers
All Thru Saturday Night.
new FEATURE At NIGHT SHOW
"Spirit of 1918" and "Red
Cross" Settings In Fireworks.
Tractor Girls Arrive From Sa-
Iina-"Defense Day" On.
Friday and Saturday Feature
a Full Program.
Night Show, Exhibits, Soldiers
All Thru Saturday Night.
new FEATURE At NIGHT SHOW
"Spirit of 1918" and '"Red
Cross" Settings in Fireworks.
Tractor Girls Arrive From Sa-
Iina-"Defense Day" On.

1t was necessary to open the grand
stand ticket offices at the Free Fair
before noon today. An enormous
crowd threatened to swamp the ticket
sellers unless something was done inn
mediately. so the selling of seats for
the races was moved up an hour in an
effort to relieve congestion at the
gates for the afternoon crowds.
The crowd of 10000 persons ex-
pected for the races fully materialized
and it is estimated that 1900 or 5000
more could be added for good meas
ure. Cars from every section OF Kan
sas and many cars from other nearby
states were in evidence in the parking
spaces today. The crowd came early
and acted like it intended to stay late
for the big fireworks display.
Today IL the big day at the Kansas
Free fair. Thursday is always the big.
day. No one knows why. 1t just is
1t is done, and that is all. wednesday
always draws a good crowd, but to
Thursday the people of the city and
the country turn for the gala day OF
fair week.
AS early as 8 o'clock this morning
the uptown streets in Topeka were
crowded with the cars and pedestrians
patiently waiting until o'clock. when
the days festivities at the fair
grounds begin.
Tomorrow and Saturday.
Tomorrow and Saturday afternoons
the features of the program are to be
the auto races and the maneuvers of
the drill team from Fort Leavenworth,
as well as the other fair events In
cluding the government war exhibit
Fastest Racers In World.
With the promise of ideal weather
and a fast track, q half score of ia
nous race drivers will get away at
n . H~s< -tx.r~
program of the two days of automo-
| bile racing which will close the annual
| Kansas State Free fair for 1918.
With a field of starters which in
| cIude some of the fastest dirt track
racing cars and drivers in the world,
the two days of competition should
| produce some new state records and
| some of the hardest driving competi-
| ton ever seen in the state of Kansas.
| Among the entries are Sig Hugdahl
\ with the Fiat car which is undoubt-
edly the fastest creation in the world
| on the dirt tracks. Last Labor day
Hugdahl set new worlds mark for
the one and two miles at Lincoln. Neb.,
| the time being 1:01 3-5 for the mile
| and 2:02 3-5 for the two miles. He
defeated the entire field at Minneapo-
lis during the past week. including
| Barney Oldfield with his famous SUBJ
| marine and put a mile record on the
| Minnesota State Fair track Of Al 26
| seconds.
| Jules Ellingboe with his Briscos
set new worlds mark for three miles
| on the Des Moines, Ia, track and held
| the worlds one and two mile records
| until they were taken away from him
Labor Day by HugdahI Wild Bill
| Endicotts reputation as driver il
well known and the famous veteran
| is scheduled to tool a Rahe Special
| during the races here, car which
| was built in the Rahe Automobile
school at Kansas City during the
| past winter.
The Stutz car, with which Barney
Oldfield woI. the title of Master
Driver Of the World" when he won
! the Los Angeles to Phoenix road race
| and the same car which Oldfeld fin
ished ahead of all of the Americas
| cars entered in the Indianapolis 500
mile race, has been entered by Clar.
| ence Schockley, a Pacific coast driver.
! The program includes six events,
| five competition races and some
worlds record trials. The banner
| event of the composition races 10
| the Kansas sweepstakes for twenty.
five miles and a purse of $1,000.
Some driving ability or the turns and
1 speed on the stretches is promised
| when the field OF six starters are
turned loose on the short dangerous
turns.
Fair officials are preparing for the
| largest attendance at the track dur.
! ing Friday AMI Saturdays races that
has visited the race course during the
| entire week. special squad of fifty
| soldiers in addition to the regular
force of police have been secured to
handle the crowds at the track
The crack drill company from Fort
| Leavenworth is to put on. some special
| maneuvers at the internfssions in the
auto events both Friday and Saturday
afternoons Lieutenant Bafford. In
| command of the company. asserted to-
day that his men are nightly proud OF
CQnflnu.d on PaKa CHQ.l