Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-15
OURAY HISTORY
OUTLASTS REST
Starts in Racing Game Two Years
Before American Veteran,
Barney 0ldfieId.
WAS FORMERLY A MECHANIC
Intrepid Speedster Has Gambled
and Won With Death and For
tune for 19 Years.

Holding the title of worlds speed
king, Arthur Duray, the French
poilu, outshines all of the other
starters in the coming auto derby
handicap which will be held at
/ Speedway park on Saturday, June
%.
! Duray's history as a daredevil
Outlasts even that of Barney Old
! field, the American veteran. Duray
started campaigning in 1899, two
years before Oldfield drove his first
! racer, the Ford 999
In the 16 years before the war
that the intrepid foreigner has
gambled with death and fortune, he
has always been at the top of the
heap, and now, after three and a
half years of fighting with the al
lies, he will resume his onslaught
on the worlds records and the rich
stakes here
Duray has been a skilled mechan-
ic in Brussels for several years,
when he Ieaped into fame by win
ming the first auto race ever held
in Europe, the Criterium de Bel
gique, for the kings cup in 1899
He was Immediately engaged by
the Belgian Society L'AutOmobile
and was with them for three years.
In 1900 there was no racing in
Europe, but in 1901 a race from
Paris to Berlin was promoted by
the French and German manufac-
turers Duray was one of 10 start
ers, but did not finish on account
of mechanical troubles.
In 1902 the Paris-Vienna race was
his only start, and mechanical trOu-
BILE again put him out of commits
sion. This was his last contest IN
der Belgian colors, as the Cabron-
Brielle company of Paris offered
him a tempting guarantee to drive
for them.
The next year. 1903, saw him
winning the Coupe de DourdOn,
with a worlds record of 1876 kilo-
meters per hour. He also captured
the Chateau Thierry hill climb.
competing against a high class field
of the foremost drivers of Europe
He was second in the Coupe de
Gelleon hill climb and the Coupe
de Regularitee Grenoble.
He started his 1904 campaign
with a victory at Nice. winning the
Coupe de Rotchild. offered by the
famous French banker. He also
took down first honors In the Coupe
de Caters Turbie at Nice. He es-
tablished worlds road record for
1O4 kiIometers for an hour on the
Circuit de Ardennes. Second place
went to him in the Circuit de Bres-
cha in Italy and the Mont Ventoux
hill climb in Florence, Italy.
In 1905 he won the Tour de
France. over 4000-kilometer dis
lance. He made his debut in Amer
lea, driving for W. K. Vanderbilt in
the Vanderbilt cup on Lock Island. |
but failed to finish on account of !
motor trouble. He was second in |
the Circuit de Brescia. Italy, and |
France in the first |
James Gordon Bennett cup race /
held there. In this race he was
leading the field by seven minutes |
at 500 kilometers. setting a new |
worlds record for the distance. |
When within 30 kilometers of the
finish, he blew a tire. and not hav-
ng pump to initiate the shoe, fin
shed the race on the rim.
The next year he won the Circuit |
les Ardennes, in Belgium, over the
100 kilometer route. He establish
ID a new record Of 105 kilometers
or the hour. He came TO America
gain for the Vanderbilt and finish
d third to Wagner, / minute and
% seconds. losing through four tire
hanges He was fifth in the French
irand Prix. at which 50 starters
aced the mark He changed q
Tres in This race.
In 1907 Duray won the Coupe de
I'm peror Nikolas. from Moscow 10
He led the second man
v more than two and a half hours |
n the French Grand Prix at Dieppe |
e was leading ar 500 kilOmeters.
citing new record for the dis
ance. with IA minutes advantage
yer Nazarro. and with but % kilO-
2meters 10 go. when the main ball
caring IN the gear case broke and 6
ut him ont Of the race 4
In 1908 he competed in the Grand I
nix ar Savannah. Ga While he
as FIGHTING for the lead with Hem t
~. Wagner. Navarro and Lancia. 6
ID right chain broke and broke his