The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-09-18
About Those Automobile Races

ABOUT nose AutoIliopllc Na~N"'
Dear Mr.. Editor:
We will appreciate a little space
in your paper that will allow us to
say what we think in regard to the
writeup given about the automobile
races last Friday.
The reporter said that the cars
were taken from junk heaps and an
effort was made 10 make them into
something that would try to make
them limp around the track once or
twice.
II his criticisms was pointed to-
ward any one or two cars, he let
his writeup cover everything on the
track that afternoon.
lie said that a bunch OF would
be racing automobile mechanics was
on hand TO try and keep these poor
limping Lizzies on the track for at
least three or four laps.
He told the public how wantonly
it was being fleeced as it sat there in
the grand stand. On either day, Fri
day or Saturday there, were more
people in the grandstand than there
were in the two combined days or
horse r"cing, and we point out that
they came back on Saturday.; the
same faces were all there again on
Saturday that were there Friday and
it was a miserable lot OF old derelicts
they had to look out on the track
and see.
Did Won ever stop to realize that
it would be impossible for man to
go out and spend $1,000 or $4,000 to
lit up racing automobile for $50
purse which divides three and four
WAYS?
w ethink that the boys here in
town who made such nearnest ef-
fort to put cars in the races for the
sake OF the sport, were all true
sportsmen. Ray Peterson and The
Slaughter Motor Company worked
hard and put themselves out to Il
great extent to make competition.
As for the Southern Motor Com
pany. it carried off practically all
the first money and it did not pay
for the wear and tear on the tires.
1t is true that the Dodge didn't run
in the free-fOr-all on Friday after
noon. having had engine trouble in
the start-o off. but let us impress this
on YOU: That car arrived in town
at 10 o'clock on the morning OF the
races. Considerable work in getting
the car ready, after its long journey,
was necessary. The car was gotten
out to the track at 2 o'clock and
started around the track to see what
shape it was in. The fair officials
stepped out on the track and told
us to get off, saying that there would
be horse races that afternoon before
the automobile races. Now, mind
you. the fair advertising said there
would be two exclusive days de-
voted to automobile racing and gave
assurance to all CONTESTANTS that the
track would be worked up into Al
shape but we were ruled off the
track. There was to be horse rae
ing. The result was that the horse
racing lasted until 4 O'Clock. Mr..
Rice had to start in the automobile
race at 4 o'clock not knowing much
about what his car would be. He
took the race against time, but had
trouble on the start-off OF the free
for-all" He called for the assist
ance of Mr.. Beede, who made des-
perate effort to get the car back
into the race, only to be dubbed in
your column as would-be racing
automobile mechanic"
Southern Motor Company, by Ray
/. Beede, S. w. Tyer, Leo Rice,
Tom Cooper, Oklahoma Oil &
Auto Supply Co., r. A. Peterson,
.Ardmore Battery Co, by VIM.
Wade, Slaughter Motor Co., by
! L. D. Nelm, Roy Shores.