Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-06-06
AUTO RACES FATAL
TO THREE DRIVERS
TAKES $4,000 PRIZE-AvERAGEs
81 MILES AN HO UR IN 500
MILE DRIVE.
WILCON WINNER IN 500 MILES
Thurman Is Found Lifeless After Car
Turns Over on Back Stretch-vic-
tors Time Is 5:44:21A-De
Palma Skaters Records.


indianapolis Howard Wilcox of In
dianapols Saturday " on the seventh
annual international sweepstakes race
of 500 miles at the motor speedway, his
time being 5:44.21A His average
speed was S712 miles an hour. One
driver, Arthur Thurman, was killed in
a spill, and Louis LecDcq and a mech
anician, r. Bandidi, were burned to
death, and two others were injured.
AS a result of his victory Wilcox
wins prize of 500 1000 Fifty thousand
dollars was divided among the first 10
drivers. The other prize winners fin
ished in the order named Hearne,
Goux, Guyot, Alley, d ePalma, l.. Chew
rolet, d. Hickey, G. Chevrolet and
Thomas.
The time and average speed an hour
of the others follows:
Hearne, 5 :46: :05, 1894 miles.
Goux, S: so: 90; 1851 miles.
Albert Guyot, 8: :S3 so; S4.S5 miles
Alley, 6:06: 54:35; b1.26 miles.
DePalma, 6:10.10:92; 9104 miles.
Wilcox and Guyot were teammates.
Wilcox assumed the lead as the con-
test approached the halfway mark and
drove consistently throughout. He had
two stops, once for a tire change and
once to take on gasoline oil, water and
to repair loose steering knuckle. His
average was 87.12 miles an hour.
DePaIma Skaters Records.
All records for the Indianapolis
speedway were shattered by Ralph De
Palma for the first 200 miles. Long
stays in the pits. however, put him al
most entirely out of the running and
it was only by terrific speed that he
managed to nose l.. Chevrolet out of
sixth place.
Arthur Thurman, driving car he
had reassembled himself, was killed
when the machine turned over on the
back stretch before the race had pro-
crossed $50 miles. He was dead when
found. His mechanician received a
fractured skull and was rushed to a
hospital, where he was operated on.
The showing of several Frenchmen,
made favorites at the start because OF
their sensational work in practice, was
disappointment to a crowd of 125,O0O
people. The terrific pace at the start,
however, in which they were consist
emily among the leaders, resulted in
many stops.
Wilcox has partaken in every 400.
mile race held at the Indianapolis
speedway. 1t was his first victory,
however. OF the six half-thousand mile
grinds-one of the international sweep
stakes, was for a distance of 300
three local drivers have finished first
Ray Harroun won in 1911 and Joe
Dawson in 1912.
Race Stirs Crowd.
The race was one of the most sensa
tional ever held here. Broken steering
knuckles, the loss Of wheels, two cars
overturning without serious injury, and
the loss of exhaust pipes kept the
crowd on edges. The electrical timing
device was broken when one car, put
IulS III minus d lEoHl WHICH,, SauSh
the wire and tore it from its connec
ton.
At no time was the field strung out
not more than two minutes separating
the winner and the second man. The
remainder of the field was proportion
ately punched.
Start Under Sweltering Sun.
The race started under a swelterins
sun at II o'clock in the morning.
DePalma led at the first 100 miles
Bablot was second and L. Chevrole
third. G.. Chevrolet was fourth. Al
previous records Of the speedway TO
that distance was broken, the average
speed being 92.10 miles an hour