The sun., 1919-05-18
WATCH OUT FOR
THE BALLOT RACERS
New French Cars Built Es-
pecially to Win Big In
dianapolis Race.

The inside story OF one Of the most
marvellous achievements In sporting his
tory, the construction in 102 working
days Of the Ballot racing cars that will
be plloted by four of Europe's most ia
nous stars. Rene Thomas. Paul Bablot
Albert Guyot and Louis Wagner, in the
Indianapolis 500. mile Liberty Sweep
stakes on the Indianapolis Motor Speed
way, May 81, is made public for the
first time by Repe Thomas and Albert
0uyot who are now in Indianapolis for
the big Hoosier FIVE century event
On December "a, 1918, Thomas sub
,nitted proposal. to the Ballot COM
pany, firm of wealthy Paris engine
manufacturers. to build a set of four
cars especially for the Indianapolis
race: on December IS the contract was
signed and on December 20 the work of
deslgnir<, the cars began, under the su-
pervision of Ernest Henry. the master
builder OF racing cars, who created the
marvellous French Peugeots that have
met but one equal the American made
Stutz. since they were first put in COM
mission.
When the Ballot organization was ap-
preached with the problem OF building
four racing cars in the four months that
remained until the time that II would be
necessary to ship them in order to make
the Indianapolis race the feat was de-
ciared impossible. The men were tired
Of working under pressure after four
years of war strain and declared they
had no stomach for the attempt. Once
the work had started, however the en-
tire factory organization took up the
task with a new enthusiasm and worked
day and night until 1t was done.
Innumerable difficulties were overcome
tAH-
cars, the cooperation of the French Gov
eminent being enlisted in several in
stances to get results, as for instance In
the procuring Of certain high grades OF
steel that were under exclusive contract
to the Government for the manufacture
Of munitions When the cars were COM
pleted the aid of the Government was
again enlisted to secure the necessary
shipping space aboard a steamer bound
for the United States, and finally the
French War Ministry wns induced to
give special leave of absence to Charles
llchot one Of the Ballot mechanics. who
VIII ride with Albert Guyot In the COM
ing race.
During the entire time that the Bal
lot cars were under construction no word
Of their existence was allowed to leak
out to the outside world for fear that
a mlshap in one OF the infinite details
required for their completion would pre-
vent their appearance in active COM
petition. So complete were the precau-
tons adopted that the drivers of the
oars, other than Thomas, were not en-
eoged until two weeks before the ship
ping date, nor we're the mechanicians
The work OF production was success
ftlly brought to conclusion without a
single accident, however. and the cars
made ready for shipment on schedule
time.
In their road tests the cars proved
thfS selves much faster than had origf-
nally been anticipated in fact, Thomas
Gays they care much more speedy and
powerful than any racing cars of equal
size ever built. The general appearance
OF their engine which Is an eight cylin-
der. with the cylinders all in line, some
what resembles that OF two Peugeots
engines coupled together. However.
Thomas states that the likeness is exter-
nal only. the interior construction, espe-
caly the valve, action, being entirely
Lew. The, workmanship Displayed
throughout the cars Is marvellous, like
that OF a costly watch. In appearance
the cars are longer and lower than any
cars that have ever raced on the Indian
apos track, their clearance eing barely
'NlhNltiib ~ hccp tHcti Oil Tie RTOuHu
Their apparent length, however. Is a
matter Of optical illusion. due to the ex-
ira hood length required by the eight
cylinder engine. the actual wheel base
OF the cars being only 10s inches. An
other odd feature OF the cars Is that the
long, stream line tail usually associated
with racing automobiles Is missing
the Ballot drivers claiming that the cars
are fast enough to win the indianapolis
race without this appendage.
In every detail the cars were con-
structed exclusively to win the Indian
apol!s race in fact, one of the first ques-
tons that Thomas asked the Indianap-
"l!s Speedway management was whether
ne track had been changed In any par
ticular since he last drove upon II, the
cars having been built especially with
Indianapolis conditions in view.
Race followers everywhere will anx-
lousy await the outcome of the preIim-
mary tests OF the Ballot cars to be con-
Quoted on the Indianapolis Speedway
prior to the 500 mile race, though II
may be that the Ballot drivers will not
care to show their hand and keep them
under wraps in public performance. At
the present writing, however unless the
cars develop some unexpected mechani-
cal trouble they are figured as the most
Troublesome contenders In the Indian
epolis race, and II they run true to pre-
o!et!on they may sweep the field.