Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-24
GREEK DRIVER IN
MOTOR RACES
First Time This Nation Ever
Had Representative in
American Contests

Indianapolis May 24.-George Bu-
zane, the worlds only Greek racing
driver, is touted as the probable
choice of the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway to pilot one of the pair
of Premier fiiers entered by this or
ganization in the International 500
mile Liberty Sweepstakes race on the
Hoosier oval, May 81.
The speedway management has not
definitely decided as yet whether to
start the Premiers or not. preferring
to dispose of the cars to some private
Individual. IL possible. However, as
the day of the race approaches and
no sale is announced it is thought
that the speedway can not maintain
its he-fence attitude much longer.
Buzane, who is in the experimental
division of the American aviation SER
vice, stationed at McCook Field, Day
ton, o., has obtained leave of alb
sence for a month, and is ready to
step into the fray at the wheel of
one of the Indianapolis speed crea-
tions the minute the word Is given.
He has been in frequent conference
with the speedway officials of late.
but to date has received no assurance
that he will have a mount.
Buzane is one of the most promis-
ing racing stars of the generation,
needing only an opportunity, in the
opinion of experts, to demonstrate
that he is as good as any man in the
game. The traditions of this race
are an inspiration to feats of athletic
/, prowess. and Buzane endeavors to
measure up to their highest precepts
and ideals.
The quiet hammered Greek started
his gasoline career at the wildly ex-
citing pastime of repairing small gas
oline engines used by Greek soda
fountain men and confectioners. None
of the other repair men of the day
could understand the Greek tongue,
and consequently George had a mon
oply of this particular occupation.
From small stationary gas engines
to large automobile power plants was
only step, and soon Buzane was
devoting his attention exclusively to
the latter, winding up as Eddie
Hearne's mechanician in the days
when he raced Fiat and Benz cars
in the Vanderbilt and Grand Prize.
In 1914 Buzane ventured into the
racing game on his own account. driv-
ing an old Ded!etrich that had at one
time held the worlds straightaway
record in the road races at EIgin.
The car still had some of its old
speed, but did not stay together long
Iand consequently Buzane was soon
out of the running.
In 1915 Buzane came back, at the
wheel OF Duesenberg, and this year
made first-class showing, never
coming under the wire later than
fourth. He took fourth at Indian
apolis, fourth at Cincinnati, second
in the Pixies Peak hill climb and
placed well up in every event in which
he was entered.
In 1917 he received a rush call to
go to Cincinnati to drive the Detroit
special abandoned by Eddie Ricken-
hacker when the latter suddenly de-
cided that his place was in France.
He got wonderful speed out of the
car, leading the field while he lasted,
but engine trouble stopped him short
in his career. The same difficulty
defeated him in the Chicago race that
year.
Ever since the close of the 1917
season BuZane has been engaged in
experimental work on aircraft mo-
tors for the United States Govern
ment. He was one of the men who
helped to build, assemble and test the
original Liberty motor, then unnamed,
and assisted in the development of
every Improvement that has since
SpiiS " hidhe this tue Hiosl ehlClenI,
clean cut and powerful aeronautical
engine ever produced.
At the wheel of one of the speed
way-owned Premiers. Buzane would
have the opportunity he has long
craved, of proving he is racing pilot
of major rank. The Premiers are
exceptionally fast, and the overhaul
ing process to which they are being
at present subjected is expected to
place them in first-class shape for
the long fYe-centurY grind.