Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-01
Milton wins At
1919 OPENING
UN|ONTOWN RACE
Youthful ST.. Paul Speedster
Beats Veterans of Roaring
Road in 112 1-2 Victory
Sweepstakes.

The opening of the 1919 automo-
bile racing season in the east, at
Uniontown. Pa, May 10, proved a
big triumph for Tommy Milton, the
youthful speedster from St. Paul
and scion of wealthy family of
that city.
At the wheel Of his Dusenberg he
outdistanced field of IS contenders,
winning the ll2H mile victory
sweepstakes, in the phenomenal time
OF l:l0:o.32, maintaining an aver
age speed throughout the race of
1924 miles an hour--a new track
record for this distance.
Nonstop Race.
In capturing the Universal trophy
and setting up a new speed mark
for the track, Milton verified the
track tradition that no driver can
win at Uniontown without making a
continuous run, for he drove a won
derful nonstop race. and at the fin
ish crossed the line at a speed of
better than 100 miles an hour. He
drove On Goodyear cord tires of
the straight side type.
The veteran, Louis Chevrolet, in
a Frontenac, led the field for the
first FIVE laps, when he was passed
by Ralph Milford, also driving a
Frontenac, and for 81 laps the con-
tention between these two seasoned
speed demons provided thrilling en-
tertainment for the spectators. But
in the meantime Tommy Milton was
gradually creeping up on the two
leaders and on the SD lap assumed
the lead, holding it until the fin
ish.
Louis Chevrolet stormed across
the tape but few seconds behind
the flying Milton, closely followed
by Ralph milford. Cliff Durant, in
Chevrolet Special; Joe Boyer, driv-
ing Frontenac; Louis LeCocq, at
the wheel of a Roamer, and Kurt
Hitke also plotting a Roamer fin
ished in the order mentioned. Chev-
rolet, Durant and Hitke also fin
ished the race without a stop for
any purpose. All the finishing driv-
crs piloted cars equipped with
Goodyear cord tires and Goodyear
tubes.
Throws a Wheel"
The race was not without the
usual thrills On the 10th lap Omar
loft, driving a loft Special, threw
wheel just after passing the grand
stand, while travelling o5 miles an
hour. In a wonderful exhibition of
Irving skill and daring, loft
brought his three-wheeled mount to
place of safety near the inner rail,
while the other drivers whizzed by.
The runaway wheel, with its tire
intact, continued down the track and
ook the curve beautifully, travel
ing about 500 feet, when it took a
>ound and disappeared over the
.cnce.
Only a few seconds later, the big
Mercer car, driven by Joe Thomas,
the Pacific coast racing star, in
coming down from the famous death
curve, struck the outer rail and
whirled around the track several
lines, with the spinning wheels
uniting sparks of fire, finally crash
lS lHto tIe opposite Idll, WITHOUT
injury to the driver. Inspection
bowed a broken spring and
prung axle, putting the car out of
he running.
On the oSth lap as Louis Chev-
olet was rounding this same curve,
his car was seen to swerve from one
;ide of the track to the other, and
he crowd rose in apprehension of
4crious disaster, but the master driv-
" soon regained control straight
med out his car and continued on
us course. In the opinion of many
lie might have finished first but for
he time lost in this maneuver
additional entertainment was
provided for the crowd by 1t. o. L:
Locklear who performed series Of
serial cahsthenics of unparalleled
skill with biplane. The lieutenant
also took the precaution to equip his
mount with Goodyear tires of the
aeroplane type.