The sun., 1919-07-06

with self constructed relations with
heisheorhood grocer and . nsishborhood
The grocer would give him a dollar q
week for delivering groceries via new
bicycle; the dealer wodid give him a wheel
on 1 week installmerts.
The deal was made, and Ralph got the
wheel But there was 90 much enjoyment
In riding the wheel that the grocery pusl.
ness fell on. and soon there was no dollar
week TO put down on the bike. Finally
there was q reluctant conference with the
bicycle dsaisr--Frank Baker OF Brooklyn
sSS :hip II, locked SI blu. for any NOR.
maybe the demon rider would nike to work
for him A. . bicycle mechanic at ,is a
week From that Il was o. step TO bicycle
racing. and a long. long way TO the driv-
The hrst bicycle race Ralph De Palma
entered he did not show for place. The
won the novice rage ana moved into the
amateur class. That was nineteen years
ago. 4 dosen wins as an amateur. the nat
at Rochester and second In the six day
race followed hard on each other.
Then came the motorcycle and De Palma
almost svsry race he entered until one day
he was unable TO resist the temptation 10
so back into an unusually .interestine' bicycle
ducsed into IN. crowd and tried to look like
q spectator, without hope OF rain or reward.
But ;sr.;. ri .ms,sus n $50, ;s,
all athletic activities for i've years
with 1905 and the lifting o. the suspension
came his entry into automobile racing. Tie
was serving A. mechanic when ne got his
fore the race hi. pilot while practising drove
on on, in ST 20 sry 9d . s1S hurt o Hn ri ~.
nerve OF the novice In his nrt trick at the
wheel. and while holding fourth plsce in I.
,nd stayed there. Nevertheless he hsd SHOWED
enough In tire hrst part ~ Tho run 10 win
him . car, and he NEXT appeared on the mile
r.ce. He proceeded TO hurn up the tracks
winning seventeen ~ nineteen r.ces in HE
nT 81. '. ~ IT. & the Ss., wS S.T., we'll . mos,
sltlful and courageous drivers De pal~"a s;j'l
HIS not escsred personal injury In isns one
whom ne blew a tire. broke the st.-rln. arm,
.nd nit tres. into the hrsnshe. ~ which
,. va. tsrc,n: , Loot C 10. , :na ycS vii
1918. ~ Milwaukee. whom he was overtat'rs
c.,.h Br.ss In . rad racs. he met his most
neld and two Of ms cornTalks nene;rated
III. thigh and abdomen. He was laid up In
hosn'tsl in Milwaukee for weeks.
In the yrars heforc he won ~ rrd'snrted lend.
~rshp sent the story about he PALMS, "jlnx"
hvinr srornd The c'rrn't Nm. n'"ht no ans
come friends counted up the rnccs that he hsd
lost after they seemed ot a certainty 10 he "in
| th~ ram" m scrount ~ car Trouble md ther
.ct.iNh eleven rn,,or events TNs nr'.e money
that wss practically In his hands hut lost by
these msfortunes amounted to tts5 on
Pint never had N. an 7 never losttu." rsrs
De Palma with tie laughing nhilosonNv which
Il 90 steady an element Of the magnetic person
! Atty thst has msde him unfailingly popular
| among American race loving Motorists 'NhAt
| must no counted ss lOsses are the snms mt
into nrensrst'nn for races that TINS sl'nped
| through my hnsers. II costs ~ least - mn N
mt a car on the track. Brt thr big thing I,
| that desri,e treat disappolntments the goal
IL sttainable In racing A. In everything else
in life
II ride with better luck now hecau.s I ride
| Win more confidence. and ride with rnhrs
confidence because Of the car have, I'm fond
| NJ saying Packard has Fiveh me luck, but
| nationally. what Packard has given me Ia on
| antomobil4 OF such power and speed and uni
| form quality that my problem 10 altogether on,
~ matching driving skin with my competitor,
and getting 70 the rear axle all that's stored
| under the hood"