The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-06-21

an entire family. as has often hap
pened In touring accidents.
The discoveries OF the last In
dianapolls race will enable wheel
manufacturers TO improve their
product 50 that occurrences such a,
those which produced fatalities dur
ing the contest will be impossible
on tho open rad. who shall say
then. in view OF this fact. that the
Liberty sweepstakes race did not
scrve a useful purposos
Anyone who drives an autemo-
bile has often reflected upon what
would happen II his steering APP
paratus would break, leaving him
helpless at the wheel OF an uncon
;rollahle car. and great has been
the wonder that this delicate con
trivanec rarely gives any trouble
A. a matter OF fac, the perfection
% steering mcchantsm is one OF the
chief contributions OF automobile
racing TO the safety % motoring
Designs that were thought good
engineering practice were quickly
shown TO be most dangerous when
subjected TO the test OF extreme
speed and consequently discarded
before they had opportunity "a
work mischief In the field Of every
day use.
The same thing applies to all
other parts OF an automobile with
respect 70 safety. Frames, axles
wheel spindles. bearings. tires. the
proper design and materials for
these were arrived Mt much more
quickly thru racing and with much
less loss OF life than would have
been possible had automo,ive prog.
ress not had the assistance OF racing.
Also. don't forget that racing
calls into play tho keenest engineer.
ing minds in a constant struggle 70
produce more horse power. more en-.
ergy. with less welght-an endless
reaching out into new fields for the
purpose % Increasing efficiency and
economy In gasoline consumption
To Increase engine efficiency new
types Of valve action have been in
vented. different cylinder arrange
fnenta have BEEN tried. all kinds Of
manifolds built. every piece Eone
over with a view 10 possible improve.
rient. while the endeavor to rcducr
weight has proved a stimulus TO the
rnetailurgicai arts. resulting In the
Invention % st~eiH Of unheard O.
iightness. combined With SURPRISING
strength.
The new. lightweight car OF the
future. combining comfort and room.
une-s with low operating cost. both
as regards gasoline and tires. win
owe its existence more 10 racing
than any other factor.
And. booking back for moment
Ia tho recent days Of war. what do
you suppose would have been tn.
position % allied aircraft manu-
factur~rs but for the experiences
OF racing, Every engine that wen,
into an allied airplsne. from the Eng.
llsh SUNBEAM thru the Htspano-suiza
and Flat TO the American Liberty,
Incorporated principles developed In
the field OF automobile racing. and
which. without racing. could not
have been developed In time 10 b. OF
scrvice. True. we are not supposed
to have wars any more. but as long
as the possibility r. present. Il win
not do TO ignore automobile racing
as factor In determining the safety
OF the ~ation.
Summing up the case % automo-
bile racing. I would say that ~ Is
indispensable to modern progress. at
least as far an events like the Indian.
apoils races and the French Grand
Prfx contests are concerned. where
the now ideas and theories of the
most prominent builders Of both the
new and old continents are tested In
actual competition.
Tor next year. tho Indianapolis
speedway management has an.
nounced its contest will be for cars
Of ls3 cubic inches piston displacc-
ment. coinciding with recently form.
ulated plans for the French Grand