Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-07

FOR ti.S sixth time since 1875,
national and international attention
will be turned to Omaha, Neb., as
the center of activities. This time
Omaha is to be the starting and I'm
ishing point, as well as the official
headquarters for the First National
Motor Truck Reliability contest,
which event will be staged" in
June, 1920, with the sanction and
under the rules of the American Au-
tomobile association.
The First National Motor Truck
Reliability contest will be conducted
for the purpose of allowing motor
truck makers to demonstrate the
claims made for their products and,
on the other hand to afford farmers
and merchants an opportunity to
see, first hand, what trucks loaded
ia their rated capacity will do under
the conditions which confronts
users in their daily tasks.
The present program outlines
run Of between $500 and 5000 miles,
covering an average of between 80
and 100 miles per day. The route
though yet to be mapped, will take
the trucks through Nebraska, Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming,
Iowa. South Dakota and Minnesota
visiting such cities as Omaha, Kan
sas City, Denver, Cheyenne, Sioux
City, Sioux Falls, Albert Lea and
.Des MONIES. The trucks will be on
the road between Is and 80 days.
Announce Route Soon.
The run from start to finish will
be directed by the American Auto
mobile Association in accordance
with printed rules compiled and
sanctioned by the association. The
official route in detail, except for the
general outline, will be announced
early in the spring after duly &C
credited pathfnders go over the en-
tire route to determine the condl-
ton of bridges and inquire regard
ing the facilities for accommodating
this enormous convoy.
The First National Motor Truck
Reliability contest has received tn:
Hearty and enthusiastic support OF
the American Automobile associa-
ton. which considered the contest
ole sufficient Importance to call a
special meeting of the contest board
ior the purpose of discussing the
advisability Of sanctioning this dem.
onstration. The contest board OF
the American Automobile associa-
ton met in New York City October
q. at which time the contest was
officially sanctioned. Richard Ken
rerdell. chairman of the contest
board, has stated his belief that the
event will be the most important
ever held for the motor truck IN
dustry.
A Real Demonstration.
The Omaha Automobile Trade as
ISOLATION and the Omaha Chamber
OF Commerce have endorsed the
contest and will lend all possible
support to its success. I. u: Powell
secretary and treasurer of the Oma-
ha Automobile Trade association
EXPRESSED himself as very much IN
favor of the contest and recon-
mended its endorsement both to the
Omaha Automobile Trade associa..
ton and the Omaha Chamber OF
Commerce.
Il is the plan OF the American
Automobile association and the pro.
moters to make this run a real
demonstration from start to hnish'
Entrants will be divided into hve
classes according to. the capacity, OF
the truck. A prize will be awarded
to the truck making the best show,
ing in each division, and 2 grand
prize to be known as the Omaha
Bee Trophy" will be awarded to
the truck making the best score, re-
CARELESS of its division.
Officially Inspected.
The penalties and score points
will be arranged by the American
Automobile association, and the
referee will probably be member
Of the contest board of that asso-
citation. Each truck will be officially
inspected by technical expert ap'
proved by the American Automobile
association and loaded to its adver-
tised capacity before starting the
run. In addition to this each truck
will carry an official observer whose
duty will consist of keeping an ac-
curate account of the performance
OF the truck under his observance
Thus, considering the wide range
az road conditions which will be en-.
countered in a run between 2,5O(
and 5000 miles, the affair should be
a thorough and complete demonstra,
t;on both to the manufacturer anc
those interested in the use OF the
motor truck.
Plans for the tour call for th'
most elaborate staging ever known
on a national event, not excepting
the greatest Glidden tours OF pas
days. Lessons learned on the grea
tours 81 passengers cars will be IN
cornorS.ed into the truck tour.
There has already been aroused
among manufacturers the hvelies
interest in this event. facts regard
ing it having leaked out through OF
fetal channels in New York. Ap
plications for entries are already II
hand with F. Ed Spooner, promo
~ y