Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-07-23
R AClN 0GR AM
Plea SES CROWD

PIEASES CROW
Holly Contested Auto Races and
An.hip Stunt. Furnish Excel
lent Day Of Exciting -. /.
Events. ;.7.s4s5 s
The racing track at the fair grounds
was the best possible condition for
the great auto races which were held
there last Friday afternoon. The.
racers made record time. Although
the course is not adapted to such US
age the admirers Of the sport express
ed themselves as more than satisfied
with the results. The track would not
permit the shattering of world rec
ords but the car drivers let out their
favorites with free reins and the
home folks witnessed some exciting
races. One Of the disappointment
was the non-appearance of Ruth Law
the national figure in aviation who 10
now touring the country amazing her
admirers with her daring and skill.
Due to some motor accident word
was sent that she could not appear
and at once the local managers wired
to Minneapolis and engaged another
who arrived almost promptly on time
for his performance. He was not
told however about his race with
George Clark causing the canceling
Of that event much to the regret of
the crowd. The tail-end events were
omitted due to the lateness of the
hour, but the crowd appeared fully
content with three hours Of swift
motor racing and the unique polo
games which fairly delighted the on
lockers. The program was carried
out as follows: !
Time Trials.
This race of one round of the track
was to decide the fastest racer upon
the local course. The winner who
CHANGED to be Ted LeCocq in his Hud-
son Special, and not George Clark,
who the boys were firm in their con-
viction would come out first. LeCocq
made record time encircling the track
in thirty-eight and two-f1fths seconds
The rest of the eight drivers complet-.
ed the half mile in forty seconds and
slight fractions The Ford Special,
made a grand hit with the crowd as
was the smallest of the cars but per-
sisted in holding the front for the
greater length of the course. Clark
the favorite driver in his second best
car the "Duesenberg" made the lap in
forty seconds fiat.
Special Challenge Race.
This was duel race between Clark
and Brainerd The latter drove his
minerva" with great skill and cud-
died close up to Clark's ''Duesenberg"
but was unable to pass him after
many futile attempts. To win the
race the entrant had to win two heats
out of three which requirement was
credited to Clark, as he came out the
winner with the two times, two min
utes and fifty two and three-ffths Sec
onds and two minutes and fifty-seven
seconds fiat.
Division A.
This race of six laps had as en-
trants, Ted LeCocq, Demster, Jobe
and Mercer, all of whom kept on a
par for the greater length of the
rounds. The Hudson Special forg-
ed half car length ahead during the
last third of the last lap, but Mercer
who drove the "Ford Special follow
ed abreast for the first five laps, drop
ping behind in the last half mile, re-
ceiving second place. Demster with
his swift French racer "Peugeot"
crossed the line as the third winner,
| while lobe fell hopelessly behind dur
| ing the last lap.
One Mile Exhibition Race.
This race was begun with a half
mile flying start. The drivers were
Ruttenbur and Kelly. "Baby Nine
appeared to have the better of the
Japanese spinner, Nippon" and came
out ahead with good margin. Kelly
drove his infant auto with great stead
mess and rounded the corners very
easily, thus securing an advantage in
distance which Ruttenbur could not
pick up during the last lap of the
mile race. The two cars are of a
miniature type. Kelly made the mile
in one minute and thirty-six and two
fifths seconds.
| Division 3.
This was a four lap race and three
racers entered the game. Kelly was
compelled to call halt in the third
lap, due to engine trouble, and the
race was on between Seip and Brain
erd. the former coming in victor with
the time of three minutes and eight
seconds fat. Seip drove the "Chev
rolet Special" and Brainerd the min
erva''
Five Miles Free for All.
Victory Sweepstakes were offered
to the winners of this race which
lasted for ten short laps in which ev
cry car did it's utmost to assume tn
lead. Seven cars took part in thu
race. Clark was delayed two third
of lap or more, but at the end o
the race had cut this distance dow
to about one fourth. The crowd wa
with him in his endeavor to crawl VI
with the leading cars. Demster cam
out ahead in this race but was almos
. allied in the honors with Mercer, VIII
| kept dangerously close during the er
tire ten rounds. Demster's time wa
eight minutes and forty-three second
! fiat.
l Auto Polo Games.
l The matchless feature was the e,
>. hibition of auto polo between Amer
:. can and British Polo teams. Th
q length of the course wherein the
Q played was about one hundred an
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