South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-26
SUNBEAM co.
ENTERS TWO CARS
English Factory Will Again
Try for Liberty Sweep
stakes on May 81.

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Jan. 25.-
Making its NTH bid for victory in
a race q the Indianapolis speedway
the Sunbeam factory OF Wolver-
hampton. England vii send two
cars 20 America for the 50O-mue
liberty sweepstakes on Nav 81 ".
r. Bradley, European representative
OF the indianapolis speedway. has
cabled from Paris that Louis Coata-
len VIII enter the two cars with Jean
Chassagne and Josef Christiaens
driving.
Although cable advices did not
tell .he details Of the cars il is pre-
sumed that they are the same
mounts built for Capt. Eddie Rick
enbacker and Christians 10 drive I'm
the 1917 race which was called or
on account OF the war. When Capt.
Rick" tried the cars out on the
Brooklands speedway in England he
was able TO get from lis 10 100
miles an hour out OF the six-cvlindo-
engines. The cars were built as
part Of England's work I'm develop
ing the airplane engine as the Sun
beam built many aircraft engines
for the allies, under the direction or
Coatalen, a member OF the British
admiralty. For this reason the gov
eminent gave CoatAlen permission 20
build and ship the cars in 1917.
Both Christiaens. who is a Bel
gian, and Chassagne. who is
Frenchman. have been connected
with the Sunbeam factory during the
war as Representatives Of their re-
spective governments in the pur-
chasing and accepting OF aircraft
engines. Both have raced at In
dianapolis before. Chassagne came
over in 1914 after he had set the
worlds hour record OF 112 miles.
1850 yards with the Sunbeam "I2''
at Brooklands. He was eliminated
after "a laps when his machine
somerSaulted on the upper turn. but
did not injure him. Christians
brought a Belgian Excelsior the same
year and won sixth prize. In 1915
Christians appeared at the wheel
OF a Sunbeam that boosted a body
polished until il was mirrOr-like.
having obtained leave from the Bel
Eian army TO come 10 America from
King Albert himself. Joe took fourth
place. although he had speed TO beat
Dario Resta. the Sunbeam had
trouble In keeping its tires intact
which defeated the Belgian.
Coatalen has endeavored since
1913 10 put over an Indianapolis
winner. The first year the Sunbeam
took fourth with Albert Guyot at the
wheel In 1914 Chassagne failed,
but the late Harry Grant. driving a
Sunbeam that William Zeigler had
purchased took fifth money. In
1915 Jean Porporato and Noel Van
Raalte were entered by the factory
and Grant by Zeigler Porporato
was in fifth place when a broken
piston killed his chances. Van Raalte
kept going and landed 10th. while
Grant dropped out near the finish.
The next year Christians was
fourth
In the development OF the Sun
beam engines for airplanes Costalen
has built more than score of en-
gines I'm the four years Of the war.
He perfected an Is cylinder and Is
the pioneer in the building or
twelves. It is possible that he has
put I'm a later engine than Capt.
Rick" tested out two years ago
this month. Even with two-year-oli
engines the Sunbeams vii be able 70
keep up the pace and with the
speedy Flats also 10 battle. the
American drivers will have 20
hustle TO keep the Hons share OF
the $4,000 prize and trophies from
going TO Europe.