The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01

breaking crowd of $4,000 persons.
Chevrolet's time was 5:40:16.l4, an
average of 88.16 miles an hour, the
second best time in the history of the
event.
In addition to winning the $40. 700
first prize, Chevrolet won approx
mateiy $500 more in lap prizes.
competition and cash prizes offered
by accessory firms
Rene Thomas Numbered across the
finish in second place, having covered
the distance in 5:43:02.29. His aver
age was ST.45 miles an hour Tommy
Milton pulled up in third place. and
Jimmy Murphy, winner of the Santa
Monica road race, finished fourth. All
the thrills came IN the last 80 miles of
the race, when Ralph de Palma, the
favorite, with lead of tea miles to
his credit, seemed certain of winning!
But with victory in his grasp, de
Palma's car burst into flames on the
and few minutes later the car driven
J by Joe Boyer, who led during the
| first $50 miles, skidded. overturned
and crashed into. brick retaining
wall. Neither Boyer nor his mechani-
clan was seriously injured
The accident which snatched victory
from de Palma was tragic. The noted
Italian was racing at breakneck speed
when a sheet of flame licked it way to
| its gasoline tank. While his mechani-
clan heroically fought the flames, de
Palma, broken-hearted over his mis-
fortune, ran to the pits a mile away
for fresh supply of gasoline, stag
gering back under the weight of the
heavy cans. Undaunted, de Palma re-
stunned the grind, but after going an
other mile, his car. was wrapped in
flames for the secotd time With the
aid of his mechanician. de Palma
Ipluckily extinguished them and man
Jagged to finish the race in fifth place.
/ He was given a tremendous ovation
when he Numbered across the finish
line.
Misfortune trailed de Palma from
the start. He had the favored posi-
ton at the pole. but the bomb of the
starter caught him unawares and he
was among the last to get away. Then
on the very first lap, he was driven
into the pits with a flat tire.
Joe Boyers jumped into the lead
and held it for $50 miles, closely pur-
sued by Jean Chassange, Castor
Chevrolet and Rene Thomas. Wher
half of the race was over, Boyer made
his first stop at the pits, and de Palma
shot into the lead, which he main.
tanned until his car caughtfire.
i, There were half dozen accidents
but the drivers and their aides mi
raculously escaped death. While
speeding around the treacherous nortf
/ turn, Arthur Klein crashed into thu
side wall, damaging his car SO badl!
! it was withdrawn.
Louis Chevrolet, designer of tn
= car which his brother pfloted to vic
tory, also was in a smashup. His ca
skidded off the course when a steer
ling connection broke. Chevrolets bacl
twas injured and he withdrew.
Roscoe Sarles had the misfortune t
smash up two cars. He wrecked hi
own entry as a result of skidding of
the track and while driving as relic
for Bonnie Hill, steering knuckl
broke and he crashed for the secon
time.
Chevrolet drove a consistent rae
from the start and never was beloN
fourth place MostNof the time h
was either in second or third H
traiIed. de Palma from the $50 mil
point and took the lead when d
Palma had to stop.
Four winners of former races o
the speedway tried to repeat. Rem
Thomas and de Palma, 1914 and 191
winners, respectively, came in with
the money Jules Gouj, who won /
1918, was forced out after completin
, l345 miles.~Howard Wilcox, last year
winner. had engine trouble and gu
after completing 165 miles.