The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-16
2-DAYAUTO RACES
Speed Features to Draw Big
Crowds to Free Fair.
Sensational Events on Track
Friday and Saturday.
DARING AIR STUNTS SATURDAY
California Movie Daredevil to
Thrill the Spectators.
Acrobatfcs on Wings of Plane
and Hood of Engine.

Drawn from all parts of the United
States by the $4,000 in prizes AID
bonuses hung up by the management
of the Kansas Free Fair, leaders of the
dirt TRACK auto racing world are ar
irving in Topeka to compete in the
gasoline fiesta which brings the big
fair to a close tomorrow and Saturday
Several of the men arrived yesterday,
while Louis Disbrow, world famous
track campaigner, will arrive tonight.
Sig Haugdahl and Ray Clapool of
Kansas City. are expected to arrive to-
morrow night to add thrillers to the
Saturday afternoon battles.
Among the men who are already IN
Topeka IS Bob Cline. of Columbus, VINO
VIII pilot DeuSenberg special in to-
morrow's affair. Cline was badly in
jured at Edmonton two months ago
when his machine crashed thru the
fence, aid this is one of the first
meets in which he has taken part since
his release from the hospital. His old
machine was totally destroyed in the
wreck, but his new Deusenberg is even
faster than the old car.
Harry Dempster, with his Paige
special. has also arrived and expects
to try out the track late this afternoon.
Dempster has been making spectacu-
lar time in all races in which he has
taken part thru the middle west this
year, and his followers expect big
things from him here. Another star
is Ted Rick of Des Moines. Ted was
one of the favorites here last year, for
tho he is one of the youngest of track
kings, he is a veteran on the track.
He has brought with him the Stephens
speed creation with which he won the
Northern sweepstakes at Jackson,
Mich. last week.
French Race Acc Here.
Ray LaPlante, French race ace,
plotting a-SStutz, is also among the
arrivals, as well as John DIETER
known as "Do'9 Raimey, an old timer
on the tracks who is back of an Essex.
Rowe Brainerd, one of the newer stars,
is also on the ground, altho he may
not compete Friday.
Officials of the International Motor
contest association arrived today and
have given their approval to the en-
tries already listed. They predicted
this morning that the Topeka track
will be in fine shape for tomorrow's
speed battles, and declared that with
the lineup of entries. track records
are due for a fall.
Airplane Stunts.
There is only one man in the world
who has so far succeeded in sitting
on the hood of an airplane while the
plane does an Immelman turn. and
has come out alive. He is Mart Camp
bell, the California moving picture
daredevil, who arrived today to get
much needed rest before he attempts
the stunts with which he will thrill
the crowds that attend the Kansas
Free Fair on Saturday afternoon. Be-
side this dangerous act, Campbell also
hangs from his heels from the land
ing gear. stands on his hands atop
of the plane. slides from the pas
senger seat to the tail of the plane
during a tail spin and does a score
of stunts similarly dangerous
When asked how he happened to
begin his career as an aerobatic, the
daredevil Scotchman explained that
while in the aerial department of the
called on to climb all over the
observation balloons to pick up
wires that often came loose. He be-
came SO adept at rambling around
while up in the air that whenever a
particularly dangerous stunt had to
be performed in the air. everyone
asked. where's Campbell" And af-
ter I got out" added Campbell, 81
couldn't get a thrill out of plain rid
ing. so 1 started stunning. 1 guess
that's all there is to it,
Ladies' Style Driving.
As an added feature for Automobile
Race" day, bringing the fair to
climax Saturday afternoon, Secretary
Phil Eastman announced this morn
ing that a ladies style driving contest
will be conducted just before the races.
Topeka ladies driving newest models
of practically every car handled in To-
peka, will take part in the event, which
is vastly different from anything ever
staged in Kansas before.
All drivers are judged on the man
ner in which they handle their cars
while on the track. and are put to
driving tests by the conductor of the
contest. Suitable prizes are to be
by the fair management for
the drivers winning first places.
Sixteen cars are already entered for
the event, and several more are eX-
pected to come in today. bringing the
total up to twenty.
Those whose entries are already
filed are dealers of the following cars:
Essex. Liberty. Studebaker. Nash.
stephens Apperson, Gardner. Oakland,
Franklin. Chevrolet. Briscoe. KisselI,
Rao