The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-11-26
AUTO CRASH KILLS
GREAT RACE PILOT
CASTOR Chevrolet Victim
at Los Angeles
Races


Chevrolet was killed near the end Of
the 250-mile race on the Los Angeles
speedway, when 1t developed at the
end of the race, he had won the ma
tional automobile racing champion
ship for 1920 on a point basis; Ros-
coe Sarles, winner Of today's race,
being far behind. Chevrolet died in
crash which cost the life of Lyall
Jolls, mechanician for Eddie O'Don-
nell and O'Donnell was SO seriously
injured, it was announced tonight,
he had little chance for recovery.
John Bresnahap, Chevrolet's me-
chanician, escaped with slight in
juries.
The accident occurred while Chew
rolet, O'Donnell and Joe Thomas
were fighting to make up the half a
dozen laps they were behind the
leaders at the 150-lap point. The
three cars were punched on the east
turn.
According to persons grouped
about the turn. Chevrolet turned to
pass Thomas, who was on the inside
of the bowl, and his car struck that
Of O'Donnel, who was on the outside.
O'Donnell's car turned and plunged
down the incline, and Chevrolet's,
apparently out of control, shot to the
top of the track, tore out twenty
feet of fence, then rolled down the
incline on top of the wreckage, be-
meath which O'Donnell and Jolls
were pinned.
Rushed to Hospital
All four men were removed to q
hospital. O'Donnel was unconscious,
his skull fractured and both arms
broken, and attendants brought in
formation to the judges stand he
was dead. The officials announced
that both Chevrolet and O'Donnell
had been killed, and 1t was more than
an hour before the news spread that
O'Donnell was still living.
Sarles led every lap but one, roll
ing over the 200 laps on the mile and
one-quarter track, without a stop, in
2 hours, rs minutes and 20 seconds,
an average of 1882 miles an hour.
Edward Miller finished second in 2
hours, 27 minutes and Ia seconds, an
average of 1928 miles. Eddie Hearne
was third, his time being 2 hours, 27
minutes and 27 $40 seconds, for an
average of 1918. Jimmy Murphy
finished fourth in 2 hours, 81 min
utes and 41.S seconds; average, 9S.9.
Thomas was placed fifth and Jim
Crosby sixth, both being tagged be-
fore finishing All Melchoir, Tommy
Milton and John Thiele were forced
out by engine trouble.
Big Winnings
Sarles, in addition to taking first
money, $4,000 won 1919 lap prizes
of $50 each, offered by Los Angeles
merchants to the man first across the
line on each circuit. Murphy won
the second lap prize. The other
prizes were: Miller, $4,000; Hearne,
$4,000; Murphy, $4,000; Thomas,
$1,000; Crosby, $500.
Chevrolet's point total for the sea-
son in the championship competition
was 1880, all acquired previous to
today's races. Milton, who did not
finish today, had $50, with other
competitors as follows:
Murphy, S85; Ralph de Palma,
COS; Sarles, $40; Thomas, 351;
Milford, $50; Hearne, 345; Ira Vail,
14O; ODonnell, 10. Milford and
Vail were not entered in the race to-
day. De Palma was entered, but did
not start
Chevrolets Racing Family
CASTOR Chevrolet was the youngest
of three racing brothers. He was q
mechanic for two years before he
demonstrated that he was driver OF
merit at the 500-mile Memorial day
race at Cincinnati, where he finished
third.
After that Chevrolet drove as an
OUTLAW" with several other promin-
ent drivers, but was reinstated in the
ranks of the American Automobile
association pilots. In 1919 he raced
on many dirt tracks, winning many
of the events and placing in others.
On May 81 last he won the 500
mile Indianapolis speedway race IN
the best time in the history of that
annual event. He averaged a speed
of 1915 miles an hour.
His last race before today was at
Uniontown, Pa, September 8, where
he took fifth Mace.