South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-01
MANY CHAMPIONS
ARE ENTERED IN
ELGIN ROAD RACE
CASTOR Chevrolet, De Palma,
Joe Boyer and Many Others
Will Take Part.

CHICAGO July 31.-The Elgin
national road race on Aug q has
assumed national importance
which has been absent from IL since
the discontnuance Of stock car rae
ing several years ago. This year =
race assumes the importance of the
real road racing championship Of
America and has, accordingly,
brought together the most impress
siyC field OF entries which has graced
-an affair OF the kind since 1915
Award Of championship points by
the American Automobile associa-
tIon has brought this result.
Elgin IS now the only road race
of country wide interest held IN the
United states In the days Of the
Vanderbilt and Grand Prix races,
Elgin was held as of secondary i'm
pOrtance to these features. but IS
now the only real road race Of the
year Santa Monica interest Is limit
ed chiefly 10 the Pacific coast and
seldom draws az good field as the
mid-western classic
Many Famous Drivers.
This years field at Elgin is I'M
questionably the best which has en-
tered for the last i've years. with
more than three weeks In which TO
secure further entries, the Chicago
Motor club, which is financing this
years venture, has already secured
the nor >inations OF CASTOR Chevro-
let, Tommy Milton and jimmy Muir
phy, the men who rank one, two
and three in the a. A A point
standing at present besides a num-
Der OF other stellar drivers. Among
these latter are Ralph De Palma,
Cliff Durant. Eddie Hearne, I'd
Schnlo. Joe Boyer. Eddie O'ponnell.
Ira Vail and others whose names
are familiar TO automobile racing
followers.
With a field such as this, CON-
petition Is more than ordinarily
keen indianapolis was the real
trial OF the new 1873 cubic inch rae
ing cars but Elgin offers the road
test, regarded as much more severe
trial than any track event could
possibly be while the Elgin distance
Of approximately $50 miles is only
half as long as the test 10 which
the cars were subjected at the
HoOsier oval, the fact II is over
country roads OF only the ordinary
smoothness makes II a test OF the
stamina and stability Of the ma
chimes such as track race never
could be.
Yank VI. European Oars.
IL will be interesting TO compare
the performances OF the American
and European built cars in the race
for this season. So far American
cars have successfully held their
own against the best that France
has been aitle to put IN the field
Thu AlwnaV-fnun hrrt 2
Monroe machine was winner at In
diynapOhs. Outspeeding and out
gaining three French cars, the Bal
lot. Peugeot and Gregoire teams In
other races both Duesenbergs and
MOnTCeS and FrontenaCs have beat
en- the French Ballot and Puegeot
machines piUted against them.
Elgin, however, offers a different
sort Of test The European racing
cars are essential road racing
CaIs. There are nc -Gcks in Franco
or indeed in all Europe comparable
with our speedways at Indianapolis,
UniOntOwn and Beverly Hills and as
a consequence most of the foreign
speedsters are designed for road
contests. The Ballot. for instance,
is essentially a road racing car.
Whether the Amertcan-bu Dues
enbergs and Monroes and Eronten-
scs will be able TO maintain their
superiority on road as we'll as track
only Elgin can answer.
Expect Rig Crowd.
Attendance at the race this year.
too. Is certain 70 be more ike to
Old-time crowds than IL has been
for several seasons. For the first
time in several seasons, the Elgin
racs is botng handled by an ade-
qUate organization. The Chicago
Motor club, with a membership N
excess OF $4,000 Is financing and pro
noting the 1920 race and Is going
at IL in its ENTHUSIASTICALLY thor
Ough manner. The club has put six
road marking cars on tho roads in
the vicinity OF the course and be-
fore race day every road within a
radius OF zoo miles of the watch
city VIII be marked and logged.
Besides this, the shortening OF the
race from 9O5 10 approximately go
miles and the greater speed Of mod
err cars has enabled officials Of the
race TO postpone the starting TO l
o'clock IN the afternoon. This COM
parzt lively lato starting time Eneans
that thousands Of persons viii be
able 70 drive TO Elgin for the race
and return home before darkness
sets in.