The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-04
Homer C. George
 Discusses Big Race


 Indianapolis, June s.-Since the big 500-mile sweepstake event at Indian arolis of the week just closing. I have received query after query about the various cars which com peted in the long grind over the big oval here. It seems especially that It did not tell about the winning car which Jimmy Murphy drove. Ac- cordingly. I am going to try to give all the readers short explanation of the cars and few comments on the race and its possible results so far as the industry Is concerned.
 First, the car that Murphy drove was a special racer with a total pis- ton displacement of 1915 cubic inches. It was an eight-in-a-row cy- lindered motor with a bore of 2:6S7 inches and stroke of inches. not quite equalling tho possible size which would have brought 1t to 1S3 cubic inch displacement. It was, of course, over head waived and of high engine speed. being of 5000 revclu- tion per minute possibility. Four carburetors were used. though many stated that eight were used.
 The Grand Prix Winners
 The motor WAS III tuC SdtltC CHho1as with which Murphy won the Grand Prix at LaMans, France, last year, but in that case a Dusenberg motor produced the speed This year Mur- phy had a new motor built in Los Angeles by Harry Miller. who makes the famous Miller carburetors and who built the Golden Dragon for Barney Oldfield a few years ago. Mu- Ter has been building racing engines for several years.~but this was his first victory at Indianapolis. Murphy raced the car in California before shipping to Indianapolis and had 1t in perfect shape.
 I am not positive about this, but one of Murphy's close friends told me that Miller charged him only S5.000 for the motor, but 1 have an Idea IL cost a bit more. However, inasmuch as the chassis was already made It is possible that Miller only charged this for the motor. I know that other cars he built cost $12,500 each, though those consisted of chassis and all else. If Jimmy got this motor for $5,0eo 1t was dirt cheap, for he IS pretty sure to win from $50.0o0 to Sl00 900 with 1t this summer, as It is about the fastest car in the world, for actual competitive racing. It Is possible that when Tommy Miltons 8 Miller built motor of the same size and construction is worked In 1t may be as fast, but until this happens Murphy will rule the roost on the speedways.
 Etwht-in-a-Row Cylinders
 Incidentally, it should be of par ticular interest that of the entire bunch of cars which finished in the first 10. nine were eight-in-a-row cylindered. One was four-cylin- der car and built three years ago, at that. This should put us all to thinking, for 1t Is a sure indication that a motor for popuaar use will be developed in a short time of this type. Racing has fathered every im- provement we now have in touring cars and racing is proving the eight in-a-row type to be practical and a result will be the changing Of pres ent touring motors to that type be- fore we realize what has happened. The y-type eight is sure to go and in It's place come this new type motor. And the day Is not far distant.
 Rotary Motor Failed
 Speaking of motors, the rotary type DeW'ehre absolutely failed to show any speed In fact, 1t was not fast enough to qualify at7S0 miles an hour and did not start. This was a tre- mendous shock to many followers of engineering who have worked on TO- tary valve types for years. It was rumored that this particular car had avoided the troubles which previous cars of the type had. but if so the demonstration was sadly disappoint- ing. As matter of fact. only the eieht-cylinder straight line motors had sufficient speed to threaten anybody and next year it<fs most likely that nothing else will be here.
 The eight-in-a-line was brought to America three years ago, when the Ballots first made their appearance here. Following this initial showing Fred Dnsenberg and Louis Chevrolet beat the Frenchmen at their own game by building eight-in-a-rowers. which were much the fastest. Then Harry Miller turned to the new type and today he has the fastest motors of their size in the world. Five of the Miller motors were In the race.
 Youth Wins Out
 Another thing this race proved. and that Is youth must be given the call. We may talk of our foxy veterans, our nervy veterans and that kind of stuff; but it takes the kids to drive their fool heads off: to work their fool heads off; to ask all kinds of questions and make all kinds of experiments.s As . result It is the