The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-08-10

Decided After the $50 Mile MARX
had Been Passed-StOry OF the Race
One hundred and fifty thousand per-
sons at the Indianapolis races saw tne
Barber WarnOck special capture n1th
place hOnOrs.
Of the twenty-four automobiles that
sped eff at the start only eleven hnlsh.
ed and right up there with the pest OF
them was the Ford.
True, the Ford entry consisted OF
seventy-five per cent Ford parts. But
this demonstrates quite vlvldly the
quality and construction of those parts
which were used.
Memories of 1897
No more exacting tests are ever
given than those met in the Decoration
Day 5O0-mile grind, and the record of
the Ford in finishing in fifth place but
brought back the memories of the
days of the famous 1899" speedster.
L. L. Corum of Indianapolis pilOted
the Ford special, built by the Ford
dealer in Indianapolis. Last year was
the first time that a special built Ford
Wins HOnOrs
The Ford special, finishing fifth, I'm
ished ahead of Frank ELLIOT, driving a
hurant special, who ended sixth. K.
G. Durant, also in a Durant special,
finished seventh, Max Sailer, in Mer-
cede,> one of the three German en-
tries was eighth and Prince de Crys-
tria, in a Bugatti, a French entry, was
ninth. Phil Shafer, driving a Dusen-
berg, was tenth and G. Werner, in his
Mercedes finished eleventh.
That the Ford special finished ahead
of these cars and nOted drivers, is no
mOmentary triumph. 1t is a lasting
one.
Glory for Ford Entry
The glory Of winning the race, the
honor that goes with success and the
title of Speed "Kink" of course goes
to Tommy Milton in his H. G. S. Spe-
cial with plenty left over for Howdy
Wilcox, who relieved Milton for fifty
laps when the battle for first place
was at its height, after having headed
the procession in his own car foI
eleven laps. But the real man of the
hour, the hero of the pOpulace, was
Lora L. COrum. driver of the Barber
Warnock Special which despite the
impressive title was instantly recOg-
nized by the crowd as a friendly Ford
in racing garb.
Makes Game Fight
They started to "kid" COrum anC
his car in a good natured way wher
he showed up on the track in his tan
gerine colored ''Hennery" weeks ago
Once again he got a razzing bit of ap-
plause when he qualified in seventh
position at tic time trials. They
laughed and applauded when he drove
to the starting line Wednesday. Aftel
that they cut out the laughter anC
went heavy on the applause when they
saw the game fight he was making.
Outlasts Many Cars
AS he kept up his steady gait with
out miss and Outlasted car after ca
of great reputation and enormous cos
the crowd warmed to him. When h
came into the pits for supplies at tn
| 104th lap he got a tremendous hand
and when he rambled home in fiftl
place ahead of a lot of the best motto
staff of three nations he made a recep
ton that scarcely was exceeded b.
that given Milton at the end of tn
great run.
Wins $4,000
= The Ford dealers special entry fin
ished ahead of race models of foreig
construction that cost small fortune
to construct. By capturing fifth plac
T.. L. Corum not only was enriched /
farne but was rewarded with a $500
prize for his work, which amount wa
the share of the days spoils allotted t
the fifth placer. The one big featur
of the race this year was the Ford
performance, declares a newspaper
Indianapolis. COrum was the la:
driver out of twenty-four to stop
/ the pit for fuel and his mount SUI
} vived after thirteen others had bee
forced out of the battle. 1t is sal
that the thousands in attendance gay
: the Ford dealers entry the lOngei
ovation ever given a race car. III
; newspapers in Indianapolis feature
t the FOrd's work in "acFoss the toI
1 headlines. The fact that few of Il
). vast number present expected Il
S Ford Special to put up such a gan
: and insistent battle brought tr
e mendous reaction when the last Il
d was made. The race between the Flo,
Special and Frank Elliott in his d
rant, who finished a close sixth, WI
S a thriller as the time and miles p
|, hour record as shown in the chart a
c companying this article indicates.
Il Passes Durant
Y 1t was not until the four hundr
/ and fifty-mile mark that the Fo
f Special passed Frank Elliott's Duran
+ Up to this time the Durant had be
o skipping along at a merry pace, faiI
o well assured of fifth place honol
e perhaps better. But to the surpri
e of the crowd, the Ford Special putin
i on burst of speed which proved
0 an enduring nature, crept up stead
e on Elliott, and with a beautiful a
thrilling burst Of speed succeeded
n passing him. AS the Ford was nev
e overtaken by Elliott after that, FL
is otis car not having the pep" to Owe
l. take the fast flying Ford. Elliot dro
the entire race with the exception
a few laps.
Those that built the Barber-W;
n mock entry had confidence that Tn
le could construct a race car that wol
g hold up in the gruelling 5OO-mile ra
d and today that confidence has be
r rewarded. They had confidence tf
, | tho Ford ,-cad frame. front q