Evening star., 1925-10-26

tor race of such outstanding import
ance.
Referee Wagner announced 1t | 30
o'clock that every car would he
obliged to take its regular test spin
around the track before being official
ly entered Selection of position for
the drivers on the usual basis of their
times in the test spins. however, was
found to be lmpra Cticable and II was
decided that the l6 speed demons who
are 10 compete should draw for place
and let lady luck give the head of the
list to her most favored son.
Although Devore was the first TO
burn up the wooden floor of the track
he did not seem To like the going any
too well and kept his car down to the
snail-lilte pace of about 100 miles an
hour Dr. William r.. Shattuc, who
got into the inaugural races in the
Spring only through the injury of an
other driver after he had failed TO
make a sufficiently high record in the
tests. let his Miller special out to its
limit, however.
Slips About Track.
Shattuc. millionaire and racing
driver by choice. banked the high
curves at speeds that all but matched
the fight of time and brought the few
hundred persons who passed through
the Grandstand gates TO the verge Of
high blood pressure as he slipped,
time and again. from the white rail
to the bottom of the saucer. Dr.
Shattuc's performa nee was by far the
most thrilling yet seen here in pre-
liminary run.
Bennie Hill Earl Cooper. Fred
Conner. Harry HartZ. Phil Shafer and
Bob McDonogh were next ont in the
order named. Apparently McDonogh
was stricken with a gust of superSti-
tion this morning. for when he climb
ed behind the wheel of his car he
was dressed from head to foot in the
clothes of A Scotch Highlander, from
hose and knickers to
green and black tam o'sha To
the sibes hurled at him from the other
pits. McDonogh merely smiled and
"Just wait.
Noon found most OF the drivers ont
for their trials under the watChful
eve of Referee Wagner. Peter De
Pa olo, who had commanding lead in
the number of points earned toward
the racing championship for 1925, was
mired at the gates Taking lesson
from the Spring. he had brought his
car to the track on broad-wheeled
truck to prevent being trapped in the
sticky clay that fills the roads here
ahouts.
Hartz Makes Record.
His forethought proved Of no avail.
however. and he was finally obliged
TO have his car dismounted and even
tualIy succeeded in driving in through
the mud hole to the track. 1t was
the same car in which De Paolo cap
tured the inaugural race at this track
a few months ago. Without stopping
TO have his mechaniCianS make the
examination. he darted out
for his trial spin and left the eXami-
nation for later.
Harry Hartz flashed around the
track in the ia steSt time that has ever
been made in this speedway during
his practice spin. He turned one lap
in 20 4-5 seconds. which is an aver
age speed of 1859 miles an hour. De
Paolo had previously held the record.
The time was taken by Referee Wag-
ner. who announced the establishment
Of the new unofficial record.
Bennie Hill. cliRging to the outside
rail with bewilderiug agility. complet-
ed his fastest lap in 30 l-5 seconds,
giving him an average of l34.l miles
an hour for the lap. De Paola SEEM
ing to sense the fact that his record
had been smashed. although unof-
ficially. Of course, opened his Dusen-
berg Special wide but he turned his
best lap in 80 is. for an average OF
1858 miles an hour.
Track in Fine Shape.
Contrary 10 reports that the wea ther
had seriously injured the board track.
Referee Wagner reported the Speed
way to be in perfect condition. This
track is in wonderful condition" he
said. ANY time q man can turn in
a record like HartZ did you can bet
there are no boards out of place. Who
ever said some OF the boards had come
loose must be crazy.
The drivers are looking for record
out here today. Favored by the high.
steep curves. and with their regular
racing gas on hand, II is confidently
predicted that the winner of today S
race will have to break all previous
marks to attain that coveted honor.
Last Spring there was bitter com
plaint over the failure Of the Speedway
authorities to provide the high.
powered Richfield gas. The driver had
to use regular domestic gas then. but
TINS ran all TANKS are lOducu Win tH0
regular racing gas.
Tommy Milton, Jersey Wonderlich,
Leon Duray, Reginald johnson and
Pete Keys took their practice spins
without attempting any record times.
Jim Hill was driving for Reginald
johnson. Although the track and the
pits were humming with activity and
flying motors, by 1890 O'Clock mere
handful of persons sat in the grand
stands, and there was no undue pres
sure of traffic out on the Washington
Baltimore boulevard.
At this time last year the grand
stand was at least third filled despite
the intense heat, and automobiles
were beginning to pile through the
roads to the track in an incessa nj
stream. The postponement that was
necessitated on Saturday. II was fear
ed. will prevent thousa nds of persons
who had counted on seeing the races
0uIl coming " The ErasSk