Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-17


ing covers slightly more than quar-
ter century, the story of the roaring
road is not a long one. But within
it's compare lively brief existence it
has produced myriad examples Of dar'
ing, remarkable driving skill. UNI
flinchinr courage in the face of ever
prCSer .:. ger.
AS d SPOT of thrills without a peer,
ca as Il practical demonstration of
motor excellence. it stands out as the
cha ptcr in motordom'S history which
never will lose its glamour, its re-
nance or excitement for old and
Young alike.
With the passing of the years, the
steady hand of the race driver has
pushed back the limits of speed at
tainable by the motor car. Faster,
ever faster, have reared the fleeteSt
cars yet made. over dirt tracks, sea
shore, brick course and board speed
ways the grind has gone steadily on,
bringing new world records and fresh
indications that the restrictions of
time and space may be lifted still
more.
Year of Achievement.
Less than half the avera ge lifetime
separates the day of open-mouthed
wonderment at a rate of 80 miles an
hour from the feats of 135 miles an
IOuG OF more WIN WHICH the ~ >
champion. Peter de Paolo. and his
speed seeking collea CUES astounded
the thrOngS that watched this sport
OF thrills during the last twelve
month.
The past year brought its share of
motor-raCing achievements more nota-
bic than ever recorded in the history
of the sport. World records have fall
en-, new stars have arisen from
tho rliIptc pf 70 inv
and, as an avenue for attaining still
greater speed, the board speedway
has undergone marked development.
Motor raCedom halls Peter de
Paolo as the champion Of 1925.
Taking a substantial lead before the
year was half over, De Paolo con-
tinued to add fresh laurels and adj
ditional points to his championship
standing. so that long before the end
of the annual racing season he was
unbeatable. no matter what brilliant
featS his competitors accomplished.
De Paolo wins the 1925 champion
ship crown with more than half again
as many points as his nearest COM
petitor and double the number with
which the late Jimmy Murphy an
nexed the 1924 title.
Determination of Standing.
Annual championship standing of
drivers IS determined according to
how they place in the races during
the year. Events on the principal
epeedWayS are sanctioned as cham
pionship races by the contest board
of the American Automobile Associa-
tion and d certain number of points
awarded for each of the first 40
drivers finishing.
For first place the number of points
l. Il Ii
200 points being given for winning a
100-mile race, and SO on. up to the
] 900 points granted the victor in the
S00-mile feature at indianapolis.
Award OF points for lesser places at
the finish line is prUportionate. Sec
ond place is worth go points in a
250-mile race and $50 points In n 500
mile grind.
Points for the first 10 cars finish
ing the "50-mile race, the most pop
ular in tho big league program,
arc 500, go, 40, so, 80, 50. %. Is.
II and ;.
Prize money also is fixed according
TO the distance driven. The present
practice stipulateS the minimum purse
IS 800 a. mile, making $50, 900 the
total amount to be divided among
winning cars in 250mile event.
Sums awarded for the first 10 places
in a 250-mile race usually range from
5000 for first place to 500 or $3.50
for tenth place.
Many Records Fall.
World records ranging from 500
miles or speedways have fallen during
1925, while speed marks for distances
of from | to % miles have been beaten
on the dirt track.
Six world records fell in the last
:ace of the year. at Culver City, Calf.
November %. Earl Cooper, who has
done some> fast driving in his time,
set five of them. Frank Elliott. win
Jer of the 250-mile feature, sent the
world mark for that distance a-crash-
ing when he finished in | hour. 81
minutes and IS seconds, an average
of 1871 miles an hour. The record
he broke was 126.SS miles an hour, set
early in the year by Tommy Milton.
Cooper's five records were notable
achievements. He qualified for The
race at the rate of 141.5 miles an
hour. During the first 70 miles he
sped along at 1926 miles an hour.
Ills average for the first 100 miles
was 1918 miles an hour and for the
first $50 miles 1907 miles an hour.
Still driving at a terrific pace. Cooper
completed 200 miles with an average
of 1895 miles an hour. Then with
- Id ~ " tIiS IillSll Iiilt-ICSS TIA Il
20 miles-his gasoline tank went dry
and the stop for fuel cost him four
places. Elliott took on new lie at
This point and made a brilliant squirt
which brought him to the frish line
about a mile ahead Of Harry Hartz,
in second place. Fred Conner came in
third; Bob McDonogh, the youthful
flash who achieved his fame in the
latter part of the year, was fourth,
and Cooper. who had driven the fast
est race Of all, fifth.
De Paoio's Achievements Great.
Fitting 1t is that the driver who long
before the close of the years racing
program had won the title of Speed
King, Peter De PaOlo. should have
set the new world record for 500 miles
on the 212 mile brick track at Indian
apoliS, the oldest i'll the circuit. on
Decoration day. He finished that long
las EBONITE String; toaStlck \