The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-05-30

was scouting for football material.
Old timers on hand today recalled
the days of 1915, when Ralph De
Palma walked away with the race
and set an astounding record of
1884 miles an hour. The day was
an exact duplicate Of today.
OF all the myriad wise cracks
painted and cSalked on cars Speed
way bound this one from Florida
excited perhaps the most comment:
Come to Jacksonville for real beer"
The tip was out strong before the
race started that Jules Ellingboe,
driving a Cooper Special, would be
a contender for the winners flag.
Jules>was confident he would be in
the big money. Jules has been beat
en- by hard luck in several races. His
best race was in 1921 when as a re-
lief driver for Percy Ford he fin
ished third. Jules spends his vaca-
ton coming to Indianapolis and rae
ing in the 500-mile classic. He lives
at Memphis, Tenn, where he is dis
trict manager for Hudson and Essex
cars.
Hesitant flivvers that have served
the rsh-rah boys for campus hops"
were subject to exceptionally long
flights" today. One appearing at
the Speedway in the midst of the
traffic lines carried this inscription
in hilarious colors: From Vincennes
to Indianapolis. 100-mile nonstop
flight"
Pete De Paolo appeared on the
track just before the start with his
hands heavily tapped and wearing
his initials on his cap. Frank Lock.
hart, winner of last years race, had
his crew of five men equipped like a
basketball team. Each one wore a
large No. 2, number of his car, on
their backs.
Doc Shattuc was dolled I'D in or.
ange and black and in common with
a great many other drivers was
wearing high leather boots. The
reason for the boots is that in the
past the drivers have suffered Sc.
we're leg burns from hot fumes.
motley collection of colors sill.
houetted against the background of
the grand stand. Women were
dressed in all colors, from brilliant
red to black. Green predorninated.
The men seemed to have found great
pleasure in Knockers.
Liquor-that element which PLAYS
its part in crowds-has found its
place.
prohibition agents and police were
ordered to pick up those who vic.
lated the prohibition laws, but as
one officer put it, What chance has
handful Of officers against a crowd
OF 100000 people, many Of whom
care little for the Eighteenth
Amendment"
Laborers and aristocrats mingled
together in the crowd. Here and
there a man in overalls could be
seen seated beside a woman dressed
in the finest silks.
Environment, as heredity, PLAYS
no part in this crowd. The attraction
is keen and all else is forgotten.
The official scorers and timers
have evolved a new system. Each
car has representative in the tim.
ing stand wearing the number of the
car on his back. These men keep
track of each lap and the official time
and are seated according to the
standing of the car in the race. Some
OF the officials predicted that there
would be a lot of acrobatics done as
the-cars changed their standing.
The timing staff is in charge Of
Odls Porter, chief timer, Chester
Kicker, Paul Richie and Morris Lie. !
son.
AT the last minute It was an.
nounced that C. w. Van Ranst
would drive relief for Tommy Mil.
ton. In 1922 Van Ranst made a
sensational drive in Frontenac and
was within one lap of the lead when
his car went out with engine trouble
Some 100000 persons. representa-.
tive CT this mission. of speed lovers.
gathered into a circle of grand stands
surrounding red brick oval here to.
day to pay f1eeting tribute to the
great god Speed.
From the four corners of This
country they came, to jam their wav
into the greatest crowd in the his.
tory OF the greatest of automobile
races-the Indianapolis Speedway.
The word speed seemed to
dominate them even before thew
found their seats. The damned into
the gates, crowded down grand.
stand runways, and rushed passed
ushers, finding their own chairs.
fearful others would have them.
Some carried lunch boxes, others.
it could be seen were depending on
vendors for their food.
AT $3.50 the stands were practically
full. AS the grand march began,
and the first contingent of marines
passed the crowd, it stood cheering.
The greatest band ever seen in the
city, a 1,5O0-piece composite or.
ganization, filed past the stands and
brought acclaim, the kind Of acclaim
the American public gives to any
thing good.
Soldiers stationed throughout the
grounds have the crowd under con-
frnl RIIia and cold no1ora danora ia