Evening star., 1927-05-08
DISTRICT AND MARYLAND FANS
EAGER FOR AUTORACE THRILLc
Marked Interest in Future of Speedway at
Laurel, Where Thousands Saw
Daring Drivers Compete.

But why should there be any likel.
hood OF automobile racing coming te
an end for Washlngtonians? Theirs
is a big speedway, and huge grand
stand capable OF accommodating nlors
than 25 900 persons, with ample spacs
for fully 10000 I'm the infield, whert
cars may be parked in an SO.acrs
space, while occupants watcn ms
races.
Those who attended previous events
with the intention of returning again
view with regret the possibility Of
terminating automobile racing q
Laurel. for while there has been nc
definite indication that 1t has come
to an" end, there has been on the
other hand no harbinger OF the forth
coming season vet to put in an az
pearance. Holding of the last rae
in September. 1926. was followed by q
period of inactivity and silence thai
followers OF the sport fear portena
its abandonment. although they are
rather reluctant TO believe that the
facilities which have been established
at Laurel ultimately will be throw
into the discard.
When the promoters OF the WASH
ington-Baltimore Speedway set about
the erection of huge board oval
half mile from the boulevard in the
Spring OF 1925. they were convinced
that they were about to offer VARIETY
of sport that would be received with
enthusiasm, and the crowd at the
first event indicated their judgment
approximately 1000 persons packed
the huge grandstand and throngei
the infield to witness the Inaugural
| race. July II, 1925.
Inaugural Event Fast.
The initial bow Of automobile raciu5
! to this area constituted the rea'
| groundwork for interest in the sport
| In so far as the spectators were con
! cerned, that first race was run under
| highly favorable conditions. Th'
| weather was extremely warm but fair
| and cars and drivers were well a.
| tuned to the task Of initiating large
| portion of the crowd into the sport q
speed lovers. Victory on that hrsl
| occasion went to the intrepid driver
| who finished the year as champion
| Peter De Paolo. His average speet
| for $50 miles was surpassed for 1872!
| only by the world record of 1861
| miles an hour set by Tommy Milton
| earlier in the year at Los Angeles
Thus the inaugural feature at Laure
was unusually fast.
The steepiy banked curves proVea
match fOF the skilled pilolS wiz
| contest under the banner Of the Amer
| ican Automobile Association. Despite
the newness of the track and the fact
| that it's curves were replete with dan
ger. the initial feature developed ar
exhibition of fast and daring driving
which gave spectators who We're wi
| Messing their first automobile race :
| thoroughly interesting initiation int
the thrills of the sport. 1t was marred
| by 10 serious mishap. The closest az
proach was the spill taken by Ralph
| De Palma as his car skidded going
into the bend just beyond the grand
stand throwing the veteran speed
| demon clear Of the car which turned
| over twice. There were other minot
sl1ids, but all ended without injurs
and produced only tense moments that
| add to the Zest of the sport.
Automobile racing thereafter marked
time for this section until the lats
| Autumn. Promoters Of the Laurel
! track were unable To get an earlier
| date than October "A, which turned
! out to be unfortunate for several rea-
sons. Although it was Saturday the
! Government half-holidays were ended,
! thereby cutting attendance at the out.
set, but beyond misfortunes of this
sort, weather conditions conspired
! Continued on Seventh PageD