The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-04-13
NJ 4 K { 5
fine RECORD

An average OF more than mile q
5 nninute--61.T miles an hour, to be
sxact--was achieved by standars
Essex super.six coach in continu.
GUS run of nearly IA hours on dirt
race track at Tanforan, CAL, just
outside Of San Francisco. according
to word received by Walter Lam.
bert, distributor in the Washington
area.
This record run, said Mr. Lam.
bert, was made by amateur drivers,
who are connected with tho service
department of Stanley w. Smith.
the San Francisco distributor for
Hudson and Essex cars.
The record was made under the
supervision OF newspaper men.
Shortly after the test began rain
fell heavily. loosening the surface OF
the dirt track so as to interfere Sc.
riously with fast time. Writing OF
the run, one OF the newspaper men,
who acted as an official observer,
said. in part:
Track In Bad Shape
''Tanforan track was chosen to
make the test OF speed and stamina
Because It was the only available
place in northern California. The
track was never designed for any
thing but horse racing. and In the
rev attempts that have been made
In the past to put motor cars over it
81 high speed four lives have been
lost on the unbanked sharp turns.
In addition to these handicape, the
track had lain in disuse for many
months. It was overgrown with
weeds, its surface rough and full Of
rain gullies.
Added to these difficulties, low.
ering clouds began to spill rain on
the course at the outset and con.
dnued at intervals throughout the
darkness. With no special equip.
ment except shock absorbers and q
spreadlight, the Essex battled these
adverse conditions, hour after hour.
Its sturdy motor never missed a
beat during the long hours Of the
night. Lap after lap. Il tore down
the backstretch at top speed, ripping
Into the vicious curves at the ends,
Strengthening out as IL slithered
through the mud and pounded over
the wretched roadbed.
Courageous Driving
AlC VI IIlc
motor was equaled by the courage
shown by the men who drove-none
of whom had ever driven q car on
sional drivers who were present re.
fused to go on, declaring that no
automobile built could keep up such
9 terrific pace in view of all the
obstacles.
Words can convey no adequate
description OF the punishment that
the Essex car took in this long
grind or the unfaltering courage OF
the men who kept on, hour after
hour,fn the face Of obstacles which
would daunt the most stout-hearted.
Yet, at the finish, the motor was
functioning so perfectly that the car
was driven with four passengers, |
including myself as official observer,
70. the top of Twin Peaks In high. |
After observing the run. check
ing every detail and examining the |
car, believe that had weather per-
fnitted, it could have gone on at |
this high speed almost Indefinitely. |
even under all the other adverse
conditions encountered.
A Positive Record
The record is surely proof posi-
tive of stamina, endurance, speed.
reliability, reliability and power
far greater than the most exacting |
person could expect in a motor car
which sells for so little money. At |
Tanforan last Saturday and Sun
day, IL never before. the Essex |
earned its right to be called a |
sSuper.Six.f''
This run follows one recently |
made at the Culver City, Cal, race
track where for "a continuous
hours. an Essex super.Six Sedan
averaged 53.8 miles an hour,