Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
RACING PROSPECTS
RATED AS BRIGHT.
Records Set at Daytona Out
standing A. A. A. Feats of
Past Year.
BY CAPT. e. V. RICKENBACKER.

BY CAPT. L. V. RICKENBACKER.
1t we look merely at the new records
established, the performance of cars,
and the number of speedway events, the
year 1928 does not stand out as particu-
larry unusual in the history of racing.
On the whole, however it gave plenty of
reason for optimism. 1t had every APP
pearance Of period of preparation for
a new forward march in the thrilling
story of the Roaring Road"
The year was highly eventful in two
respects. Tragedy bulked large through
the course Of the IL months, and five
of the best known followers of the
speedway finished their last lap. At the
same time, several brilliant youngsters
stepped forward-fulfiliing our ardent
hopes that this breed Of steel will carry
on.
Frank Lockhart wiry youth, with
the record of a veteran; Dave Lewis.
daddy of EN- all'; Fred Conner, who
was the only one killed in action; Nor
man Batten and Earl Devore, victims
of the sinking of the Inflated VestriS,
have gone West" But they have left
behind the finest traditions Of racing.
U. S. Regains Speed Title.
Probably the outstanding achieve
ment under A. A. A. sanction in 1928
was the bringing back to America OF
the automobile speed supremacy OF the
world.
A determined onslaught was made on
the record established by Maj. H. Q. ID.
Segrave in 1927, when he traversed the
sands of Daytona Beach at 2O3.79O
miles per hour. Three aspirants for
the world honor came forth during the
past year. Capt. Malcolm Campbell OF
England, Ray Keech and Frank LOCK
hart of the United States. inc nTst
two were successful in b2tterlng the
record-the latter paying for the at
tempt with his life.
Capt. Campbell on February 10 raised
the record to 206956 miles per hour
and on April %, Keech brought II up
to 207.552 miles per hour for the meas
ured mile. In addition to winning
world fame. Keech also was favored by
the award of the Sir Charles Wakefield
trophy for automotive speed supremacy,
to be held by him for period OF tnree
wears or until his record is bettered.
The award carries with it a honorarium
In the sum OF ABOUT So,uVu.
Segrave After Record.
New onslaughts on the record, how
ever. are already in the making ana
Mai Segrave is the first to come 1or-
ward with the statement that he Will
seek to establish a new record. Tne
British ace will return to America carry
in 1929 and is hopeful Of attaining a
speed of 240 miles per hour.
Free-for-all speedway records re-
NAMED intact during the year. How
ever. five records fell in the 91.5 cubic
inch class. the size to which champion
ship events were limited. Ray keecn
raised the average for 100 miles 10
13l.075 miles per hour at Atlantlc Clty
nm September is. Jimmy Gleason MADE
an Average of 1O3.236 miles per hour
for 400 miles and 100000 miles per
hour for $50 miles at Indianapolis on
Memorial Day, while Anthony Gulotta
and Louis Meyer raised the averages
for 400 and 500 miles to 1oO-988 ana
e9. 4S2 miles per hour, respectively, In
the same race.
Less Stock Car Activity.
The activity in the stock car fleld
was confined exclusively TO TRIALS ana
tests and there were no competitive
events on the program, with the eXcep-
ton of the 24-hour race between. the
Stutz Black Hawk and the Hispano--
s,Iiza. The Studebaker Corporation Of
south Bend led with 74,175 miles OF
tests. Auburn followed with 2,O34 miles
and a Whippet four, stock car, was run
in one 5O0-nile trial. This. with the
1857 miles covered in the Stutz- Hlspanoo
match event, makes a grand total OF
1906 miles of record tests.
Speedway racing as whole suffered
from the small number of events when
we're run. But four major events on
specially constructed tracks were Scneo-
MED and a series of accidents pre-
vented one running its full time. These
four races. together with two on major
dirt tracks, constituted the champion
ship season.