Imperial Valley press., 1932-02-15

lIle last lllCn WlUn Sflu1lllnB, Snout-
ing, race-crazy humanity, the
worlds greatest dirt track drivers
yesterday afternoon put fitting
climax to the most successful mid
winter fair in the history of Imper-
ial county with two breath taking
events marred only by one almost
fatal accident.
Shortly Canton, nationally IA
nous race driver, received a brok-
en- leg and dislocated hip when
Ernest Triplett's speeding car
crashed into his as Triplett tried
to pass on the north turn. A foot
long piece of rubber tread from
Tripletts tire had flown from the
wheel, striking him in the face and
causing him to lose control of his
car. Triplett was shaken, but I'M
injured.
As if the stage had been set by
some celestial deity, the rain which
had threatened all week sent down
its first warning drops just as the
last race of the day was being run,
and after the event was finished
followed a more forceful downpour.
Fair board officials last night set
tied back with contented smiles
and muttered, Let it rain, for
the weather man had been kind
TO their enterprise.
Outdoing q Saturday afternoon
crowd which only partially filled
the huge grandstand and bleachers
to watch five preliminary races, spec
tators yesterday afternoon poured
into both the grand stand and
bleacherS until not even standing
room was left Professional and
business men rubbed elbows with
laborerS and men of more doubt
full character, freely exchanging
comments and opinions in the
freedom of a common excitement.
Although it was the so mile race,
featured by the days only accident
and won by Sam Palmer in a Tuck
er Tappet Special, which was billed
as yesterdays main attraction, it
was the 20 mile event, second and
last on the program, which brought
the spectators to their feet and
kept them there during the last
five laps, yelling like so many wild
Comanches.
Palmer Winner
Sam Palmer won the main event
after Canton and Triplett had
been forced out of first and Sec
ond place by their accident. Kelly
Petillo was second in a Gilmore
Lion Special, Stubby Stubblefield
third in Crager Special and Ches-
ter Gardner fourth in a Miller
special.
Clyde Blomgren drove his Tri-
Flex special around the 20 mile
course in Is minutes, II 2-5 sec
onds to win a close first place in
the second race. He was followed
closely by Lester Spangler in a
Fonty Special, while Art Scoyell in
a Fonty Special, Chris Vest in a
Moore Special and Frank L. Suess
in an S and S Special finished in
order.
Winners of Saturdays races we're:
No. l. Five miles. Bob Carey,
Ernest Triplett, Kelly Mccullough.
Time 3 minutes, 20 seconds.
No. 2. Five miles. Bill Cum
mings, Stubby Stubblefield, Ches-
ter Gardner. Time 3.35 2-5.
No. 3, Five miles. Mel Mckee,
Clyde Blomgren, Sam Palmer. Time
3.43.
No. 4. Thirty miles. Bob Carey,
Ernest Tripplett, Bill Cummings.
Time 21.4 2-5.
Consolation. Ten miles. Chris
Vest, Lester Spangler. Time 720
3-5. Al Gordon, with long lead,
was forced out on his last lap when
his motor went dead.
Because of the length of yeSter-
days races, the number of events
was cut to two. The so mile race
was placed first on the list, with a
20 mile turn coming second and
last.
IT was in the first race Canton
was injured He was leading Trip
lett only by a short distance, and
both had passed Bob Carey, who
held first place until then. Trip
lett had been in second place, be-
hind Carey, until shortly before
the accident. Then Canton passed
him.
Triplett attempting desperately
to regain his lost position and take
first place, for Carey had dropped
back, started TO pass Canton on
the north turn. The rubber from
his tire flew off, striking him in
the face. The front wheel of Trip
lett's car side-swiped into Can't
Ions rear wheel, and both cars
careencd from the track. With
Canton and Triplett out of the