Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-06-22

4 his two cars out Of the racer Wen.
after a lot Of this and that and these
land those, Mister Hanshue decides that
he wants his two cars IN the race. 50
he tells her you can have the engine,
and so on"
Didn't she know that ali the off,
Gals could do now would be 20 take
the complaint and bring It before the
Il contest board next month";" Bin was
1 thinking aloud. The officials COULDN'T
/ possibly bar him from the race today.
"Anne's smart Ny guess Is she knew
u that. but that hombre Hanshue DIDN'T
or you wouldn't be racing. Pretty slick,
calls It, outSmarting that ratl Vis-
costly, he'll, she's got IL! And after the
way you treated herl"
Bill rubbed an imaginary speck off
the giistening red surface of his car.
If she'd only sent him some word, just
the old familiar Good luck" But she
hadn't.
Red fllmbled In his pocket. He pulled
cut q st. Christopher medal ''Bet
that's solid gold" he Sputtered. "She
sent it. Now. you big egg, are you
satisfied Said to tell you that was
the patron saint of travellers, II you
didn't know, and that 1t was as good
on the track as on the road or any
place else"
Bills heart seemed to stop. then
pound for an instant His head cleared.
He'd been a fool, a ten-time fool. lie
ten her. He asked an official for a
piece Of paper. He started to write 3
Eote. But the order came to start. He
tore the paper In pieces.
The drivers climbed into their cars.
A pacing car on the inside led the
way. Around the course the contest
ing cars went, each holding its ap-
pointed place, at 80 miles an hour.
The caValcaue was greeted with
cheers as it passed the packed stands.
Finally the pacing car and its serted
ranks of followers came around the
last corner and into the front stretch.
What had been q low rumble to those
IN the stands near the starting line
grew in volume. The roar changed
into a snarl and then crackle as the
cars crossed the starting line. The
drew aside and 80 anxious right feet in /
stinctively pressed as many throCtles
aS, with all restraint removed, the field !
roared into the first corner
The race was on
At four laps ten miles Bill Brandt
found himself in fifteenth place, so
rapidly had he sifted through the slow
er cars ahead. The leaders were travel
ing at a terrific pace.
Bill made no effort to seek the front
position early He must conserve his
gasoline supply in order to complete
the race with the 42A gallons allowed
each contestant. He knew he would
replenish his fifteen gallon tank. On
his gasoline stops he would make any
necessary changes Of tires. Water
could be added at the same time. His
fun supply of oil had been put In before
the start. so he need not worry about
the replenishment there; when the or
1ginal supply was gone he would have
to stop, but he did not expect to be
troubled by lack Of oil. Each Of hts
stops would mean from q minute TO 8
minute and half lost from the race.
When he reared past his pit at 40
miles and saw the sign on the black
board held high by one OF his men:
GAS, he began to slow up at the
starting wire on the following lap. Even
50 he came into the pit section at 80
miles an hour, but he made q good stop
directly in front OF his own pit. No tires
were in need Of change and the gas I
was dumped into his tank with five Z
gallon milk cans. A hurried inspec- 9
ton Of everything else showed his car 6
q. K. and he was on his way in less 9
than minute after he had come to {
q stop.
Bud Peterson and his sister sat in q lv
box directly across from Bills pit. They {
we're old stagers at the race.
With the race past ESQ miles, half
is length, Bin came roaring down the b
front stretch. Fifty yards ahead Of 0
him rode Willard, new driver. Bill
made 1t rule never TO pass novices on q
he turns. 1t was the logical place to q
pass them, but poor business to do so. n
Too many things could happen in q lie
'orner. Millardis car swerved violently, 4
'kidded broadside, turned completely z
round: Anne shut her eyes as she v
srasped her brothers arm. Ia
Bills action was instructive. II the / &,
esult Of thought, 1t would have been q
90 slow. The passage above q car out IS
4 control due to skid is, nine times Il
nut OF ten, the path Of greater safety, Id.
or the tendency is for the swerving 81
ar 70 seek lower level Bill turned
he Brandt Special upward, and the b
pectators IN the nearby stands gasped.
Is the Millard car made its last spin N
'efore sliding TO the lower edge of thel "
rack, its tail came so close to the lir
srandt Special that It seemed to touch b
{. Actually 1t did not L.uck-and IL
kill-had been with the Brandt car. sc
Red gave Bill q reassuring nudge et
nth his left elbow as they tore past III
nd went raging onward
When Anne opened her eyes she saw N
My the yellow Willard Special, with al
crumpled tai, resting against the :
over retaining wall, with the driver
nd mechanic climbing out tnintured.
he shut her eyes again, then opened
hem and smiled ct her brother as she
atted his arm BE smiled back.
About that time the bright red Brandt
pecial came hurting down the straight
nd into the turn and was gone.
At $40 miles Bill was running in third
lace when he came In for his last
sfueling. his pit crew dumped IN the
as and changed his first tire Of the
zee, right front.
When he left his pit he still was in
lird place, less than a minute behind
re second man, Van Nest, In NO. 80.
nd No. 80 still had g gasoline stop
} make before the end Of the race.
head OF Bill and Van Nest rode Palm
! In No. 9. He was leading the race,
18th more than lap on The Brandt
pectal, but he, too, must make a stop