The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-14
RACE STARTERS MUST DO 112, is BELIEF
Classic Pilots
Promise Fast
Clip in Trials
PetiIIo Eager to Regain
Pole: Tests Begin
Saturday.
By VEIN BOXELL

OCANf
By VE2N BOXELL
One hundred and twelve miles an
hour-that's what the heavy-footed
boys must travel 70 get inside the
charmed circle of 80 starters in the
50O-mile Speedway race on May 30,
If the railbird-experts are to be be-
lieved.
That's a compromise between the
-wingers, who say anything I'M
der ia miles an hour will be left
in the also-entered class, and the
conservatives, who say ITO will bring
down at least q consolation prize for
starting the long grind.
AS for the pole position. which
will be the coveted prize when the
first uualifers take the bricks next
Saturday in the opening day Of the
25-mile trials. few will hazard
guess. 1t will take a spectacular
run. a brilliant individual perform
ance. to haul down the No. l spot,
and that makes the speed hard to
figure.
Should Average lis
Kelly Petillo, the little italian
daredevil who misread his pit
signals last year and hustled around
the track at a terrific clip to aver
age 119 miles an hour to win the
pole, is one who believes his new
record may tumble this year Kelly
has a new car and doesn't hest
tate in telling you he'll be on the
pole again this May 30.
Petillo's performance broke all
two-man car records last year, in
Guiding one lap of 122 miles an
hour.
A study of last years qualifying
performances shows that the slow
est notwithstanding qualifier av-
eraged 108 miles an hour. even
though handicapped by mechanical
trouble. Despite two oil-burning
creations which clicked 102 and
los miles an hour, the average
qualifying speed of last years field
was 1121e miles an hour.
This year, the railbirds opine,
that figure will be stepped up to
lis miles an hour, a healthy bulk
increase which should have more
than passing significance on the
average speed to be expected in the
actual race.
Figures and Facts
In predicting this years figures,
the experts found that seven cars
last year averaged between 116 and
l19 miles an hour. A trip around
The garages now reveals that at
least IA buggies will be capable of
that speed this year.
Three cars were in the Halls
miles an hour bracket last year. The
boys in the pit will name you an
even dozen, half of them semi-stock
jobs, which will average this speed
in the 1885 test
That leaves seven places open for
a free-for-aii battle. In last years
lower bracket, from 10 to l13 miles
an hour, Is earned starting honors.
Many Of these cars have been i'm
proved.
On whole, the 1885 field appears
about the best in history. There are
IS or more new cars in the list, in
Guiding the 10 front drive Ford Va
Specials built by Harry Miller.
There's bumper crop of good
chauffeurs,. too.
AS a result, not only the qualify
ing marks, but the 500-mile race
records as well may be showed into
the has-been class.
Week. End Card Heavy
Qualification trials Saturday will
get under way at 10, with the bar
dropping at p. m. Sundays tests
will start at noon and close at 7.
During the two days, at least 18
cars are expected to seek starting
berths.
Rain early today was expected
to hamper preparations. but there
were several cars ready for practice
spins if the bricks dried out during
the afternoon.
For the benefit of visiting B'nai
Birth delegates land gasoline
money, tool, six veteran pilots
staged a match exhibition race over
25 miles late yesterday, with Lou
Meyer finishing in front.
The six starters were Meyer, Wild
Bill Cummings, AL Miller, Stubby
Stubbleffeld. Fred Frame and Ralph
Hepburn. 1t was a lively exhibition,
and every one had a good time ex-
cept Frame. Fred was rOmping
along in first-class style until the
last lap. when, preparing to take
the lead, he suddenly ran out of
gasoline. Was his face red?
Frame led on the first and seventh
laps. Hepburn the second and sixth.
Meyer the third. fifth and tenth, and
Cummings the fourth, eighth and
ninth. Wild Bill had a big edge
when the last trip started. but
wound up in fourth place behind
Meyer. Hepburn and Stubblef1eld Al
Miller's car was on the track for
the first time and never was in the
running.
AS for the speed-well. the boys
forgot their stop watches.
Johnny Harmon, stOcky Eastern
A. A. A. champion, and bewhiskered
young Doc Mackenzie, who chased
Johnny all over the East in a spirit