Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-06-15

wanted to see who and what was al
the track
Bin walked out Of the garage Tn
Iclosure and directly on to the brick
track. It was 8 rare May morning
Here was q track that was 8 track
Two and half miles around; not cir
cular, not oval. but q four cornered
course. A long front and back stretch.
Short Straights on each end, and four
rather difficult corners. And there
you were. It took everything that a
car had, and everything driver had,
TO win. It was the greatest race since
Ben-Hur had crowded on enough horse
power to win from Messiah, II one lis
tened to Bin Brandt tell about 1t.
BY May is the great speedway
grounds were alive with activity. An
the great and the near-great, the big
and the little. the rich and the poor
N racing land we're in various stages
OF preparation for the big event on
Decoration day.
Twelve days before the race Bill
closed his hood Of the Brandt Special
and looked at Red: Just about ready.
Handles Ike dream-and fast. A
few little odds and ends, and then we
wash up for the elimination trials"
That night Red did not come In
the lapse the following morning.
At o'clock the following morning
Reds bed was unoccupied. Bill then
dressed, went to his coupe, and started |
out. The roadhouse was going fun |
blast. Red was sitting at table with |
several other mechanics. AS Bin start |
ed toward them, oblivious to every l
thing else, he felt a OBTAINING hand
on his arm. He turned: Hello" he 1
said, imperSonally TO the young man
and young woman beside him.
How are you, Bill?" the remark
came from the young man. First time
I've seen you this year"
The girl said nothing
Bill flushed. Zine, thanks" he
said. "See you again, some time"
The girls eyes we're defiant. Then
hurt. Her brother reached over and
patted her hand. He's still q great
fellow, Anne. Some day he'll find out
be was all wrong"
Let's go home" his sister replied,
searching vigorously in her purse.
Bill advanced toward the mechanics
able. Come on, Red, let's CO." was
All he said The mechanic next to
Red stood up and expoStulated. The
speaker swayed as he talked and then
;at down.
Let's get going. Red" Bin said
lgain.
The drunken mechanic got to his t
eet again. Bill gave him shove and :
le suddenly sat down. The crowded :
DOM suddenly grew quiet. e
Another man, not Of the mechanics y
arty, arose. Don't pick ON a drunken !.
nan" he said.
He accompanied the words by true y
lent move toward the driver. He was
ig enough to have picked Bill UP with Y
ne hand.
"Are you drunk?" asked Bill softly. g
you know I'm not" came the re- y
ly. Z Z
20. X" With that Reds boss swung e
right to the mans jaw, and the re- 4
pient promptly slid down to the floor 81
Without so much as a further look
i'll turned to Red and the two walked II
1T together w
Bill decided to take his car out that If
'ternoon for a final check and then So
1t it back into the garage to await n'
limitation trials, which began the fol-
wing day. To get a position in the :.
ont row Of three cars it would be ~ ~
.cessary 70 be one Of the three fastest ve
the first two days Of the elimina- Ia
IN trials. w
Bill warmed the Special up for three
ps and then opened the throttle for an
few fast laps. Coming into the home ~
reich. with everything wide open, he pa
ard an ominous noise IN the engine. "a.
; closed the throttle instantly, but a.,
incidentally with the movement Of -. aos
5 foot there came a burst Of flame ~, NV
nm the side Of the hood.
wrecker towed the Brandt Special q
20 its garage There were tears in 10
DIS eyes. Honest Bill. I don't see me
W It could have happened. I had WIN
= bearings set the way I always do pie
pressure was o. K. I was watch
, It," Yei
IN,