The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-06-28

his two cars out of the race? Well,
after a lot of this and. that and these
and those, Mister Hanshue decides that
he wants his two cars i n the race, 50
he tells her you can have the engine
and 70 on"
Didn't she know that all the Off
Gals could do now would be to take
the complaint and bring it before the
contest board next month";" Bill was
thinking aloud. 1.-THE officials couldn't
possibly bar him from the race today"
"Anne's smart. My guess is she knew
that, but that hombre Hanshue didn't,
or you wouldn't be racing. Pretty slick,
I calls it, outsmarting that rat! Wis
costly, hell, she's got it! And after the
way you treated her!"
Bill rubbed an imaginary speck of
the glistening red surface of his car.
If she'd only sent him some word, just
the old familiar Good luck" But she
hadn't.
Red fumbled in his pocket. He pulled
cut a 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, if you
didn't know, and that it 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. He
wanted to run over to the stands and
tell her. He asked an official for a
piece of paper. He started to write a
rote. 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-
The cavalcade was greeted with
cheers as it passed the packed stands.
Finally the pacing car and its serted
ranks of followers came around the
last m and into the front stretch.
What had been a low rumble to those
in the stands near the starting line
grew in volume. The o "a changed
cars crossed the starting line. The
starter waved his flag, the pace car
drew aside and SO anxious right feet in
stinctively pressed as many throttles
as, with all restraint removed, the field
roared into the first orner
The race was on
At four laps ten miles Bill Brandt
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
each contestant. He knew he would
have to stop for fuel at least twice to
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
full supply of oil had been put in before
the replenishment there: when the or
iiginal supply was gone he would have
to stop, but he did not expect to be
troubled by lack Of oil. Each of his
stops would mean from a minute to a
minute and a half lost from the race.
n.y., When NJ ne roaTed past his pit at 10
board held high by n of his men:
GAS, he began to slow up at the
starting wire on the following lap. Even
so he came into the pit section at 80.
miles an hour. but he made a good stop
directly in front of his own pit. No tires
was dumped into his tank with five
gallon milk cans. A hurried inspec-
ton of everything else showed his car
y. e. and he was on his way in less
than a minute after he had come to
a stop.
i, ouO IcCeISOI1 anu Ills SlSCer SAT IN a
box directly across from Bills pit. They
were old stagers at the race.
With the race past $50 miles, half
its length, Bill came roaring down the
front stretch. Fifty yards ahead of
him rode Willard, a new driver. Bill
made it a rule never to pass novices ON
the turns. It was the logical place to
pass them, but poor business to do so.
100 many things could happen in a
corner. Millard's car swerved violently;
sk1dded broadside, turned completely
around: Anne shut her eyes as she
grasped her brothers arm.
Bits action was instructive. If the
result OF thought, it would have been
TOO SLOW. The passage above a car out
OF control due to a skid is, nine times
o. ten, the path of greater safety,
Tor the tendency is for the swerving
a to seek a lower level. Bill turned
spectators IN the nearby stands gasped.
AS the Willard car made its last spin
before sliding to the lower edge of the
track, its tail came so close to the
Brandt Special that it seemed to touch
it.. Actually it did not. Luck-and
skill-had been with the Brandt car.
Red gave Bill a r%eassuring nudge
with his left elbow as they tore past
went raging onward.
When Anne opened her eyes she saw
only the yellow Willard Special, with
a crumpled tail, resting against the
lower retaining wall, with the driver
mechanic climbing out u%ninjured.
she shut her eyes again. then opened
them and smiled at her brother as she
patted his arm. He smiled back.
About that time the bright red Brandt
came hurting down the STRAIGHT
and into the turn and was gone.
AT $40 miles Bill was running in third