The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-09
'Haywire' Car
Brought Back
to Speedway
Machine With Which PetiIIo
Triumphed Last Year
Arrives Today.
BY HARRISON MILLER

The "haywire express" arrives at
gasoline alley today for the cam
paign to re-establish its claim to
supremacy of the motor racing
world at the 500-mile speedway race
Memorial Day.
The haywire expreSs-and smile,
stranger, when you use such a de-
rogatory term in the presence of one
Kelly Petillo-iS the Gilmore special
which flashed across the finish line
ahead of the pack in the 1885 speed
classic.
The motor clan has started to as
semble out at castor oil alley, and
with the mechanics tuning up the
mounts for qualification runs which
start one week from today, the top
ic of discussion evolves from two
restriction and Petillo's "hay-baler."
The crafty Italian from Hunting
ton Park, Cal, has returned more
confident than ever and more en-
phatic in his decision to retire. Kelly
is fighting for cause, namely, to
prove conclusively to the wise
crackers that the "junker" which
out-stripped the field last year was
the best machine on the track. And
that goes double for 1886.
Say" exploded the crafty little
driver, didn't I tell them last year
that I'D win? And everybody
laughed. Get your pencil out. Last
year I predicted I'd win, and it's
in the bag again this year.
eve Can't Loose"
with Doc Mckenzie driving we
can't lose. Don't laugh. Last year
before the race I wouldn't sign my
autograph unless they let me do it
my way-'The Winner, Kelly Petil-
To- My CARL win again this year.
Doc Mckenzie of Eddington, Pa,
the Eastern dirt track champion
who finished ninth here last year
in young Gil Pirung'S car, has been
entrusted with the assignment of
proving that Kelly's triumph was no
freak. Debonair Doc, smiling from
behind his mustache and goatee, is
not as optimistic as his boss, but is
confident that the chances are bet
ter than last year.
Doc, who drew the checkered flag
in 81 races last year, believes he is
lin FORM" He believes in: luck
streaks, and, since he won his first
three starts in the East this year,
figures he has set sail on the right
track.
And, say, about that haywire
special business" said Kelly, that
car had new Offenhauser motor
and a new chassis and there was no
bailing wire or tractor parts in it.
Wilbur Shaw had the only other
Offenhauser in the race, and we
finished one-two.
Even after I won the race they
said it was a junker and that my
lucky driving won it. And when I
won the AAA championship with
the same car, they still said, it.
Well, I'm going to show them that
can stay in the pits and beat
them with my mechanical engineer
ing just like did last year behind
the Wheel"
Gas No Worry
The gas limitations? The little
Italian who first climbed behind a
wheel as driver of his fathers fruit
truck claims there is nothing to
cause alarm.
Petillo promised himself and fam
lily that if he ever won the Indi-
annapolis race and the national AAA
racing championship he would re-
tire. That is why Mckenzie has
been enlisted to pilot his car. Kelly
also is looking for sponsor.
Only one car was out for a test
yesterday. Al Miller propelled his
Boyle Special around the brick oval
in a gas test. He negotiated seven
laps, and was clicked at an average
slightly exceeding 116 miles. Both
Miller and Mechanic Jimmie Jack
son who rode with him said the
track was in better condition than
last year. They were satisfied with
the gas test, but added that 371a
gallons for 500 miles is small sup
ply.
Lou Meyer, winner of two Speed
way races, took three slow turns
around the track and returned to
the garage for more work. Shorty
Cantlon's machine was brought in
along about dusk. Although the pilot
has not been selected, it is believed
that Bob Swanson, Pacific Coast
midget auto champion will get the
nod.
Others Lining Up
Canton has signed to drive for
Bill White who is to leave today for
Chicago to bring the car on its last
lap from the West Coast.
Things are comparatively quiet
out on motor row where the roaring
knights Of the road are to hold ma
tional attention for the next few
weeks. Mckenzie, Fred Winnai,
Harry McQuinn and several other
drivers are to take a short reprieve
from local track activities next week
to compete in the dirt track events
at Langhorne, Pa, May IT,
Lie LSilipO VI dCtlfltIcS ID eA-
pected to be accelerated next week
when Wild Bill Cummings. Shaw,
Mauri Rose, Tony Gulotta and
other favorites get off to an early
start in an attempt to synchronize
their mileage with the gasoline limit
in order to qualify among the 80
drivers who will get the starting
flag Memorial Day.
Tech Anneres Citu