Evening star., 1936-05-24

people, competitorship and a fight ags
Probably race or racing has be-
come overdeveloped and should exist
only in the realms of sport. Hurrying
is bad practice outside OF sport, ex-
cept where by contest on land, sea and
air it can be accomplished with rea-
sonable safety and be used to provide
greater safety in the future.
Racing cannot be left to the average
individual. 1t must be done by the
trained and experienced, and the ma
chimes for racing must be in the best
possible condition.
Competition in the right hands
goes far in the development of per-
fecting and improving machines. 1t
does it to the human body and the
mechanical engine as well. Competi-
ton has created great ocean liners
like the Normandie and the Queen
Mary. 1t has developed the great
airplanes and dirigibles of today.
And last, but not least, it has de-
veloped the great automobile OF the
present time. Last, but not least, be-
cause the automobile is enjoyed by
so many millions all over the world.
Many wonder what is to be gained
by the efforts of the great British
racers who in the past years have set
records on the sands of Daytona
Beach and the Great Salt Lake. Their
terrific speeds were dangerous to the
drivers, and of what avail? Well,
those automobiles were equipped as
far as present perfection Is possible.
The drivers were trained and eXpe-
rienced men. The records obtained
would not have been possible had not
these two necessary factors been so.
1t was not the records obtained that
justified their deeds, but that future
motoring will be made better. Worn
parts were studied after each race.
Engineers will get busy in improving
those parts, strengthening them and
making the whole cars safer. Future
drivers will benefit.
This is just as true on the race
tracks of the country, where trained
men in splendid cars compete every
year. Yes, there is glory in it, prize
the real gamers because of these tests
Of speed.
So motor minded people next Sat-
urday will turn to the annual contest
to be staged on the indianapolis
Motor Speedway, where the 500-mile
classic will again be run this coming
Decoration day.
X X
A four-wheel drive special, fore
runner of new development in pas
senger cars, will undertake again the
grueling 500-mile competition over
the blistering bricks of the Indian
apolis Speedway May 80.
The principles of this racing car,
which is the only one of its type in
the big race of motordom, embody
radical changes in automobile con-
struction, although its design already
has been successfully used in trucks.
The master builder of racing cars,
Harry Miller, was commissioned to
construct the first four -wheel-drive
racing car in 1882, and that year it
was entered in the Indianapolis race,
with Bob McDonogh as the driver. He
qualified the car at 113 miles an hour,
but encountered engine fabrication
trouble in the early stages of the race.
It originally was built with an eight
cylinder motor, which developed over
300 horsepower.
Again in 1888 the car was entered
IN the race, with Frank Brisko at the
wheel. He, too, qualified without diff
f1culty, but at $50 miles was forced
into the pits with motor trouble. Fol-
lowing the race the motor was rebuilt
and the car carried off honors on sew
eral dirt tracks in the East.
Restrictions on gasoline and oil in
the 1884 Indianapolis classic resulted
in replacement of the eight-cylinder
motor with a four-cylinder engine
Frank Brisko again was the "chauf-
feur" in this race, and the car led
at ITS miles and also at the 280-mile
mark, averaging 104.64 miles an hour
Spring and shock absorber trouble
forced it to slow down at the 300-mile
mark, and it was wheeled into ninth
place by Rex Mays, relief driver.
The four-wheel drive averaged
e6.787 miles for the 5O0-mile grind,
which was not considered an excep-
tional speed, but it made remarkable
showing in gasoline and oil economy
and tire wear, finishing with its origi-
nal rubber.
Mauri Rose, veteran Columbus,
Ohio, driver, who finished second in
the 1892 race, has been named as the
driver of the new four wheel drive
entry in the coming race Decoration
day. Rose drove the entry last year,
qualified at 116.47 miles an hour but
was forced out at the 275-mile mark
with broken water manifold stud.
This year the car will be powered
with a Miller 255-cubic- inch, four
cylinder motor. The drive to the
front and rear wheels will be ac-
compliShed by means of propeller
shafts from transfer case This is
attached to the rear of the transmits
sion and in it there is a center diff
ferential which compensates for the
difference in distance Travelled be-
tween the front and rear wheels.
The hackers point out that because
all four wheels bear part of the
driving strain, there is a considerable |
saving in tire wear, and that equal
distribution of power resulting in
absence of wheel slippage makes it
easier on gas and oil consumption
as the throttle can be held at the
same point all the way around the
track
Rose expressed confidence that the
four wheel drive would hold a decided
advantage in the race this year, due
to the 371a-gallon gasoline restriction
Ill L. "a. L