Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-09

previous years.
Performance and power behind n
the motoring public face the acid test
OF Americas huge automotive labora-
tory-the Indianapolis Motor Speed
way-in the 500-mile race on Monday,
May 81.
Under a mandatory ruling of the
Contest Board of this spectacular race,
the silver anniversary field must use
fuel obtainable at any filling station:
gasoline that has been available to
the public for at least a year prior to
May l of this year.
This decision was announced BY
Capt. Edward " Rickenbacker, presi-
dent of the indianapolis Motor Speed
way Corp, noted aviation official and
former speedway driving star of pre-
war days.
The 500-mile race has heretofore
been the testing ground of improve
ments or inventions of the automo-
tive industry before they were adopted
in general use" Capt Rickenbacker
said. In turning to rigid test Of
commercial fuels we will attempt to
define the improvements that have
been made by the gasoline industry.
Undoubtedly, the performance Of the
various fuels will prove of consider
able value to gasoline reflners.
1T has been possible, in the past,
for cars competing in the annual 500
mile race at Indianapolis to use spe-
cial preparations of highly volatile
gasolines. While these fuels produced
great power, there has been a growing
belief that automotive research would
gain through the employment of the
same standards of gasoline purchased
by millions of motorists at road sta
tons. This appears to me to be a
logical move as the objective of the
contest, in the last analysis, is to
demonstrate the worth of motor vehi-
cles to the general public.
Under the present plan a tech
nical committee will have Jurisdiction
over this particular phase of the race
and samples of gasolines to power the
racing cars will be submitted. The
capacity of the fuel tank to top Of
filler neck, including fuel, fuel lines
carburetor bowl and fuel pump will
be Is gallons. However, tolerance
of not more than two quarts will be
allowed. This capacity may be di-
vided between the main tank and z
reserve tank as desired. Fuel tank
and system must be constructed so as
to permit complete drainage"
Pointing to the benefits that will be
derived from this requirement, Capt
Rickenbacker continued: Among the
advantages to be passed on to the pub
lie will be definite proof that COM
mercial gasoline, as manufactured to-
day. can assure highest performance
Careful record is to be kept of accel-
Grafton, carburetion and power quail
ties. The industry is bound to re-
ceive some valuable pointers in con-
servation as well, for while the amount
of gasoline to be consumed by the
racing cars will be unlimited, economy
will be stressed in every phase Of
the competition"
Last year. it will be remembered,
the A. A. A. Contest Board in
voked an economy ruling apportion-
Ing 3712 gallons maximum gasoline
supply for each contestant, and that
Louis Meyer, in winning his third
500-mile race at record speed of
100 miles an hour, used 34ls gallons.
The triumphant driver of 1928, 1888
and 1885 had three gallons of gaso-
line left in his pit when the race
was concluded. All those who fin
ished in the first 10 likewise had COM
Portable margins of gasoline remain
ing when the race ended
Meyer and the others used high
test gasoline which had been doc
tored with benzol and ethyl, and an
amazing observation has been made
In recent tests by Harry Miller, FORE
most designer and builder Of Ameri-
can racing cars.
Affiliated this year with one Of the
large gasoline companies, Miller COM
pared the results of "doped" fuel with
those obtained from commercial gaso-
line sold at all filling stations and
ascertained that is per cent advan-
tage In speed and horsepower were
available with the regular fuel.
Improvements in refining gasoline
during the last several years undoubt-
eddy had great deal to do with these
astonishing results" Miller comment
ed. 1T is an indisputable fact that a
higher degree of stamina would have
been obtainable from the racing en-
gines had regular fuel been used"
While the gasoline limit has been
lifted, Capt. Rickenbacker stressed
that, as engine fabrication also IS
factor of outstanding Importance, the
oil supply for the entire engine lubri-
eating system must not exceed six
gallons and two quarts, including ex-
pansion space.
Virtually every large gasoline refin-
Ing agency in this country, as well as
several from abroad, will have experts
at the Speedway to make an exhaus-
tive survey of performance during the
qualifying runs two or three weeks
prior to the race, and during the 500
miles of competition.
Thus, the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway which tested and approved
four-wheel brakes, modern cooling,
Dd 4lOOll CIcS oIlcdIllllIllIl6 d1lu uldA1y
other improvements long since passed
on to the motoring public, takes up
the average drivers most important
problem today-gaSoline.
A roundup Of States which have
misused road funds by diverting the
money to purposes other than high
way financing is being pushed vigor-
ously by the United States Bureau of
Public Roads. According to reports
reaching the American Petroleum In
dltstries Committee, Thomas H.
Macdonald, chief of the bureau, has
issued orders reducing Federal high
way aid grants made to Maryland,
Georgia and New Jersey.
Under the Hayden Cartwright act
OF 1884 any State using for purposes
other than highway financing more