The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-08
RICH RIDER TO
 PILOT 1 OF 6
 RAGING AUTOS
Thorne Entered in 300 Mile Race at New York
 Next Month

New York, June 8.-Joe Thorne, the rich kid whose hobby is fast race cars, has tossed his checkbook out the window and will attempt to con- vince the New York speed bugs that he has the noxie to drive against the topnotchers in the 300-mile Van- derbilt Cup Race July 3rd.
 Thorne notified officials of the Roosevelt Raceway today that he will pilot the powerful eight-cylin- der Alfa Romeo which Raymond Sommer of France pounded to a fourth place in the Vanderbilt Cup revival race last fall. .
 Twenty-two years old, six feet four and worth his weight in francs as the result of inheriting a vast New York banking fortune, Thorne now owns the most extensive automobile racing stable in America, consisting of no less than a dozen speedy gas- oline buggies including the six- cylinder job in which Jimmy Sny- der established a 130.mile an hour lap record in the Indianapolis quali- flying trials.
 His real name is Joel, but since entering the racing game, he has shortened it to Joe: He's popular with the racing fraternity and his only fault has been his over-zeal- ousnesS in showing the boys that he's regular fellow.
 Out of Luck
 He qualified a four-cylinder car at better than 115 miles an hour for the Indianapolis rface, but was forced out of the starting lineup be- cause his speed was surpassed by other cars. Thorne did everything but buy his way into the race, for he was first alternate starter and had 8 car dropped out would have had the chance to re-enter the field.
 An official ruling the day before the race that there would be no al- ternate starters prevented his yank- ing out one of the other cars he owned and starting the race. He took his crowding out with good humor, but determined he would not fail in his next attempt on the big time.
 Last Sunday, less than a week after the 500-mile race, Thorne drove one of his cars in dirt track event at Chicago and crashed through 8 fence. He escaped in- jury and said immediately after that he would head for Roosevelt Rac- way for intensive practice on the new course where stars of five countries will battle in the 300-mile race.
 Thorne is one of the phenomena of the sporting world. He raced out board motorboatS in intercollegiate competition, has flown planes htin- dreds of hours, and has tried his hand at motorcycle racing. Thorne recently purchased 8 new plane to enter the New York-Paris race and is awaiting decision on that event. He went to Indianapolis two years ago, bought a car and worked like a grease monkey for weeks in order to prepare 1t was Jimmy Snyder to drive after he had been refused per- mission to race himself, because of lack of experience.
 This year, he returned to the Hoosier speedway with six cars en- tered, passed his drivers test at 110 miles an hour and saw five of his mounts qualify and one of them, the Snyder car, lead the race for more thah 50 miles. When this car broke down, Thorne slapped Snyder on the back, said: trough luck, baby" and gave his okay for the driver to relieve on rival car.
 When another Thorne car, driven by Floyd Daxis, Springfield, Ill. dirt track star, crashed in the final stages of the Indianapolis classic, the young sportsman showed his heart when he dashed into the hos- pital and begged for chance to see the injured pilot. And although not one of his cars finished in the money, there was no happier man on on the track after the race than Thorne when he learned neither Davis nor his riding mechanic had been badly hurt.
 With Thorne entered, 1t is likely that two or three of his Indianap. oils cars also will be shipped here within the next few days for a crack at the e7O,000 prize money at Roose- welt Raceway. He has spent small fortune in the racing game, and has learned that this sport boasts the highest ideals and carries the tough est breaks.
 The sum which he paid Sommer to part with the Alfa Romeo has not been disclosed. but racing ex- perts estimate it took consider. able chunk out of the Thorne bank account. The car has abundant power to compete with the other fSreign jobs entered, and noR it's up to Thorfie to prove he has tome- thing that simply can't be buli0ht--