The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-07
'COMET' GAR TO BE NEW BIDDER AT INDIANAPOLIS
Thorne, Millionaire Driver Has ' Cars Ready for
 5OO-MiIe Race
BY JOHN L. CUTTER United Press Stan COrrespOndentl

United Press Staff COrrespondent)
 Indianapolis, Ind. (UP).-The thrill of international competition returns to Indianapolis motor speed way May 31 in the 18th revival of the 5OO-mile Memorial day automo- bile race.
 Three cars introduced to Amer ican competition at the first run- ming of the Vanderbilt cup road race on Long Island last fall are being rebuilt for the event.
 Foreign cars virtually have dis appeared from the Indianapolis race in recent years. Foreign driv- CTS likewise have faded from the scene and Americans are slated to pilot the imported cars entered
 Rex Mays, Los Angeles, for the last two years holder of the pole" position awarded the fastest quali- fiers, is nominated to drive an Alfa Romeo, brought over by the win ming Italian team for the Wander bilt event.
 Another Alfa Romeo, driven by Raymond Sommer of France in the road race, was acquired by Joe Thorne, wealthy New York and Arizona sportsman.
 Texan to Drive Maserati
 Babe Stapp, popular Texan and veteran of the Indianapolis com- petition, has been designated to pilot a Maserati which Phillipe Etancelin of France handled in the Vanderbilt race. It is owned by Bob Topping, New York sports man.
 The most radical designed car in the silver anniversary of the Indianapolis race undoubtedly will be presented in the ultra-stream- lined creation prepared by Lee Old field, old-time racing star and AAA teachnical board official. .
 Borrowing literally from aircraft design, it has 8 cockpit in front and engine in the rear. Wheels, with knee action, are mounted on the body, eliminating frame and axles. Oldfeld is building the car for Thorne at a cost of between $10,- 900 and $15,000.
 Thorne obtained drivers license from the American Automobile as- sociation contest board last year and may choose to drive the new car himself. It will be powered with @ 16-cylinder Marmon motor.
 In addition to the Alfa Romeo and the mystery "comet" car, Thorne,s racing stable includes five other cars which may be entered in the 5OO-mile ecent. Drivers are to De nominated later.
 Meyer to Have Car
 Louis Meyer, Huntington ParK' Gal, only three-time winner or the Memorial day race, and Wild BIT Cummings, Indianapolis, winner In 1884, are included this year 1n the racing stable of Mike Boyle, auto parts manufacturer, for years a prominent contender.
 After winning the race in 1928 end 1883, Meyer came from lar back in the field last year to be- come the only man ever to win the Indianapolis event three times.
 A third Boyle entry is to be driven my Chet Miller, Detroit, who took fifth place last year.
 Rivalry between Meyer and Mauri Rose, Dayton, O., probably will flare this year because the National AAA championship TOT 1886 went to the latter.
 Awarded on point basis, the championship ordinarily is won by the drive who finishes first at h. dianapolis because more points are allowed on the Memorial day race than any other single event.
 Missed Vanderbilt, Cup Race
 Meyer lost out, however, by in- ability to find suitable car for the Vanderbilt cup race, in which Rose placed eighth. Rose also im- proved his total by winning a high scoring race at Syracuse, N. Y., and finishing fourth last year at In- dianapolis. He has not yet chosen his car for this year.
 Early arrivals at the Indianapolis track are confident lifting of gaso- lin consumption restrictions will permit a new speed record for the 500-miles. Meyer set a record of 109.069 miles an hour for the dis tance last year, when cars were al- lowed only S7k gallons of ultra high test gasoline for the race.
 The gallon limit has been lifted
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