The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-05-29
French Aces
In Field Of
80 Attacking
Mark Of ll7.2
~ HARRY GRAYsoN

INDIANAPOLIS - Three quick
hoys from the front row II speed
were waiting n fight u out in the
final 100 miles Of the soo-nile race
on the Indianapolis motor speed
way q year ago and then u rsined.
Fate and ability have put the
same three fast men in the front
row again this May 30th. praying
for a DRY strip and an opportunity
70 give the close 10 l50,o00 Gus
toners = furious run for their
money.
II was Rex Mays, Wilbur Shaw
and Mauri Rose in the front row
IN 1910 with average speeds Of
around 127 miles an hour for
qualifying runs
Tagged down because Of the
slippery bricks. Shaw won. Mays
placed and Rose showed.
On the first day Of qualify
ing this year. the trio hoped
mp their average speeds 20
close 10 129 miles an hour, and
are sitting In the front row In
this order-Rose. Mays, Shaw.
This Is one OF the reasons for
predicting one Of the hottest con-
tests in 20 years Of racing at the
famous gas station attendants
picnic. without even considering
that there are 80 other mounts in
the field. a number Of them as
capable Of scoring as the front row
swift-steppers.
On past performances Shaw,
the hometown boy. and Mays. the
California Comet. are the favor
ties, with the bantamweight. Rose.
an aviation motor executive of
Dayton. o., well thought Of.
Chef Miller Of Detroit and Cliff
Bergere Hollywood stunt man.
are dark horses.
BERGERE TAKES PLACE AS
IRON MAN OF SPEEDWAY
Bergere returns as car owner as
we'll as chauffeur. He finished
third in 80 and went out of last
years marathon with a broken oil
line. He needs only 1876 miles to
become the iron man of the event
and top the record of 5.064 miles
driving in competition in the 500
mile now held by Lou Meyer,
three-time winner.
Kelly Petillo, IS winner,
Ralph Hepburn and George
Common are dependables. Con-
nor Is a mate Of Shaw and
Miller In the Mike Boyle team.
Rene LeBegue and Jean Tire
voux, French flyers. waded
through international red tape to
bring themselves and their crea-
tons through the British and Ger
man blockade.
The average of the qualifying
field. something better than 123
miles per hour, with top-ranking
jobs in at closer to 129, indicates
that, given good conditions. the
bo0-mile record of 1172 estab-
lished by the late Floyd Roberts
In IS, will 60 by the boards.
Shaw upset tradition last May
by becoming the first to win in
successive years, the second to win
three races, and the second to cop
carrying No. /. Shaw. who pilots
an Italian Maserau, first prevailed
in 81.
Driving the car in which Le-
Begue finished 10th last year, and
which LeBegue qualified at lis
miles an hour. Rose in the face of
a spanking breeze qualified at
1851 with one lap run q better
than 40. His car was completely
rebuilt with American m otor
parts.
Again approximately 100000 il
UP for the knights Of the roaring
road. First prize Is $4,000.
INTEREST Is RENEWED
IN SPEED AND MOTORS
There are an even dozen super
charged motors, which means that
their cubic inch displacement
averages around 1872. while the re-
mainder varies from 225 To go.
Seven are front wheel drives. while
two drive off four wheels with
motors mounted in the rear.