Evening star., 1942-07-08
Great Auto Pilot Set
World Mark Day He
Learned 10 Drive
Feat Gives Borney Leud
For Uniqueness; Limit
To Records Far Away
Bv GRANTLAND RICE,

Special Correspondent OF The Star,
Record breaking has many odd
angles that often remain hidden
behind the scenes. Gene Fowler
author, poet and the sage of Holly
wood, insists that Barney Oldfield
the veteran auto racing driver, Is
the all-time leader when it comes
to matter of uniqueness.
Barney learned to drive car one
morning." Gene says, land he broke
world record that same after
noon
This happens to be 100 per cent
true. Henry Ford, looking for a
chance to test one of his new cars.
turned the Job to Barney and his
mastodoric cigar. Barney spent an
hour or so learning how the different
gadgets worked and a few hours
later gave his machine the gas,
proving a car could be driven at
faster pace than mile minute.
If asked to take the chance, Old
field also would have been the first
to try driving a car from the top
OF a skyscraper.
We'ssmu]ler Among Marvels.
While playing golf with Johnny
Weissmuller, we discovered the Tar
zan swimmer also had been fea
ture in the unique division.
Johnny, after turning in II at
Lakeside, said: The first time I
ever swan in competition 7 set
world record at 100 yards. The sec
ond time I started I happened to
break this first record"
The difference between Weissmul-
Ter and Ol6field is that Johnny had
been in hard training under COM
petent coach for some time. But
even this doesn't detract from the
performance of the most remarkable
natural swimmer who ever lived
and one of the great competitors.
Weissmuller now is busy showing
chimps how to climb trees and
throw coconuts.
Warmerdam Picks Up.
Two other unique record breakers
are Cornelius Warmerdam at the
pole vault and Les Steers at the
high jump-two high-fying Cali
forians. Warmerdam discovered
that the only way he could pass
Is feet was to get his right arm
out of the way in time. Steers dis
covered that the only way he could
beat feet 10 inches over the lofty
crossbar was to get his left foot
out of the way before it carried
away the bar.
Il could get my left hand and
left arm away in time at IS feet or
better" Warmerdam, the high
school instructor, said. ut was
the right arm that gave me all
the trouble. worked at this knack
and I also worked hard at the job
of increasing my speed. In the
beginning ran the hundred in III u
seconds. Later on I got this speed
down to 102b seconds"
Steers Efforts Rewarded.
With these two things accom-
plished Warmerdam scared above
IS feet at least seven times in one
year, finally reaching the incredible
height of Is feet 71sinches. His goal
now is Is feet, given the time to
practice.
There were vague rumors and
reports years ago that certain Zulu
African jumpers could equal 6 feet
10 inches. These rumors never were
verified.
But back in June, 1941, at Pa
cific Coast Conference meet, Lester
Steers, the Oregon University rub
herman, proved a human being
could clear the bar at 6 feet II
inches.
In an effort to control a balky
left foot he would train wearing
only one shoe, on his right foot
with his left foot bare. Steers goe'
over with a legal body roll After
hard work he was able to get thu
left foot out of the way at the TOT
of his jump.
His goal, if given the chance, is
7 feet, once thought to be lmpos
sible.
Human Limit Not Yet Reached.
Charley Paddock, the first o
"the fastest humans" had a ney
10O-yard record in sight one after
noon when he suddenly discovered
that his leg ligaments would no
stand that much strain.
He realized, nearing the 80-yart
mark, that he was on his way II
at least a 91s mark when he fel
that one or more ligaments Wer
about to crack. Not wishing to re
main a cripple he eased up to II
the existing world mark.
There always is an argument a
to what the final human limit i
Dean Cromwell of Southern Cali
fornia, great track coach an
trainer, feels that year by yea
there will be a slight increase il
speed and stamina and that n
record can ever be considered er
tirely safe.
This sounds reasonable. T'her
Is sure to be halting period unit
the war Is over and the world turn
back to a new boom in competltlV
sport.
But there is little chance thu
any one will quite equal the uniqu
performances of Barney Oldfiel
and Johnny Weissmuller in settln
new records at thir first attempt
New records in every field have no
been set at a clip too keen to (
beaten by any first starters.