Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-10

Take 1t from Col. Fred
Moore. any idiot who guns
the motor, jumps the red light
and roars away from an inter-
section with tires screeching
is not a potential racing driv-
err. He emphatically isn't a
member Of the Lavender Hill
Mob. impolite title of an ag-
gregation Of most polite sports
car enthusiasts. Not that the
LINN doesn't like speed. 1t
does, but, as Col. Moore
pointed out, at the right time
and right place, usually q week
end on race track.
Over the roast beef and
whisky sours at Ted Lewis
place yesterday, where the Law
ender Killers acquainted news
and radio men with plans for
their Presidents Cup race at
Marlboro April 20, Col. Moore
briefly explained a drivers ap-
premiership. He's chairman Of
the contest board and as such
is surprisingly more concerned
with safety than with speed.
~ ~
Curiously, Gen. Curtis E.
LeMay, Vice Chief Of Staff Of
the United States Air Force.
also a guest. and John Gordon
Bennett. a Jaguar representa-
tive in this country, echoed the
same sentiments.
We've found that the Air
Force is losing more young
airmen in auto accidents than
| in airplanes, Gen. LeMay
said, land it's costly to the tax
payers"
As a result, he continued,
the Air Force has reversed its
policy Of frowning on auto rae
ing and is encouraging partici-
patton in organized and super
vised events. The airmen
learn to be better and safer
drivers, he contended.
"You can't put q 19-yeaf-old
behind the wheel Of a powerful
car and tell him not to 60 fast. "
logically concluded the gen.
eral. Il know when I was q
youngster / wanted to make
them 60 as fast as they could"
Col. Moore. also an airman
stationed at the Pentagon. lost
us while discussing camshafts,
lr.p.m.'s. oil bubbles, gear ratios.
ETC., but his explanation Of how
a youngster becomes q racing
driver was quite simple and
understandable. For a while
we thought it might be neces-
sary to produce a letter from
the bishop that the candidate
used no vile language. That
isn't so, but you do need a let
ter from your doctor. stating
that YOU are physically able to
take the strain Of driving.
It's q strain. as the colonel
brought out. because 1t is
sometimes. necessary to shift
gears IA times once around
the track.
The speed novitiates are
taught the rules Of the game.
given blackboard talks, in
structions in the care and
handling Of cars. and are
taken out on the track, riding
shotgun, with o seasoned pilot.
During these practice runs
they're shown when to let up
on the gas. how to hit q turn.
how TO use gears to accelerate.
etc. After that comes five
hours Of solo work. II the
newcomer isn't ready to strike
out on his own by then.
chances are he never will be
ready.
= = =
Bennett, like Col. Moore,
noted that racing gives a fell
low an outlet for his urge to
speed. It's a tremendous
safety valve. Aware of the
dangers Of speeding. and thor
oughly indoctrinated with the
safety rules, racing drivers are
cautious In city traffic.
It's not like being on a track
where they know pretty much
what the other fellow viii do.
They have to be alert. As for
beating another car away from
a stop light. well. it's sort Of
childish.
Bennett said auto racing in