Page:Motoring Magazine and Motor Life December 1913.djvu/5

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And motor life

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��The boulevard or improved highway known as the Yosemite-to-the-Sea, takes in one of the most picturesque passes in the State of California. This road is known as Pacheco Pass, and connects Santa Clara Valley with San Joaquin. It is by far the shorter route to Fresno and the other important cities of the San Joaquin Valley than by way of the passes over the mountains south of Oakland.

The mention of Pacheco Pass brings very forcibly to mind a wild ride that took place some years ago when the offi- cial pilot of the Automobile Club of Cali- fornia went through the Pass to meet the Thomas car which was leading in the race from New York to Paris.

The pilot car was driven by Calvin C. Eib, one of the pioneers in the automo- bile trade of San Francisco. In the car, besides the writer, was William Hunt, the official representative of the Santa Clara Automobile Association and the official photographer.

The pilot car left San Francisco by the Oakland ferry to pick up the racing car. Word had been received that it had reached Bakersfield and was coming up the San Joaquin Valley. Reaching Hay- wards, telephone communications were opened with the city and down through the valley to find just where the racing car was. In this the pilot was unsuc- cessful, inasmuch as no word could be obtained as to their location. Then traveling further on down to San Jose, the telephone lines were again brought into use, but with the same results.

It was a certainty that the racing car

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was coming up the San Joaquin Valley, but whether it would come through Pa- checo Pass or continue on up to Liver- more and then over by Dublin was not known. It was decided to travel on and take Pacheco Pass.

Reaching Gilroy, the telephone was brought into play again, but with the same result. By this time it was almost time for dinner; in fact, those in the car felt the necessity for food, but as the rac- ing car had not been located, it was de- cided not to stop, but to proceed on through Pacheco Pass and try and head them off before they reached Los Banos. Leaving Gilroy, the run to San Felipe at the beginning of Pacheco Pass was made in short order.

It was found there that San Felipe

��would be tnc last telephone station that could be used until the car had got through the pass. Therefore, it was de- cided to again try and locate the racing car. After opening up the wire with San Francisco and practically every principal town in the San Joaquin Valley, it was found that the car had passed Fresno, but that was all the information that could be learned.

While the telephone was being used, some one suggested a sandwich to ap- pease the hunger of the party, a fried- egg sandwich was ordered, when some- body else suggested "make it two." The brainy cook of the hotel took the order, and when he appeared, he had two fried eggs between two large pieces of bread measuring over three inches thick.

���In the heart o; t'Jchcco F^ss, on mc ca^c oj inc rwuniain sue u-nicn drops al- most perpendicular two hundred feet to the bottom of the canyon.

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