Page:Motoring Magazine and Motor Life October 1913.djvu/18

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That the 500 mile Motor Speedway classic is the one and only race of the year has been proven beyond a doubt by the fact that makers and private owners already are entering cars for the fourth annual 500 mile International Sweepstakes race which will be held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, May 30, 1914. The Stutz Company, of Indianapolis, always among the first to support the event, has entered two cars, which, from their showing in recent road races, cannot help but be considered real contenders. Harry Thompson, of Battle Creek, Mich., the sportsman who entered the Anel, which Billy Liesaw drove last year, has come to the front with an entry. He says the car will be called the Anel Special, but will be entirely different from the car which raced last year.

Mr. Thompson was an interested spectator at the recent Elgin races, and sat in the press stand watching the cars. At his side was Charles W. Sedwick, Speedway manager. During a conversation with Mr. Sedwick, Thompson remarked that he viewed the Indianapolis race as the greatest in the world, and promised the first entry. He was more than anxious that his car be the first entered, and asked that if such was the case that he be given No. 1. His car has been entered, and will bear that number. He asserted at the time of the conversation that No. 1, although thought to be the bearer of bad luck by many drivers and owners, had no terrors for him, and that he would consider it an honor for his car to bear the number over which the "jinx" is said to hover.

Harry Stutz, of the local concern, which has made such a remarkable showing in racing history, was right on the heels of Thompson with his entries for two cars. With a car which has made racing history, and which, but for an unavoidable accident, would have carried off honors second to Goux in his Peugeot last year, Stutz is a national figure wherever racing is known. He is one of the men who is known as a true sportsman, and is just as good a loser as he is a winner.

The Stutz concern had three cars in the race last year. Don Herr, who drove No. 8, went out early with clutch trouble, but the other two cars were contenders throughout the race. Charley Merz was the driver who finished in the money and provided the big feature of the event, driving the last lap with his car ablaze. And that was not all the Stutz contingent provided. The one bit of hard luck equaling that of DePalma in the 1912 race was a Stutz offering. Gil Anderson, picked as the logical driver for one of the entries next May, was the recipient of a blow of Fate. In second place, with only a few laps to go, and with $10,000 almost in his grasp, a small screw in the fan dropped out and fell into the only place where damage could be done. Consequently Anderson was unable to start his car after a last stop at the pits, and saw a sure second place go to another.

The second Stutz entry probably will be driven by Earl Cooper, the driver who has set the West on fire with his cleverness in the various road races. Between Cooper and Anderson, the Stutz cars have captured seven out of eleven of the season's races. Two of these events were for small cars, and the Stutz was not eligible. In the other events, the big white cars have breezed home in the lead in all but two. In one of the latter events the Stutz entry was a private one unknown to the factory, and driven by an amateur pilot. The record for the season gives the Stutz the title of the champion road race car and makes it a real contender, and one which will be feared in the coming event. With two such pilots under the guidance of Harry Stutz, known as one of the best race team managers in the country, the cars with any sort of luck should be in at the finish.

Thompson says his car will be a contender this year, and is planning the construction of the speed monster with extreme care. Nothing will be left undone to make the creation the best that can be built, and as speedy as the best. Not only does Thompson believe in having the right kind of a car, but he is going after the best of drivers.

Just who will be at the wheel of the car has not been determined, but the Michigan man is after the winner of the 1912 race, Joe Dawson. The local boy drove the Deltal into second place in the first day's even at Elgin this year, and was still running in a Marmon in the big Elgin National when the race was called. His Speedway victory in the National in 1912 long will be remembered, for he holds the track record, which the pick of foreign and American cars failed to lower last May. If Dawson finds it impossible to drive, it is said that "Wild Bill" Endicott will have the next call. Bill is one of the older racing drivers, and has competed in most of the local events. He probably has done more racing than many of his fellow pilots, for he drives throughout the year, on dirt tracks, speedways and beaches.

Speedway officials are enthusiastic at the early entries, and prophesy that others will be coming in before long. Numerous entry blanks were mailed out recently, and the coming race is expected to be bigger and better than ever. The foreign car victory of last year is bound to enthuse the French, English, German and Italian makers and drivers, and the cream of the old country's racing cars and crews is expected to be here early for the practice season.

According to Mr. Sedwick, everything points to an early closing of the entry list, as it is thought the limit will be reached much earlier than last year. Inquiries concerning the race are being received daily, and the manufacturers seem to be showing more interest than ever before.

One big question which already is agitating the fans is the possibility of the return of the previous winners, the Marmon and National cars, both Indianapolis-made products. Opinions are divided on the subject, but there seems to be an even chance that one or both makes of cars will be entered.

President W. J. Clemens of the Portland Automobile Club, which is assisting in drafting a new automobile ordinance, stated that an effort would be made to pass a limit on the age of drivers. The State law forbids the driving of a car not privately owned by any person under eighteen years of age. It is planned to have the Portland ordinance prohibit boys younger than 18 driving any car.

HE Panama Canal will tend wonderfully tov/ard the development of the Pacific Coast, particularly California. The Lincoln Highway is the next great step in this development. The appeal for assistance is nation wide; the appeal to California is direct and significant. Patriotism is best expressed in a fusion of effort. California, as the terminus of the Highway, should therefore be quick to respond.