THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, JUNE 26. 1916.
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to the Public in Regard to the
Championship Automobile Races
to Be Held at the Omaha Speed
way Saturday, July 15, 1916.
Last year the Auto Speedway Company of Omaha advertised a 300-mile
' automobile race to be held July 5th. Over a dozen drivers signed contracts to
participate in this race, and their names were duly advertised by the Auto Speed
way Company.
On the day of the race seven cars made their appearance on the track. One
of these entered the race after it had started.
;.. : The race proved a disappointment to those who attended it and particularly
to the Auto Speedway Company, as the Speedway officials had made a heavy in
vestment in building the track and were extremely anxious to make good with the
public on their first race meet. But circumstances over which the Auto Speedway
: Company had no control existed last year. The American Automobile Association
issued sanctions for races at Sioux Gty on July 3d, Tacoma, July 4th and 5th, and
Omaha, July 5th. .
A number of drivers entered the Tacoma race because of inducements offered
there. ' Others entered at Sioux City and at Omaha. The Sioux City event proved
: . , , ....
to be a gruelling race on a muddy track. Half of the cars were shot to pieces,
and it was impossible for their drivers and mechanicians to make repairs in time
to take part in the Omaha race, as they intended to do.
Dario Resta's Peugeot was torn to pieces in the Sioux Gty race. He made
a desperate effort to replace broken parts, but failed Similar happenings were
suffered by Ralph Mulford, J. Rawlings and others. .
The Auto Speedway Company signed its field of drivers in good faith. It
believed they would all appear on the local track. But a few hours before the race
was scheduled to start, it was learned several of the drivers could not get their cars
in shape to race, although they worked desperately to do so.
Last fall the entire circuit of American speedways, profiting by the Omaha
experience, organized. With the collaboration of the American Automobile As
' sociation the officials of the various speedways assembled and planned the 1916
season. Sanctions were so distributed that only on one occasion is there a con
fliction of dates, Minneapolis and Sioux City will both hold on July 4th. '
Omaha was awarded the day of July 1 5th. Between July 4th, when Sioux Gty and Minneapolis will race, and August 7th, when Tacoma will race, Omaha is alone
.scheduled fdr a race.' . ',..., ', ..:.;;,-.
This means Omaha will not compete with any other speedways for drivers as it did last year. It also means those cars which break down in previous contests - ,
Sioux Gty or Minneapolis for instance-- will have ample time to be repaired. It also means the drivers will be able to come to Omaha several days before the day of the
race so the public may know for itself, may see with its own eyes, that the drivers are on the ground.
Thus far this year nine drivers have signed to enter the Omaha classic. In addition to their signed contracts they have given their personal word to be in Omaha a
week before the day of the race, and speed and elimination contests wiU positively be held during the week.
In this number is Dario Resta, champion of all drivers last year and winner this year of Indianapolis and Chicago, the two biggest races held! , Resta will drive his
wonderful French Peugeot, which has developed as high as 1 12 miles an hour. V
Ralph De Palma, who ranks but a. shade behind Resta in victories and who
is declared by some critics to be the greatest driver in the game, will bring his fa
mous German Mercedes car to Omaha. . v ' ,
Earl Cooper comes to Omaha with his American Stutz with which he won the
Minneapolis and Elgin classics and place at Indianapolis and Chicago and other
races last year. ( ' . ;'
-, Ralph Mulford, former road racing champion and winner of third money at
Indianapolis this year, will drive one of the new Hudson Super-six cars, which
have created such a sensation the last few weeks. -
Ira Vail will also pilot oneof the new Hudson Super-six machines, the one with
which he won third place at New York and sixth place at Chicago.
Charles Devlin has entered the big sixteen-valve Duesenberg which was fourth
at New York and fourth at Chicago this year. Devlin drove the car at New York
and Eddie O'Donnell at Chicago. It is not definitely known which of these drivers
will pilot the mount here.
G W. Thompson has entered his Olson Special. This is a brand new car of
the latest type motor and is expected to prove a sensation before the year ends.
The Auto Speedway company expects to augment this field with a number of
other of the country's great drivers. No expense will be spared to make the July
1 5th race-meet a success. The above nine drivers, it is believed, alone would
make the local event a success, but the Auto Speedway company is still not content
and will not be until every driver available has entered the local classic.
There will be two races held July 1 5th 1 50-mile Championship Race, and a
50-mile Free-For-AU, a purse of $ 1 0,000.00 in cash is to be divided.
v WJbur D'Alene,'who has made a sensational bid for fame by winning second
place at Indianapolis and seventh at Chicago this year, will drive one of the new
Duesenbergs. Tommy Milton will also drive a Duesenberg.
: The public can be assured of thrilling and keenly contested races with practically all the World's famous drivers competing. Announcements giving the names of all
the drivers competing and prices for reserved seats will be made in the Daily Papers, from time to time. Watch for them and make your reservations early. , The 1916 race
meet will be a big success and will more than make up for any of the unavoidable shortcomings of the 1915 meet. ' The Auto Speedway Company feels that this frank
statement of facts will secure for them the hearty support of the people of Omaha and surrounding territory in its effort to keep Omaha in line with other enterprising
cities in the way of big and drawing attractions.
