Newspaper Page Text
This Has Been a Great Season For Automobile Racing
DE PALMA THE CHAMPION OF 1912
Caleb Bragg Made But One Big
Killing. But It Was in the
Greatest Race of Year.
By L. S. Crane.
• Pope-Hartford Agent.)
, t VIE automobile racing season is
,ve: and Ralph DePalma is the
champion of the year. There is
. l qu .'lion but that the young
. er, born in Italy, reared since an
.nt in the United States, is entitled
• first honors.
tin.' South it lias been a bad year
f racing. The Atlanta Speedway has
temporarily abandoned, Savannah
•used to lio. I the annual running of
Vanderbilt ('up and the Grand
/• the races that ” ; ed to bring the
id: eeae'.i speetai'ii rly before the
;ld each spring «(-n- not held; in
■.it v isn't much of a year for racing
II the South.
in the United States at large there
< eer.-'derable racing, but not as
ns on many previous years. It
that right now the racing game
. :.-lmm«-.“d down to just two styles
r. inu tile holding of famous events
r e (Land Prizefi the 500-mile race
... Indi, ni'po'.is Speed and the like.
. ■ on- .. ind, and just plain hippo
■_ on ti: other.
\ big rave'? were well, or fairly
r. fti'ed; mid not an event of real
• abandoned. Also a lot of
■ ;>.,d:i.msrs —Ernie Moross and his
" ■. foe muiale: and Barney Old
ie unoil.e,' —barnstormed through
ioiii ii< had had little automo
ing .'.nd all did well.
De Raima Deserved It.
ant ing of first honors In this
i :?.•? rating world by Ralph De
ns a source of satisfaction to
. - o' tit people wlio have followed
••■•■in;- giinn-. For years the belief
i.. ■ n '■■■ id by many that he was
oesi out-and-out profession
al’ . f.’iver in the United States,
■.■■.VS lie was pursued by hard
And •■■. en this year an accident
:.•■(' •;•■ I’" ze put him in bed for a
• ■ ! i ■ ' t.< .nd •'HI but cost him his
Bi . e t.iis mischance put De-
’■ ■ . arily out the shelf he did
-■ ■ . 'o wees; the championship
••■<>- ■ . II i; y Herrick, the cham.
•I ? i;. ■ DePalmaT ■ "aim •:»
. esied on- the fact that
<•■.,; tit-- ; out of five starts—.
. i. . ,s: t.ie \ underbill
Elg i' . ■■■-i \>. - AU, the Elgin
rid event .t Sants
Ft .'t icnei s Fared W®H.
. :he iw./.e..: of automobiles
a v- st deal of interest in
... i ~ ;■:: So attic attention did
of. 1. •■lineh of tile sport
-. . cari got u-v ay with many
.' i ■■ i/y i• no s. Hut these cars were
v. ‘‘or f.i.eign factories, but
■.■.-(- ■•. :j ,-.l by free-lance driv
,.. ■ ' . he.u (’.’>> here and there.
e ■ 'lit Issue of Motor Age C. G.
•■ ;■•.ibaueh lays: '
g 1 a; .’atiuga t.ie iwords of the
-■ ■ wo i;ii>g ou this annual v- view
. acing. v. • •:’•■’. that while there
"i , ■..•<’.■ i-’ ents decided in 1912,
... .. i stand favorable com-
■ Iso? with it- predecessors. There
• •nt ■ races run as against 27
. lain and 27 in 1909. Tim
■g • distance of the 1912 events was
. an ever before, the average
. 2 against 206, 21 1 and 211.
.' i, ijjiy ai d 1909, respectively,
orid’s record was shattered
g th- -<ason, being raised to 78..
’i hour by Teddy Tetziaff at
Meni'ca, yet the average pace of
'-.ity viim eis was slower than
. .<„• mark being €0.25 miles
:- i trail.-t 63.22 last year. 53.8
nd 49.2a»fl 1909.
Ninety-two Cars Finished.
y-two of the 202 starters fln
-1911 and 71* of the 156 caught
gw’ eyes this year, a slightly
'• owing- thati that of the preeed
-"■:. Yet, tin; general average
•' tie.- 71 was slower than that of—
..hGng 54.49 miles per hour as
-st 51. It’s hard to explain this,
■ ‘ ui e . the competition this year
? ■■'■ ■: tiie higher powered cars, so
list If air-thing this pace should have
n fr<' . Yet, whereas there were
■■•’■:: f’.at averaged better than
ni’ -s an .our last year, this season
'■■ 'v re only three that gained this
distinction.”
Only Two. Fatalities.
season was marvelously free
'•> accidents of a fatal nature. Os
■ 1 to all Southerners, wfto had seen
ad of the marvelous performances
David Bruce-Brown, the fact that lie
i-t is life in practicing for his third
' ’till Prize was a hard blow. But ex
it for Bruce-Brown and his mecha
-1 ir >n. Tony Schudelari, not a man lost
" !s Hf e j n track or road racing event.
Hats Off to DePalma.
i’ePalma's honors gained this year In
Mercedes were deserved—there was
■ luck about it. At Elgin DePalma
-buck his stride. He not only won the
toiiouß Elgin National trophy from
1 ford, who had won it in 1910, but he
"Pt going and landed the free-for-all
"ell. In Milwaukee he followed this
'ess by winning the Vanderbilt.
I days later he made a bold bld for
Grand Prize as well. While Bragg
■ u.°d to hold DePalma safe, it is al
rt a . ertainty DePalma would have
n second had it not been for the ac
id on the last lap which eliminated
•
Jinx Got Tetziaff,
'■in.n Teddy Tetziaff came East for
E «in meet, he apparently had a
road to toe championship. He
’'■op three firsts on tie. Pacific euast
This is Caleb Bragg, the millionaire lad who won the 1912
Grand Prize.
$ _,
•••••••••••••••••••••••••»
• How They Finished •
• . •
• s •
• v _C •
: « H:
• c 45 •
• n: c/) U. O
: .Soo-j
•az z i
» Grand Prix4lo 12 4 •
» Vanderbilt 300 8 5 ®
• Elgin free-for-all 302.5 10 3 •
• Elgin trophy 254 9 5 ®
• Illinois 203 4 2 ®
o Bakerfield 212 15 3 ®
® Santa M’ca free-for-all. 303 7 3 ®
• Santa Monica 231-300. .151.5 8 3 ®
® Santa Monica 161-230..101 8 5 ®
• Tacoma 250 8 4 ®
• Tacoma, heavy car2oo 5 3 ®
« Tacoma, medium heavy. 150 4 3 ®
® Tacoma, medium 150 4 1 ®
® Tacoma, light carloo 5 5 ®
• Los Angeles-Phoenix... 511 12 5 ®
• San Diego-Phoenix4oo 21 7 • ■
® Pabst 221 8 2 ®
• Aurora 152 6 5®
• Jencks 101 3 1 o
• Wisconsin 174 3 2 ®
■ •
«•«•••••••••••••••••••••••
and the world's record was his. All he
had to do was to make only a fair
showing at Elgin and at Milwaukee to
land the title. At Elgin he broke down
coming to the tape and was out of it.
In the Vanderbilt lie was making a run
away of the race when mechanical
troubles eliminated him just at a time
when victory seemed certain. It was
almost tiie same story in the Grand
Prize. Again he essayed to run away
from his rivals and again it looked as
if lie would be successful. But again he
had mechanical troubles and was forced
to watch the finish of the race from the
pits.
Erwin Beigiloli, winner of the 1911
Fairmount Park road race, is almost in
the Tetziaff class, so far as hard luck
goes, for his record proves him to be
champion runner-up of the year. Three
times did he finish second and only
once was he unplaced. He chased
Tetziaff home at Tacoma; he was sec
ond to DePalma in the free-for-all at
Elgin and in the Grand Prize DePalma’s
accident let him slip in behind Bragg.
Bragg himself is entitled to consid
erable credit for his Grand Prize vic
tory, although he can not be given con
sideration as a championship possibil
ity because he did not campaign as
much as did the others in the first
flight. He started only twice—once at
Santa Monica and again at Milwaukee,
getting one first and a second.
He Started at Atlanta.
To Atlantans the brief but brilliant
campaign of Haleb Bragg was of par
ticular interest, because Bragg's first
appearance as a professional driver
was made in Atlanta.
When the date of the last Speedway
races was aproaching, Caleb Bragg was
in Savannah, with the Fiat Grand Prize
team. That spring, driving as an ama
teur, he had won a marvelous victory
over Barney Oldfield on the Los Ange
les board track. This roused his am
bition and he was keen to try conclu
sion® once more with the big drivers on
a track.
Urged by Bill Nye, then manager of
the Speedway races, Bragg came to
Atlanta from Savannah and quietly
tried out the track.
It suited him—but his family was
putting up an awful yell. They did not
want him to go in for racing. He had
money, they urged, so why need he
de it?
The lure of the sport was too strong,
however, and it overcame the opposi
tion of the Bragg family.
Caleb entered a number of races in
the Atlanta meet, but met with only
small success. His frail strength
proved unequal to the task of wres
tling a fast machine around the sharp
turns of the Atlanta Speedway.
After Bragg’s first race was over and
he returned to the track, a beaten man,
he said: "Boys, my heart is in the
right place, but I haven't the strength.
I'll see the meet through, but I can't
win again." And he didn't. Not until
this year has Bragg ever been a win
ner in a big races—though he hasn’t
started often.
DePalma, Tetziaff. Bergdoll, the late
Bruce-Brown, Mulford, Bragg and
Hughes were the ones who made the
fight interesting in the big car events,
but the competition among the drivers
of the smaller cars was just as keen.
Hughes was in both divisions, but he
failed to equal his showing of 1910. He
started nine times, but only twice did
he get In the money. His chief trick
was in capturing the 231-300 class at
Elgin for the second time, while In the
Vanderbilt he was second to DePalma.
Endicott Does Weli.
Only three of the drivers won more
than one race —DePalma, Tetziaff and
Harry Endicott. The last named might
rigijX „•<- a championship diplo
tr*.,. >r he started only twice and each
time he won—the Jencks trophy at El
gin and tne Wlseon.’li _up at Miiwau-
HJE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATOWAY. NOVEMBER 16. 1912.
/-AH •
\ /
\- . I
\ /
Ralph DePalma .Champion.
kee. Mortimer Roberts, Endicott’s
mate on the Mason team, also showed
himself to be a good driver, for of
his three starts he won once and the
other two times he finished, although
not in the money. His fourth in the
Elgin National was a consistent per
formance
The performances of tiie other driv
ers were not of a sufficiently sensa
tional nature to deserve especial men
tion.
What of Next Year?
What the coming year holds in the
way of racing, especially for the South,
is not as yet determined.
Savannah is uncertain about asking
again for the Vanderbilt and the
Grand Prize. There is small doubt but
that they will get the races if they ask
for them. They know the labor and the
expense and they are taking their time.
If Atlanta merchants and business men
would put the same work and enthusi-
Johnson=Gewinner Co.’s
EXHIBIT OF
Motor Apparel
■EXEW£mMO%«a9QMfInB3maSBKIBnHHBHK3aaBKBHMBHnDK3HBgDHSBiaKX3CMB«X»MaBEKKCEaaM
»
and Millinery
wwwi nii'iiMiinrqiwfww-Rwißirf’iiiiwii wwnWHffMwrPWim
in charge of a New York model will b<* one of the
most interesting events of tjie Automobile Show.
Styles published in recem issues of \ ogue will
he seen on a living model.
Au exhibition of correct chauffeur uniforms at
reasonable prices will attract the aiiention of a
large number of owners, who appreciate the
significance of appropriately dressed drivers.
Imported Scottish Steamer Rugs, All-Wool
Domestic Rohes, Lunch Kits. Camping Outfits,
Week-end Bags, Washup Outfits, and many other
articles of great importance to the comfort and
pleasure of motoring will be on display.
JOHNSON GEWINNER CO.
124 Peachtree Street
Opposite Candler Bldg.. ATLANTA. GA.
: Record of Drivers •
J DRIVER cT i *
• t oi o 'a, •
• " •- Si x c •
® <z> b- </> •
• Anderson 4 0 11 2 •
• Bayse 11 0 0 0 •
® Bergdoll 4 0 3 0 1 •
• Bragg 2 11 0 0®
• Bruce-Brown .... 1 0 0 1 0 •
» Campbell 11 0 0 0 •
• Cooper 4 1 0 0 3®
• DePalma 5 4 0 0 1 •
• Devore4 0 1 2 1®
® Disbrow .. 1 0 0 J 0 •
® H. Endicott 2 2 0 0 0 •
« Evans.. 2 11 0 0 •
• Fullerl 0 0 1 o •
® Gochenauerl 0 0 1 0 •
• Hamlin 11 0 0 0 •
® Hastings 2 0 1 0 1®
I® Houston ..1 0 1 0 0®
i ® Hughes 9 11 0 7 •
j® Joc-rman 2 1 0 1 0®
» Klipsteinl 0 1 0 0®
o MaSon .1 0 1 0 0®
• •
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
asm in giving Atlanta some of the same
, kind of advertising it would be a grand
, thing for the sport. And they would
accomplish wonders. With the help of
business men, tiie Atlanta Speedway
races could be made a tremendous suc
cess.
The Atlanta Speedway is a grave
yard as fat- as the Atlanta Automobile
association is concerned. But tiie At
lanta Automobile and Accessory asso
ciation is not cM the same mind. 'And
if money is made in encouraging per
. fusion at the present show it is not
unlikely that some of it will be spent
’ in giving a. race meeting at the Speed
, way next season.
’ It all depends on tin success of the
t present show. <jf course, we aren't go
: ing to lose money, on the show, and
then .jsume inory yu Speedway races.
. However, I 'don’t think there is any
i cause to worry. I believe tile show will
prove a tremendous success.
if I - ■ ' -X;
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■■SSI
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Four cylinders, 4 1-8-inch bore x 5-inch stroke, 116-inch wheelbase
WITH:
Six-passenger body. Electric horn. Silk mohair top. Tire holders.
34x4-lnch GOODRICH TIRES. Electric lights. Clear-vision windshield. Full set of tools.
Luxurious upholstery. Electric self-starter. Speedometer. Detachable, demountable
Studebaker Jiffy curtains. Wide tool box. Extra rim. rims.
Crowned fenders. Three-quarter elliptic springs.
$1290
New Studebaker Cars
AT
Atlanta Show
I he new Studebaker cars will be on
exhibition at the Atlanta Automobile
Show, opening in the Auditorium
November 16th. The new “Six” is
now being driven down from Detroit.
These cars are the sensation of the
automobile industry.
Read our five-page announcement
in the Saturday Evening Post No
vember 16th, and be sure to see the
cars in Atlanta.
■—— ■ / z
The Studebaker Corporation
OF AMERICA
114 Auburn Ave. Atlanta, Georgia
G. W. HANSON, Manager