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beat him. A favorable, brisk wind was blowing. Even when there was no wind it was nip and tuck to get up and out without
striking something. On this day the old boy was determined to make a killing. One of the reporters I knew quite well said, "Why don't you take him up on that. I'm sick and tired of having him boast around what he can do and what he can't do. Accept his bet and even if you should lose we might be able to kid him into being quiet in the future."
     I said, "I may do just that."
     I talked the situation over with Baldwin he said, "Go ahead take the chance even if you lose the gas, it will be all right."
     When the old boy cam up to me again, which was about every half hour, I said, I'll race you provided that I can name my destination and the exact moment I start, and that you will not start your car until I am well up and over the park and not in danger of hitting anything."
    He said, "It's done. What is the destination?"
    "Pasadena," I replied.
    He had Fred Winnet as his driver, a friend of mine, and I knew Fred would do what the old man wanted, drive like the wond, it was to be a race as far as they were concerned. I knew there would be traffic to contend with, railroads to cross, one thing after another that might retard them. I started in the ship and as soon I was over the fence, they started. I flew done and over the business section of Los Angeles, then on to Pasadena.
    It was also true that Baldwin and I needed that extra money and needed it badly. I did not like to think of the possibility of arriving and finding them waiting for me. I kept hoping for increasing wind and advance the spark to the limit