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By a Staff Reporter.
Exhibition Grounds, June 29.-Jupiter Pluvius and his water-wagon got away to a good start this morning, but something went wrong with his carburetor and he was forced to shoot into neutral. By the time he had proper adjustments made Old Sol was a lap ahead of him, so he retired from the race. As a dustlayer he was a winner, but for sticking qualities the ribbon was pinned on Old Sol.
In the other races, the automobile ones put on by the Sportsmen’s Patriotic Association, all the entrants were lined up ready for the start sharp on time.
Gaston Chevrolet with his Sunbeam, Louis Disbrow and his front-drive Christie and D’Alene, Woodbury, Wonderlich, Waldo and Braren with their gas buggies stripped as much as was allowed by the National Board of Censors.
The chief attraction of the day, Ruth Law, was on hand with her splendid biplane, marked in several places with the number “100” in large white figures. This is Miss Law’s American civilian number, which is compulsory for all aviators in the United States. Miss Law looked trim and ship-shape in a neat khaki suit with breeches, tan leather puttees and a snug little cap. She kept her eye on the mechanicians tinkering at the engine of the airplane. In contrast to the Curtis machines used by the Royal Air Force here in training Miss Law’s pusher type machine has the engine behind her, the driver sitting far out to the front.
“It is more satisfactory,” she told The World, “for exhibition purposes, as I can seen and be seen easier.”
The crowds were on hand early, 1 o’clock finding a long line wending its way thru the grounds. By 2.30 the grand stand was fairly well filled. The track was wet in sports, and so the events were not able to start on schedule time. In the meantime the 2nd C.O R. band provided music and kept the enthusiasts amused. At intervals racing cars took trail spins about the track, throwing up the mud in chunks where the rain had fallen the heaviest The roar of the exhaust and smell of smoke gave the appearance at least of a real speedway. In kindness to the drivers, let us say they amused the crowd while waiting for the vents to start.
First evene, three miles, flying start-1, Disbrow; 2, Chevrolet. Time, 3.33 3-5.
Slowly the red and blue cars of the contestants started off making one round of the track to get a flying start. Going over the white line in front of the grand stand with a roar, the red flag was given them. First time over the white line they were neck to neck. Second time over the line Chevrolet was two car-lengths ahead, and gained quickly, until on the fourth time over, when Disbrow shot ahead on the straightaway and held it to the checkered flag at the finish.
Event No. 4-Handicap pursuit race, limited to 5 miles from starting point-1, Disbrow; 2, D’Allen; 3, Woodbury. Time 6.07 3-5. The handicap race started off in such a cloud of exhaust smoke that the grand stand could not see for a lap who was in it. The entrants in event three were all taking part, handicapped according to the time they made. For ten laps they chased each other, changing places frequently and getting farther and farther apart until the finish saw the winner Disbrow half a lap ahead of the rest. Woodbury in the White Dusenberg gave a good exhibition creeping up from the last place to third. Wonderlich in a Simplex dropped out at the end of first lap owing to engine trouble.
Second event-Three miles, flying start, cars of 300 cubic inches piston displacement or under:
1, Wonderlich; 2, Woodbury; 3, D’Allen. Time 3.35.
D’Allen, Woodbury, Braren and Wonderlich went over the scratch together in the second event. The first round saw D’Allen in the Buick shoot ahead, which position he held until the third time around when Woderlich in a Simplex, got the lead and held it to the finish.
Third event-Racing against time for one lap, flying start:
1, Wonderlich, time 33 3-5 secs.; 2, Woodbury, 24 secs.; 3, Disbrow, 34 secs.
World’s record for half-mile is held by Woodbury, who made it in 32 1-5 secs. at Waco, Texas, in November, 1917. Today he made it in 34 seconds in a Dusenberg. No one broke the record.
With a roar Chevrolet pulled his Sunbeam onto the track for the race with Curtis. Miss Law said before the race that owing to the track and weather conditions she would give the motorist a lap’s handicap. Round and round they raced, the purr of the airplanes eight cylinders blending with the roar of the four-cylinders of the Sunbeam. At times the motorist raced in the shadow of the plane so close did the daring girl fly to the ground. When she came to earth again right in front of the grand stand, Chevrolet stood winner on account of the handicap, having made five rounds while Miss Law made five and a half.
Blue Devils Arrive.
During the race the Blue Devils came in, headed by the band, and the excitement was tremendous. They were followed by some Canadian troops and all took seats in the grand stand. The unknown aviator proved to be Captain Macklim.
Event No. 8-Ruth Law in airplane vs. Chevrolet in Sunbeam-At 4.30 the event the crowd had been waiting for was staged. Ruth Law, in her airplane, started from the end of the grandstand, and in less than half the length of the stand rose gracefully in the air. In going around four times, she coolly swooped down unexpectedly and went under the telegraph wires. While the crowd cheered around and around the track she circled, the gentle purr of the engine sounding like a great cat.
Presently in the distance could be seen one of the R. A. F. airplanes and the nervy aviator coming closer and closer drew the attention of the crowd somewhat from Miss Law. A beautiful circular nose dive, followed by a long sweep close to the ground amidst the cheers of the grandstand. Then Miss Law took the calcium again with a successive number of loop-the-loops, turning completely over and over.
The two machines came close again to
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