Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com
Motor Age, Vol. XLI (41), No. 17, April 27, 1922
Some Intimate Racing Gossip – Getting Ready for Indianapolis
By PAUL DUMAS
THE winter races held on the Pacific coast this season were unusually successful from every point of view. Each of the contests was well attended and several records were established. It is worthy of mention that California is the only state that has ever supported three speedways within its boundary lines. In addition to the Cotati Speedway, there are the Beverley Hills Speedway at Los Angeles and the track at Fresno, which have been in operation during the past season, and there is talk of construction of a new board track at San Diego.
Perhaps it is the climate, the prosperity or the more pronounced sporting instincts or the combination of the three that accounts for the situation. Nevertheless, it is in marked contrast to the facilities for conducting racing contests east of the Mississippi, where Indianapolis and Uniontown seem to take care of the demand for the entire territory.
Activities in California just now are centered around the various shops and factories where the cars that have competed in the season’s racing are undergoing the dry dock operation to enable them to be in readiness for Indianapolis on May 30.
x x x
The Harry Miller, Duesenberg and Chevrolet Brothers productions have provided the bulk of entries during the year, and they will be the big three in number of entries at Indianapolis this coming Decoration Day. Then there will be the private and foreign interests, which will have a representation of one or more cars each. Prominent among the private entries expected, are the two De Palma cars now under construction in Los Angeles. These cars are designed by Ralph De Palma, who is backed by Los Angeles capital. These, possibly, may not be ready for the Memorial Day race, in which event it is reported that De Palma will drive one of the Fred Duesenberg jobs. A nephew of De Palma, Pete De Paolo, is tuning one of the eight-cylinder Frontenacs and has been seen in practice on one of the California tracks. It is stated by those who should know that he has shown talent both as a driver and trouble shooter.
The Harry Miller shop is busy on three new engines which are coming through the shop for installation in chassis which will carry the Miller banner during the coming racing season. The Leach and Durant Specials, which carry Miller engines, are being revised for the Indianapolis track.
x x x
Many steps towards the perfection of the ultra-high-speed, straight-eight engine have been made through the lessons learned from six months of racing on the western tracks. When one considers the very high crankshaft speeds at which these engines operate, it is not difficult to realize that problems concerning the valve action, lubrication system and carburetion system peculiar to high-speed performance were encountered. Improved cam contours and better camshafts and valve cooling and lubrication are inaugurated in the new engine.
Consistent ignition system performance has been accomplished on the Miller engines partly through improved cooling and location of the spark plug and better carburetion. The use of multiple carbureters on these engines, which are of high compression, has been a factor not only in securing better ignition but, also, in eliminating burned engine valves which trouble in numerous cases has been traced to non-uniform fuel distribution. Many of the straight-eights are using four carbureters and experimental work in the use of a carbureter for each cylinder is in process.
x x x
The reduction of parasite resistance, especially by the spokes of the wheels, has been accomplished by placing disks over the spokes or by the use of true disk wheels. The advantages of disks on the front wheels is open to question it would seem, because of the increased keel surface which would tend to prevent ready steering at high speed, especially on a windy day. The rear wheels, not being pivoted, would be less effective in a cross wind or one blowing at right angles to the car’s path.
Photo caption.
Start of Golden Gate Derby at San Francisco, Easter Sunday
FRONT row, left to right, Thomas and DePaola; second row, Elliot and Hartz; third row, Wonderlich and Sarles; fourth row, Murphy and Klein. Insert at left is Harry Hartz who won the 150- mile race in 1:20:38 in a Duesenberg.