Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com
Motor Age, Vol. XLV, No. 23, June 5, 1924, page 0 – 23
Pit Stops Averaged Only Six and a Half Minutes Per Car
Tire Changes Were Responsible for Greatest Number of Halt
Gas Tanks Also Showed Tendency to Shake Loose
By J. EDWARD SCHIPPER
SEVENTY-TWO stops at the pits consumed a total of 141 minutes of the racers‘ time. This is a remarkably good showing and probably a record for races of this kind. It represents an average of only 6.5 minutes for each car in the race and accounts largely for the fact that the winners finished so closely.
Short as the stops were they had, in some instances, a material bearing on the results. When Earl Cooper was in second place on the 178th lap, he was only 26 sec. behind Boyer, the leader, and was catching up to him at the rate of 2 sec. per lap. At that rate it would have been a „neck and neck“ finish, but two tire failures in rapid succession put Cooper too far back to hope for a chance.
Tire stops predominated. There were 37 tires changed on 25 tire stops. Three tires were the most changed at one time and as usual, those on the right side, taking the centrifugal thrust of the car, were those to fail most consistently, right rears being in the majority.
The winner stopped but once, that being for tires, gasoline and oil. Earl Cooper, who finished second, stopped three times, totaling 2 min. 33 sec. The winning car stopped for 40 sec. This is a difference in time at the pits of 1 min. 53 sec. As the winner led at the finish by 1 min. 22 sec., it is evident that the stops at the pits just about decided the race.
Of the others who finished in the money, Murphy stopped three times, Hartz twice, Bennett Hill once, Peter DePaolo once, Fred Comer twice, Ira Vail twice, Antoine Mourre twice, Robert McDonough once. All of these stops were of short duration.
Two unusual features were prominent in the pit stops this year. These were the effects of the rough track on those who had not properly designed the spring suspension to meet this difficulty and the leaky gasoline tank. There were ten stops for the latter reason. Five stops were made to adjust shock absorbers and relief drivers on some of the cars were called for repeatedly.
Gasoline Tank Trouble
Three cars went out of the race on account of the leaky gasoline tank trouble. These were Hearne’s Durant Special, Milton’s Miller Special, and Frank Elliott’s Miller Special. These are all Miller jobs. The rough track was to blame for the trouble, as the spring deflections were bigger than expected, causing the rear axle to hammer the gasoline feed tank. Although Hartz’s Durant Special and Ellingboe’s Miller Special, also both Miller cars, had the same trouble they did not have to leave the track on that account.
The running of the race is told in a great measure by a review of the pit stops. These are given chronologically in the following paragraphs from nota- tions made directly in the pits during the running of the race.
Joe Boyer in his Duesenberg Special who had stepped out and won the first lap was the first to pull up to the pit. As a result of his rapid acceleration, he sheared the key which drives the supercharger from the oil pump drive shaft. This was left off, so he continued minus the supercharger. The stop lasted 50 sec. He had also lost the gasoline tank cap, which was replaced on his next lap in 7 sec.
A broken steering knuckle caused E. Ansterberg in his Duesenberg Special to collide with the wall just before entering the back stretch on the second lap. The driver was unhurt except for a slightly scratched nose, but the car was out of the race. Ansterberg returned to the pit and was held in readiness to act as relief driver.
Ora Haibe in the Schmidt Special came in to change spark plugs on his ninth lap. There was some delay in finding the plugs in the pit which held the driver for 3 min. 30 sec.
The Barber-Warnock Special, one of the made-over Fords driven by Bill Hunt, picked up a piece of paper which clung to the radiator and caused the engine to start overheating on the twelfth lap. He came in to pits and removed it and also repaired a dragging brake in 20 sec. This car came in again on its 22nd lap. Oil was leaking from the car and the plugs were fouled. The plugs were changed but nothing was done on this stop on the oil leak which was not located. The stop lasted 3 min. 20 sec.
Ora Haibe came in again on the 23rd lap. This time he adjusted the air pump which takes care of the gasoline tank pressure. Time 1 min. 30 sec. After going three more laps Haibe pulled in again, and repaired the air connection.
Jerry Wonderlich, distressed by a tight collar on his shirt, pulled up to his pit in a fainting condition on his 30th lap, just two laps behind the leader. He was relieved by Morton. Time 27 sec.
The Mourre Special driven by Anton Mourre was flagged on the 44th lap. His auxiliary gasoline tank strap was dragging. He removed this and put in gasoline and was on his way in 36 sec.
Ora Haibe in the Schmidt Special was flagged in on his 39th lap and given some instructions about driving on the turns. He was driving them too high. While in he changed spark plugs. Time 1 min. 30 sec.
The first tire stop was made by Jimmy Murphy in the Miller Special, who changed a right rear in 21 4/5 sec.
The Barber-Warnock Special driven by Bill Hunt came in to change both rear tires. In stopping the driver threw the brake toggle levers over so that both rear brakes seized. In starting the car by pushing, due to the dragging brakes, the car could not be pushed, fast enough to start it. Both brake pull rods were straightened and the car was then started. Time 6 min. 17 sec.
At a signal from his pit, A. E. Moss in the Barber-Warnock Special was called in for a tire change. He misjudged his speed the first time and was compelled to make another lap before coming in as his first stop was too far past his pit. His stop was on his 57th lap. He changed both rear tires, took on water and put a new cap screw in the clutch cover. Time 2 min. 47 sec.
Morton brought the Durant Special in on the 70th lap. The car was missing. The trouble was found to be a broken throttle spring on the carbureter which was repaired in 1 min. 20 sec.
Valuable time was taken by Tommy Milton who had trouble with a broken gasoline tank strap: This was a metal strap which broke and dragged. It was replaced by two heavy leather straps at a cost of 12 min. 22 sec.
Peter DePaolo, driving a Duesenberg Special, made his first stop on his 72nd lap. He took on gasoline and changed a right rear tire. Time 50 sec.
Harry Harder in the Barber-Warnock Special, the last of the Fords to make a pit stop, came in on his 53rd lap with a missing engine. The car was spitting back slightly and it was not apparent whether the trouble was ignition or a clogged gasoline line. Spark plugs were changed and the gasoline line and carbureter cleaned out in 5 min. 30 sec. Water was taken on during the stop.
Frank Elliott brought in his Miller Special on the 73rd lap to tighten his shock absorbers. Roughness of the track made the riding hard for Elliott, who said that he had been bothered for 75 miles. He tightened them in 48 sec.
Trouble with the gasoline feed again brought Morton in the Durant Special to the pits. This time the stop was on the 73rd lap, only three laps after his previous stop. The trouble proved to be a leaky gasket on the gasoline tank which let the pressure down.
Harry Harder only traveled four laps before coming in again, this time with a binding carbureter throttle. He cleanеd out the carbureter and changed spark plugs, also repairing the throttle trouble. Time 10 min. 23 sec.
Jerry Wonderlich went back into his Miller Special, relieving Morton on the 90th lap. While at the pits a right rear tire was changed. Time 35 sec.
Joe Boyer relinquished the wheel of his Duesenberg Special to E. Ansterberg who had crashed in a car of the same make on the first lap. While making the change of drivers the right front tire was changed and gasoline taken Time 1 min, 18 sec. on.
Fred Comer, driving the Durant Spe cial, came in on his 97th lap for a relief driver. He was replaced by Morton. While at the pits both the right front and right rear tires were changed. Time 1 min. 9 sec.
Cliff Durant came in for his first stop in his Durant Special. This was on his 90th lap. He changed a right rear tire and took on gasoline and oil. Schafer relieved him as driver. Time 1 min. 30 sec.
Eddie Hearne, driving a Durant Special, came in on his 102nd lap, took on gasoline and changed a right rear tire. Time 1 min, 38 sec
Earl Cooper in the Studebaker Special stopped on the 105th lap for a right rear, right front, water, oil and gasoline. Time 1 min, 32 sec.
Another gasoline tank strap started trouble for Frank Elliott in his Miller Special. He had to come in on his 99th lap. He replaced the strap and changed a right rear and took on gasoline and oil. Time 3 min. 30 sec.
Bennett Hill in the Miller Special race came in for his first stop on the 106th lap. He changed a right front and right rear tire and took on water, gasoline and oil. Time 1 min, 55 sec.
Ira Vail made his first stop on his 109th lap. It was for tires.
Joe Boyer, who had been replaced by Ansterberg in the car whose super- charger was out of commission, got back into a supercharged car when he relieved L. L. Corum in the Duesenberg Special on the 109th lap.
Jules Ellingboe in the Miller Special lost water through a leaky radiator cap. He came in on the 107th lap and repaired this trouble and took on water. Time 1 min.
Antoine Mourre in the Mourre Special nearly went out of the race in the 111th lap. He swerved and struck the inside track wall, breaking his left rear hub cap and grinding the end of his axle shaft. He came in to the pit and after some debate the technical committee allowed him to continue, when they were convinced that the cap was again tightly in place. While in he also changed the right rear and right front tires. He also took on water, gasoline and oil. The time of the stop was 6 min.
The first stop for Robert McDonogh in the Miller Special was on the 130th lap. He changed a right rear tire and took on water, gasoline and oil in 2 min.
Tommy Milton in the Miller Special found that the leather straps he had put on in place of the metal straps on his 63rd lap were not holding his gasoline tank securely. With the roughness of the track the tank bounced about sufficiently to start a bad leak. He pulled into the pits and looked over the car and decided to continue. This was in the 108th lap. He decided to go on and went two more laps but was then forced to withdraw as the leak was too bad.
Haibe came in with his Schmidt Special in the 100th lap. He took on water, oil and gasoline and put in Dempsey as relief driver. Time 4 min.
Murphy in the Miller Special came in for tires on his 120th lap. He changed a right front, right rear and left rear in 1 min. 30 sec.
******
Loose gasoline tanks proved to be a serious annoyance on the 110th lap. Ellingboe in his Miller had to repair his tank strap. While in he took on water, oil and gasoline. Time 2 min. 56% sec.
Harry Hartz, running in fifth place at the time, made his first stop on the 111th lap. He changed the right front, right rear, left rear and took on water, gasoline and oil in 2 min, 10 sec.
Durant was replaced by Schafer in the 100th lap. Time 12 sec.
Comer again resumed the wheel of his Durant Special, replacing Morton, who had previously superseded him on the 120th lap. Time 30 sec.
Eddie Hearne’s Durant Special began to develop the same leaky gasoline tank trouble that bothered many of the others who had strap iron bands holding their auxiliary gasoline tanks in place. He stopped for this on the 122nd and 136th laps and went out of the race altogether on the 150th lap. On his first stop his pitmen made almost a record-breaking tire change when they put on a new left front in 9 sec.
Harry Harder in the Barber-Warnock Special had to stop in the 91st lap with fouled spark plugs. To make sure he changed all of them and also took on water and oil. This required 2 min, 35 sec.
Tommy Milton had to drop in the 110th lap. The loose gasoline tank bugaboo got him.
Harry Hartz, in the Durant Special, also had gasoline tank trouble, a broken bracket brought him into the pits on the 120th lap. He removed it and went on in 40 sec.
Wonderlich’s Durant Special came in on the 130th lap to tighten the shock absorbers. The rough riding was a little too much for Wonderlich for a while, so he gave up the wheel to Morton. Time 1 min. 50 sec.
A. E. Moss in the Barber-Warnock came in on the 128th lap, inspected the car and changed a right front and right rear, also taking on water, oil and gasoline. Time 3 min. 10 sec.
Jimmy Murphy blew a tire on his 146th lap and had a narrow escape, as he turned around twice when he did it. He straightened out his car, however, and came into the pit where he made his tire change in 17 3/5 sec. The tire was the left rear.
More gasoline tank trouble developed on Ellingboe’s Miller Special. He came in on the 137th lap and wired on his gasoline tank and went on. His stop lasted 2 min. 10 sec.
Haibe went back to the wheel of his own car in the 121st lap. While in he changed the No. 3 plug. Time 2 min. 30 sec.
Durant replaced Hearne in the Durant Special on the 135th lap. He also adjusted the shock absorbers, as many of the other drivers did when they came in, some loosening and others tightening. The stop was 56 sec.
Sticking valves began to bother Moss’s Barber-Warnock. He stopped on the 138th lap, took on oil, adjusted the tappets, and oiled the rocker arms. This seemed to cure the trouble. Time 6 min. 43 sec.
Haibe stopped the Schmidt Special on the 125th lap. He changed the No. 1 plug and removed a screw from the windshield. Time 5 min. 15 sec.
Hearne again replaced Durant in the Durant Special on the 144th Time 20 sec.
A. E. Moss came in with the Barber-Warnock in the 131st lap. This time the trouble was just the opposite from the previous stop. Over-oiling was given as the reason. The plugs were fouled so these were changed. Time 6 min. 48 sec.
Another victim of the leaky gasoline tank epidemic was Elliott’s Miller Special. This car was forced out for this reason in the 149th lap.
Ira Vail in the Vail Special gave up the driver’s seat to Van Ranse in the 162nd lap. Time 45 sec.
Comer went in as substitute for Ansterberg in the Duesenberg which Boyer started with. This was in the 158th lap.
Just about this time Boyer was winning the race in Corum’s original Duesenberg Special. The time for this stop was 21 sec.
Hard luck overtook Earl Cooper as he was making a fine bid for first place, less than 26 sec. behind the leader. He had to come in on the 178th lap for a right rear, the change being made in 18 sec. Four laps later he came in again for a right front, changed in 15 sec. These stops cost his change for the race, although the pitwork was exceptionally good.
Corum, who took the wheel of the original Boyer Duesenberg, gave up the wheel to Houser on the 176th lap. Time 17 sec.
Haibe changed all his plugs on the 164th lap. The time for the change was 4 min. 45 sec. The last stop of the race was made by Harry Harder in the Barber-Warnock Special, who changed a right front in 30 sec.
Photo captions.
Page 20.- All of the notables gathered before the race, er, we mean the camera. Gravelle, „Speedway Photo“
Page 22. – Those Who Finished in the Money. 1) Boyer, Duesenberg; (2) Corum, Duesenberg; (3) Cooper, Studebaker Special; (4) Vail, Vail Special; (5) McDonogh, Miller; (6) Hill, Miller Special; (7) Murphy, Miller Special; (8) Comer, Miller; (9) Hartz, Durant Special; (10) De Paolo, Duesenberg; (11) Mourre, Mourre Special.
Page 21, MOTOR AGE June 12, 1924
An Echo From the Race – The largest band in the world paraded before the start of the race and was caught in the act by an aerial photographer. Each year at this event, numerous bands from all parts of the middle west are collected under the leadership of W. S. Mitchell of the Indianapolis band.
Cliff Durant’s $25,000 Miller engine Durant.
Ode Porter, the official timer, was a busy man – upon his shoulders rests a great responsibility and he must be on the job every second of the grind.
Those Who Finished in the Money. 1) Boyer, Duesenberg; (2) Corum, Duesenberg; (3) Cooper, Studebaker Special; (4) Vail, Vail Special; (5) McDonogh, Miller; (6) Hill, Miller Special; (7) Murphy, Miller Special; (8) Comer, Miller; (9) Hartz, Durant Special; (10) De Paolo, Duesenberg; (11) Mourre, Mourre Special. Source: hathitrust.org
