By courtesy of hathitrust.org. Text and photos compiled by motorracingistory.com
THE AUTOMOBILE Vol. 32, Jan-March 1915, No. 10, March 11, 1915, pages 446 – 447
Resta Wins Again – Takes Vanderbilt
Peugeot Covers 296-Mile Course at 67.5 M.P.H.
Wilcox, in Stutz, Again Second
Pullen’s Mercer Third
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., March 6 – Special Telegram – Handling his Peugeot with all the dash and skill which characterized his Grand Prize victory, Dario Resta today shot across the finish line as winner of the Vanderbilt Cup. Behind him roared the pursuit of the fastest cars and most daring drivers in America, but despite the dangerous and spectacularly treacherous character of the course, the plucky English-Italian led the field with his French car for three-quarters of the race. His average for the 300.3 miles, comprising seventy-seven laps of the 3.8489-mile course, was 67.3 miles per hour, a terrific pace when the condition of the track is considered.
Wilcox Again Second
And the most remarkable thing of the race was that Wilcox, whose Stutz finished second last Saturday in the Grand Prize, was again second in today’s contest with an average speed of 65.6 miles per hour. Thus, both first and second went to the same men who won these positions in the Grand Prize.
Those who thought that Resta won because of a fluke and the withdrawal of many of the best drivers in the Grand Prize are silent. Nothing but praise is now heard for the unassuming little driver who has captured in his first races on American soil, the most coveted trophies of the automobile racing game.
Pullen, the world’s speed record holder, won third place in the Mercer, after having furnished for the spectators the greatest thrills of the day. He and Resta drove side by side down the planks in front of the grandstand time after time. The crowds yelled their approval, both having their supporters, but none of the cheering thousands realized that Pullen, though he was racing, was a full lap behind. His average speed was 65.3 miles per hour.
DePalma, twice winner of the Vanderbilt Cup, finished fourth, driving a careful, cautious race, never speeding more than was necessary, and taking every turn with a good allowance for safety. The wisdom of this was shown when his competitors began rolling into their pits, either out of the race entirely or out for repairs until all chance at the money was gone.
Billy Carlson, in the Maxwell, drove a similar race, though he did not even appear to be in the winning class until long after the sixtieth lap. Little attention was paid him by the crowds; only the experts in the Maxwell pits saw what he was doing and signaled their approval.
One serious accident marred the day’s sport. Bob Burman, a post entry driver who drove the car vacated by Grant when he aligned himself with the Case forces, turned turtle, both Burman and his mechanician being injured. Burman’s injuries were slight and after being attended at the emergency hospital on the grounds, he and his wife went back to watch the finish. Joe Cleary, the mechanician, suffered fractures of the thigh and two broken ribs. A spectator was injured when the Edwards Special threw a tire in taking one of the turns at high speed.
Tom Alley lost control of the Duesenberg in the thirty-seventh lap and tore through a fence barricade for a distance of 150 feet. Both Alley and his mechanician saved them selves by crouching in the hood of the car. O’Donnell, driving the other Duesenberg, was also wrecked. His car skidded, jumped a bale of hay and turned over. The two racers picked themselves up, badly bruised, but delighted to find themselves still alive. The car was damaged considerably, but went on its own power back to the pits. Harry Grant, driving Cooper’s car, the big Case, was the victim of a peculiar accident. He came to the pit for gasoline, but due to a mistake, the gasoline tank was filled with water. The car lasted half a lap then went out. Minor accidents and trouble of various kinds gradually eliminated the field after the first twenty rounds.
80 M.P.H. on Straightaways
For the first ten laps the speed was excessive. Alley averaged close to 70 miles on hour for five laps, which meant over 80 on the straightaways. But the other drivers were not to be led on by such reckless work and held to a steady gait. Resta especially, refused to be excited by the lead of other cars. He drove a monotonous, steady race varying but a few seconds each lap. He and his car resembled in their humming speed a huge bumblebee intent on reaching home. Nothing could turn them aside, nothing could stop them. The effect on the drivers behind them must have been disheartening. Resta’s pace soon told on Alley and the former relinquished his lead in the twentieth lap.
Nerve-Racking Pursuit
Then the race between Resta and Pullen began. It was almost nerve racking, that steady, humming pursuit. Pullen was first across the finish line after Resta and was hailed as second place man, but when the time allowance was estimated, Wilcox, the next finisher, was given second. Just a minute and 1 second separated first and second place. Barney Oldfield, always a favorite, puffed in after a steady race and much engine trouble, in seventh place. Disbrow, fifth in the Grand Prix, came eighth today. In every way the Vanderbilt was what the Grand Prix was not. Fair weather, a large crowd and dry track made the Vanderbilt a race, not a dismal mud fest. In spite of the forebodings expressed last week by drivers and spectators the classic of automobile racing was a success. An interesting feature of the race is the fact that Resta used the same Nassau tires with which the machine was equipped in the Grand Prize race the week before.
Photos.
Page 446. Dario Resta in the Peugeot with which he won the Vanderbilt Cup last Saturday. before he won the Grand Prize race in the same car – Howard Wilcox in the Stutz which was second in both Vanderbilt and Grand Prize races at the Panama-Pacific Exposition – Tabular Story of the Vanderbilt
Page 447. Eddie Pullen, who won third place in the Vanderbilt Cup race, furnishing the greatest thrills of the day – Equipment on Cars in Vanderbilt Race in Order of Finish – Barney Oldfield’s Maxwell passing the column of progress during the Grand Prize Race at San Francisco, February 27. Barney Oldfield finished seventh in the Vanderbilt.