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The Ideal Automobile Race Meet – The Motor Way- November 1, 1906

Text and jpegs by courtesy of hathitrust.org www.hathitrust.org, compiled by motorracinghistory.com

THE MOTOR WAY, Vol. XV, No. 18, November 1, 1906, page 9.

THE IDEAL AUTOMOBILE RACE MEETBy CHARLES A. COEY

   „To be or not to be“ is the question which has arisen since the running of the latest Vanderbilt cup race.
   Without a doubt such a race can never be run in this country as it is abroad where the government stands back of the sport, not only in encouraging and almost promoting it but in offering thorough protection, not only to the public but also to the drivers by policing the course with thousands of well trained soldiers, who run no danger of becoming carried away with the enthusiasm of the moment and almost leading the crowd on the course as was the case in America’s latest international race meet.
   Will the leaders in the automobile industry be able to secure a private course such as is talked of, and if so, what will be done in the interim to keep up the public interest to the pitch at which it now stands?
   Do endurance tests, economy tests, etc., lend a buying influence to the public at large or do they merely furnish a sweet morsel of talk to the agent of the lucky cars which finish at the head of the procession? I believe that every agent and owner can answer that question for themselves.
   The ideal race meet in my mind would be one which would encourage both manufacturers and owners to demonstrate their ability, keeping each separate and distinct from the other.
   Speed monsters should be driven to add spice to the pudding. Who is there whose nerve does not tingle as he sees a battle between the marvels of the transporting world? But for downright interest to prospective purchasers give them stock touring car and runabout events driven by owners, or agents as the class might call for.
   I personally am rather inclined toward track racing. In such events the ability of the driver is manifested and it requires knowledge of the art. Any layman can drive a touring car at top speed on a straightaway, but it is the curves on the track that draw out their experience and ability to keep a cool head at all times. I believe that track racing is a good thing to train the eye. It gives the driver an excellent idea of distance and also teaches him to act quickly in case of emergency and how to handle his car when it commences to skid on the turns. There is a track available to almost any medium sized city, but it is very hard to find a road course over which high speed can be made without tremendous expense, together with all the special arrangements necessary. A course such as is now talked of in the East is good, but how is that going to help us out here in Chicago and those living west of us unless we take the time to go there for these special events, which is a thing impossible for the man of business affairs to do.
   I believe that if the automobile clubs in the different cities would take up this question and hold these track events at the different cities it would have a great tendency to promote the interest in motor cars. The ideal way to solve this question would be to have a road course near every large city, but as above stated, this is practically an impossibility, and the next best thing is the track. – CHARLES A. COEY

The „Dead“ Racing Game „- And I could tell many more reasons why racing is unpopular, but for the noise that crowd is making“ (my, o my, who can he be?)