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THE MOTOR WAY Vol. XV, No. 16, October 18, 1906, page 9
VALUE OF AUTOMOBILE ROAD RACES
By CHARLES B. SHANKS
GENERAL SALES MANAGER WINTON MOTOR CARRIAGE COMPANY, CLEVELAND, OHIO
If it were possible to eliminate the element of luck from automobile road racing competitions, these would, we believe, furnish an annual index of the progress of the industry in the production of extremely fast and extremely substantial motor cars.
Inasmuch, though, as misfortunes cannot possibly be eliminated, victory or defeat is not always a true key to the character of that competitor’s car. Some of the most splendid work done in road races, both in this country and abroad, stands to the credit of defeated competitors whose cars, despite marvelous speed and wonderful stability, fell short of victory by reason of conditions wholly aside from the quality of the cars themselves.
Nor does this condition detract from the laurels of the winner. It is quite impossible to conceive a race in which misfortune besets all the good cars and permits victory to go to one that ill merits it. The victor deserves his honors and merits the trade in his cars which necessarily follows a particularly spectacular performance, for instance, in the Vanderbilt cup race. The world loves a winner and, at least the American portion of the world, is always willing to show its appreciation in the form of patronage.
The road race then is a good thing for the winner; nor is it always a bad thing for the loser, for, though but one car can win a race, yet possibly a dozen may perform so satisfactorily that advertising ammunition is provided thereby. This condition is further aided by the fact that the prices and elements of cars range variously and appeal to different tastes, so that no matter what the price of a car may be and no matter what elements enter into its construction, if it can but make a good record for itself in a national road contest, a benefit accrues which will be felt in the maker’s sales receipts.
It is impossible to estimate the value to the entire industry of the enthusiasm fired by the sight of a dozen mammoth cars shooting through space in an international contest for laurels. Enthusiasm is exceedingly prolific. It is not limited merely to those who are spectators, but exerts an influence far beyond them, and inasmuch as enthusiasm is always an invaluable industrial asset, the automobile road race proves itself an inexpensive and altogether desirable trade benefit.
