75,000 in Attendance. |
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Daily Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon)
August 31, 1912
Elgin, Ill., Aug 31.—Marked by perfect weather the second day of the annual Elgin automobile races opened today with two events slated on the program, the Elgin trophy race, a distance of 254 miles, and the free for all race, covering a distance of 305 miles.
The two races were run simultaneously, entries in the longer event continuing after the finish of the shorter one.
Teddy Tetzlaff, the Los Angeles driver, was forced to withdraw from the free for all, owing to his car not being equipped with tires under contract use. He was replaced by Hearn.
Drivers Bruce-Brown, Hastings, Trussell and Whalen were scratched. Mulford was the first starter.
In the Elgin trophy race the prize of $1500 will be split $1000 to the winner, $300 to second place and $200 to third.
In the free for all a prize of $2500 will be divided $1750 to the winner, $500 to second place and $250 to third.
Hearn blistered his hands, after making three laps in the free for all race, and was forced to withdraw. Clark, driving a Mercedes, left the track and plunged into the section of the field in which the spectators' machines were parked. No one was injured, but Clark was compelled to withdraw from the race.
DePalma, Bergdoll and Mulford were leading at this stage of the free for all. All the drivers had lowered the one-lap record, Bergdoll's time being the best, 6:40 for the eight miles. Bergdoll dashed into the lead during the eleventh lap.
In the Elgin trophy race De Palma was leading, with Mulford second.
Bergdoll's record for the 8 1/4- mile course was 6:15. The best previous record was made by Mulford last year.
In the fourth lap of the free for all race De Palma was second and Mulford third. The positions in the Elgin trophy race remained unchanged.
Bergdoll's average speed up to this time was 72.6 miles an hour, a little better than three miles an hour faster than the previous average of 69 miles.
The crowd in attendance at the meet today is estimated at 75,000 persons.