ELGIN WANTS COBE CUP RACE.

The New York Times
November 21, 1909

Land Owners Making Plans for Betterment of the Roads.

Special to The New York Times.

CHICAGO, Nov. 20.—Owners of the land surrounding the proposed road race course near Elgin are so enthused over the idea of having the second annual Cobe Cup race in the vicinity of the watchmaking town that several of them are already making plans for the betterment of the highways in their vicinity, in the hope of influencing the Chicago Automobile Club in favor of sending the motoring plum in that direction.

Since it was proposed that the race be run near Elgin, considerable interest has been aroused over the idea, and while none of the members of the contest board of the Chicago Automobile Club has seen the loop, still the glowing description of the circuit given by Frank B. Wood of Elgin, who also is a member of the Chicago Automobile Club, has convinced the contest board that Elgin really has something to offer.

The course is only a mile from the centre of the town, and there is a street car line running directly to it.  There are only three turns in the circuit.  It is west of Elgin, and the road at the present time is a good gravel pike.  It is about ten miles around, which is considered a satisfactory size for a road racing circuit, it having been made evident at Crown Point last Summer that a 22.6 mile loop is too large and keeps the cars scattered too much for the enjoyment of the race from the spectators' point of view.  The Elgin loop is kite-shaped, the narrow end being a broad swing, which has a brick surface on one side of it and an asphalt one on the other.