The Crittenden Automotive Library

TO MAKE AUTOMOBILE RACING USEFUL.

Publication: The New York Times
Date: 21 October 1905

It is related of a certain Shah that he was shockingly bored at the Derby when he was visiting England. In response to his host's amazed inquiry why this was so, the Shah replied: “It was already known to me that one horse can run faster than another.” Substantially the same reply is involved in the intimation that the Automobile Club of France is indisposed to accept the custody of the Vanderbilt Cup, since it does not care to take the responsibility of the next race. The state of the automobile art has so far advanced in France that speed racing between racers is no longer useful there. If racing between racing cars is to be continued in the United States, it will imply that we are so backward that such contests have still a use here that they have outlived abroad.

There is a plain hint that soon if not now automobile racing will be in a condition like yacht racing. Queen's Cup models have lost their interest except for Queen's Cup races, and these are increasingly difficult to arrange. Instead there is brisk rivalry in single-handed cruisers and wholesome boats which shall place their skippers on an equality by identity of design and construction. Automobile racing is now ripening in the same direction. Very few prospective owners are interested in 100-horse-power cars, or wish to tour over ordinary roads at railway speed. The best performers at stipulated horse powers, record-making by really stock cars under amateur driving, competitions under ordinary conditions, rivalries in comfort and convenience, are what will interest buyers, even though they lack the dramatic qualities of races where it is hoped or feared that a catastrophe may be assisted by witnessing it at a safe distance. France gives the tip that common sense qualities rather than uncommon speed capacity are to be the fashion in the most advanced automobile world hereafter.