SWITCHBACK LEADING UP WATERMAN'S CANYON TO Wins "Rim o' World" Climb Hudson Outclasses Field in Time Trials Over Famous Mountain Course. C Maxwell Leads Small Cars ONQUERING the "Rim of the World" climb up Waterman's Canyon in the record time of 18:08 2-5, the Hudson Super-Six driven by Ben Buxton captured the honors in the hill-climbing contest promoted by the dealers of San Bernardino, Cal., on April 24th. There were twelve entries, ten of which completed the grueling eight-mile course, two being eliminated by mishaps. Perkins' Cole Eight finished second and Martin's Studebaker Six third. Waterman's Canyon is the entrance to the famous 100 Miles on the Rim of the World route from the valley, and rises a trifle over 3,500 feet in the eight miles. Straightaways are few and far between, the road being a succession of switchbacks up the side of the mountain, with dozens of hairpin turns and grades varying from 8 to 17 per cent, and averaging about 12 per cent. It is a one-car road. with turn-outs at intervals to allow of traffic passing in opposite directions. On the day of the climb it was perhaps in better condition than usual, but loose rocks were plentiful all along the course and skids were frequent. Buxton drove a marvelous race, shutting off his speedy car always at just the right moment and "stepping on 'er" again when it was safe to do so. Despite his speed he drove a safe race, and at but one point did he have a close call. That was at the Vail's Ranch turn, where he hit the sharp curve at such a fast clip that his car swerved dangerously close to the outside of the road, which at this point hangs directly over the valley. Buxton quickly straightened up his mount, and was away again with but a momentary pause, not, however, without catapulting several bushels of loose rock over the ledge into the adjoining township. His time was 1 minute 5 3-5 seconds faster than that of Perkins' Cole, which consumed 19:14 in making the climb. Martin's Studebaker was clocked at 20:27. The fight in the small car division between the Maxwell and the Chevrolet was a most bitter one, but Ned Lord in the Maxwell beat out Pete Eschardis in the Chevrolet Wolf by the scant margin of two seconds. Lord's time of 20:36 was an excellent bit of driving, but Eschardis experienced a bitter dose of hard luck when the Wolf caught fire about two miles from the finish. He and his mechanician jumped from the car and tried to beat out the flames. but finding it impossible climbed in again and drove like mad to the finish, with a long fiery streamer following in his wake and flames shooting through the floor of the car. Eschardis almost went off the mountain at one particularly sharp turn, when the heat and the flames distracted his attention momentarily. But he quickly swerved, and had the car back on the road in a flash. Another narrow escape was that of Martin's Studebaker Six at the tricky Vail's Ranch turn. The car took a dangerous skid, and had it not been for a huge rock placed there to prevent just such a mishap it would have gone over into the valley. Frank Woodward's Chalmers was one of the cars which failed to reach the summit, due to the fact that just short of the finish, when going at a clip which would have landed him among the leaders, the car skidded against a rock and smashed a wheel. The other unfortunate was Jerry Woodill, whose King Eight was giving every promise of making a phenomenal run when his gasoline line clogged and the car was eliminated. The fact that the King bore the number "13" gave the superstitious a chance to say "I told you so." Cincinnati to Open 1917 Racing Season, Memorial Day Practically all the details have been completed for the inauguration of the 1917 automobile racing championship season at the new Cincinnati Speedway, Sharonville, on Decoration Day, May 30. Advices received by President Harry S. Leyman, of the Cincinnati Speedway, from Secretary Kennerdell, of the American Automobile Association, are to the effect that the Cincinnati race, which has been designated as the Second Annual International Sweepstakes Race, will be the first of the big events to be decided in this country during the present year, and that it probably will bring out the greatest field of starters that ever faced the flag at any time. It has been decided to make this race at a distance of 250 miles, this being 50 miles less than the race which was staged at the opening of the Cincinnati Speedway last fall, and offering, in the opinion of the officials of the track, more opportunities for spectacular driving and continued interest than a longer contest. The prize purse provided for the event is $25,000, divided into ten awards, the winner to receive the very comfortable fortune of $10,000. It is also expected that there will be several trophies offered by local enthusiasts for special performances during the race. General Manager Harry Shockley, of the Speedway, is busy completing the details of the rules embraced in the entry blanks. Work has been in progress on the Speedway all winter, so that the course, as well as the grounds in general, will be in perfect condition for the big race. A number of drivers have already signified their intention of coming to Cincinnati to do their preliminary training, so that the local track will be an extremely busy place beginning early in May. President Leyman and his associates now are at work on a program for three "amateur races," the first of which will be for cars costing less than $1.000; the second for cars from $1,000 to $1,500 in value, and the third for cars costing upward of $1,500. Suitable prizes will be offered in each event. These races will precede the big event of the day. Another feature in preparation for the entertainment of the Decoration Day patrons is an aviation exhibition by two or more prominent airmen. Offers Indianapolis Speedway for Aviation Camp Carl G. Fisher would like to have the Indianapolis Speedway grounds used as a training camp for aviators, and has offered airplanes to the War Department in addition. It is believed that the aviation department of the United States Army will accept the offer and only awaits the action of Congress on a bill to provide funds for the establishing of training camps. Mr. Fisher believes that a corps will be created in Indianapolis easily from among the automobile testers and racing followers. De Palma to Drive Packard at Sheepshead Ralph De Palma will drive a Packard racing car at Sheepshead Bay, May 19. The car has been used during the past year by the Packard Motor Car Co. in testing out their new airplane engine. De Palma, it is said, may also secure one of the cars to be sold by the Indianapolis course management as result of the Memorial Day event being canceled. If so, his German Mercedes will probably be retired. 18 Calendar of Coming Events May 10-Uniontown, Pa., Speedway Races. May 19-New York City, Metropolitan Trophy, Sheepshead Speedway. May 30-Cincinnati (O.) Speedway, Second Annual Sweepstakes. May 30-Uniontown, Pa., Speedway Races. July 4-Spokane, Wash., Track Races. BRISCOE ZEBRA FORCES ITS WAY INTO BEAR VALLEY (1) Considering the next move after a near tip-over. the road to avoid snow-choked switchback. (3) Field phone kept crew in touch with civilization. (4) Making tractor wheels blacksmith shop. (5) A close-up' of the hand-made tractor wheels. (6) Arrival at Pine Knot Lodge. Briscoe Wins Pine Knot Cup First Car to Arrive at Famous Bear Valley B ATTLING with J. Frost, R. Boreas, J. Pluvius and other obstacles for three weeks or more, the Briscoe "Zebra," reached Bear Valley early on the morning of Wednesday, April 10, winning the Pine Knot silver trophy for the first car to appear in 1917 at that well-known resort under its own power by way of the Mill Creek road. The hardships suffered by the crew are almost unbelievable, and it is doubtful if any factory or dealer will again ask a crew to go through such an ordeal. Equipped for the journey the Briscoe weighed about 2600 pounds. not including its crew. This weight included food that was carried to supply the men for several days at a time. Snowslides that brought down earth, rocks and timbers made the task of negotiating the snow-covered road along the steep mountain sides more grilling and hazardous, and time and again the members of the intrepid crew in spite of dangers worked until they were "stone blind," as one of them expressed it. The Briscoe left San Bernardino at 12:01 in the morning of March 15th and from that date until March 25, when the car arrived at the crest of the Clark grade there was no let up in the grind. Everything that could be done by human beings to advance the car nearer the goal was carried out. If one method proved ineffective, another was tried. When it was found that a portable track made of barrel (2) Abandoning at Seven Oaks staves and manufactured by the crew along the road failed to yield any material advantage in preventing the Briscoe from sinking to the hood in the many feet of winter's snow, cleverly contrived rims were manufactured from iron secured from Seven Oaks and which was part of a discarded smoke-stack. Two days were used in the manufacture of these rims. that were made 14 inches wide. Strap iron, heated and turned into shape at the Seven Oaks blacksmith forge furnished the cleats for the rims that were bolted to the All of this blacksmithing work was performed by members of the Briscoe crew. The rims for the rear wheels weighed about 45 pounds and those that were attached to the front wheels totaled about 30 pounds each. Those on the front wheels were soon discarded as they seriously interfered with the steering of the car. The rear rims were also finally taken off, as they cut deep into soft snow and let the car sink down to its body. Block and tackle attached to the front of the car and made fast to trees, as well as ropes about the rear drums, were effectively used and this method had almost constantly to be resorted to in order to make any headway. On more than one occasion, the Briscoe with the aid of tackles made grades that were as steep as 40 per cent or more. In climbing the switchbacks on Clark's grade, where the snow in many places completely obliterated the road and where shoveling time and again was resorted to in order that the wheels might get traction, the car showed its wonderful power. After having been hammered and banged about for days, it stood up to its work as though it had just left the shop. On two occasions the switchbacks were given up as impracticable, and the car and crew climbed the face of the mountain to avoid drifts that were many feet deep. After the first four days the work of getting into the valley was done at night instead of during the day. Dur ing the night hours the cold formed a heavy crust on the snow that made the going better. When the summit of Clark's was reached, with Pine Knot 61⁄2 miles away, the car was abandoned until the "Doodle Bug" Wins Dyas Cup heavy snow, that in some places was 14 feet deep, should Ford Car and Its Plucky Crew First to Reach be reduced under the sun's rays to a depth that made progress possible. On the morning of April 6th the battle was resumed. Late Sunday afternoon, April 8, snow began falling and when darkness fell, the wind was blowing a gale and the snow drifting. Using a tarpaulin for a cover, a rude tent was made between the car and a nearby tree, and closely hugging the fire, the crew huddled together for warmth. As the night wore on the cover began leaking. Using empty tin cans, members of the crew took turns in holding these and catching the water as it dripped through the holes. The affair was thoroughly enjoyed by all," said Forrest Arnold, sales manager for the Los Angeles Pacific Kissel Kar Branch and head of the Briscoe's crew, although morning found the entire outfit covered with about 18 inches of new-fallen snow. Griddle cake flour mixed with water secured from melting snow, and eaten from one skillet without knives or forks, and tea that had simmered all night composed that morning's breakfast. For lunch that day, the crew had some of the same tea, one can of corned beef and a loaf of bread that was two weeks old. From Monday until Wednesday morning the crew worked almost continuously, and finally the Briscoe arrived at Pine Knot at 7:45 when "Dad" Skinner, manager of the well-known resort, presented the crew with the beautiful silver cup the "Zebra" had so justly earned. "The Briscoe is the first car to arrive at Pine Knot in 1917 under its own power." said Mr. Skinner. "It was also the first car to reach Bear Valley in 1917, when it arrived on January 14th, although it did not at that time get quite as far as Pine Knot." The following composed the crew: Forrest Arnold, Art See. Harry L. Beal, Ed. Knickerbocker and George Cannon. B. E. Loper accompanied the crew as camera man. A Grant's Boat House on Big Bear Lake FTER twenty-one days of persistent toil, battling with snow-covered roads and the elements, the Ford car owned by E. T. Hillis won the B. H. Dyas Bear Valley cup for being the first car to reach Grant's boat-house on Big Bear Lake over the Mill Creek road during the present year. At the start the Ford crew was made up of Jack Preston, manager of the Bear Valley Garage; Albert Craig and Oscar Anderson. They were checked out from the office of the San Bernardino Sun at midnight March 15th. In the matter of special equipment the "Doodle Bug," as the car had been dubbed by its crew, carried 500 feet of 34inch rope, a set of snow shovels, tire chains, and drums on the rear wheels. The snow line was reached before daylight, and then began the battle for the goal. For ten days the party struggled forward, wet to the skin most of the time, and sleeping on the snow beside the car whenever opportunity offered. Incidentally the most effective work was done after nightfall, when the surface of the snow froze hard and offered a modicum of traction; hence the tired crew very rarely stopped work when the sun went down, but continued their labors far into the night. When exhausted they built a fire, protecting it from the furious winds by taking off the hood of their car and using it as a windbreak. Under this steady and persistent toil Craig succumbed on the 25th, but only after straining a leg tendon in endeavoring to extricate the car from a particularly deep drift. Accompanied by Preston, the sick man hobbled through the deep snow over the six miles into Bear Val |