NEWS FROM THE U.S.A.

NEWS FROM THE U.S.A.

Stubblefield Wins Gilmore Gold Cup Road Race.

R10 0A racing in California, absent for over 17 years, returned to Los Angeles on February 18th and was accorded an enthusiastic welcome by an attendance estimated at above 80,000 at the first annual Gilmore Gold Cup Classic.

This race was run over a 250-mile distance, 131 laps of an intricate, winding, exceedingly_ rough course. The .circuit measures slightly leas than 2 miles, and is of hard packed dirt surface. Entries were limited to stock cars of less than 300 cubic inches.

There Were thirty-five machines entered in the race, with such famous veteran drivers as LOWS Meyer, Tony Gulotta, Jules Ellingboe, Cliff Bergere, Lou Moore, Peter i)e Paolo, Fred Frame, Ralph Hepburn, Ray Lampkin, and Babe Stapp named to pilot the stock cars. Ford, Plymouth, Rockne, Chevrolet, Studebaker, Chrysler, De Soto, and Ter-raplane machines were included in the entry lists.

Hartwell ” Stubby” Stubblefield, Los Angeles youthful veteran, was the winner of the spectacular race, driving a Ford. V-8, but only after a terrific struggle with Al Gordon, Riverside Hebrew crack, and 1933 Pacific Southwest Champion. Stubblefield averaged 63 m.p.h. over the rough, rutted course, featured by many dangerous curves.

Young Rex Mays, in :a Ford. V-8, showed the fastest time in the qualifying trials, and was awarded. the pole position for the start, with Al Gordon, Sam Palmer and Fred Frame next in line. Mays got away in the lead, and continued to set a fast pace, driving at a terrific speed, but very carefully. On the 17th lap Mays was forced to the pits with a punctured tyre, and Gordon shot his Ford V-8 into the lead.

Al Reinke, a youngster in a Ford, took the lead on the 33rd circuit as Gordon went to the pits for petrol. Reinke was forced in for the same purpose three laps later, and Gordon returned to the front position, with Stubblefield only a half-lap behind. From this point until the finish of the gruelling race, Gordon and Stubblefield waged one of the most spectacular battles for victory in the history of American racing. Only a half lap or less apart they drove with bitter determination, and consummate skill, taking no foolish chances, but getting every ounce of speed from their mounts on the short straights. Stubblefield won the race only because his pit crew was able to save seconds in petrol refilling, and because he showed a bit more skill in negotiating the hair-pin bends.

Gordon was flagged the winner, but a re-check of the tape proved Stubblefield had not been credited with a lap, and so the handsome Los Angeles driver was awarded the gold cup and the cash award. Peter “1.)e Paolo, 1925 Indianapolis winner, and champion American driver in 1925 and 1927, returned to racing after an absence of six years, and carried off third position in a brilliant bit of driving. There were two accidents during the BY Our American Correspan,dent T. MERIWETHERSMITH

race, neither o,f which involved a fatality. Chet Gardner, in a Ford, turned a somersault when his right front wheel collapsed while travelling at nearly 85 m.p.h. Bob Hahn lost control of his Rockne and crashed off the course into the ploughed ground circling one of the bends, where his machine flipped over. Neither driver was badly hurt, though Gardner’s mechanic suffered a broken pelvis.

‘Louis Meyer, Indianapolis winner in 1928 and 1933, was fourth, coming from far back in the field, and at one time looked like a possible winner. Among the non-starters was Jules Ellingboe, nationally famous driver ten and twelve years ago, Tony Gulotta, famous capt;iin of the Studebaker works team, and ” Sprouts ” Elder, internationally known motorcycle crack. ” Babe” Stapp, entered in the race, was ruled out by ph ysiclans because he had not sufficiently recovered from injuries sustained last year. Summary : 1st, H. W. Stubblefield (Ford V-8) ; 2nd, Al Gordon (Ford V-8) ; 3rd, Peter lie Ra.010 (Ford V-8) ; 4th, Louie Meyer (Ford V-8) ; 5th, Rex Mays (Ford V-8) ; 6th, Ted Horn (Ford V-8) : 7th, ” Frenchy ” La Horgue (Ford V-8) ; 8th, George Connor (Ford V-8) ; 9th, Al Reinke (Ford V-8) ; 10th, ” Swede” Smith (Ford V-8). Forced out of ;ace or not in money position : Ernie Triplett (Ford V-8) ; Sam Palmer (Ford V-8) ; Herb Balmer (Chevrolet) ; Mel Kenealy (Ford V-8) ; Ralph Hepburn (Chrysler) ; Kelly Petillo (Ford V-8) ; Louie Tomei (Ford V-8) ; Chet Gardner (Ford V-8) ; Cliff Bergere (Ford V-8) ; Lou Moore

(Ford V-8) ; William Cantlon (Ford V-8) ; Fred Frame (Ford V-8) ; Eddie Meyer (Ford V-8) ; Wilbur Shaw (Ford V-8) ; Chet Gardner (Ford 1%8) ; F. C.

Woodford (Plymouth) ; Bob Hahn (Rockne) ; Winner’s average, 62,367 m.p.h.

Ernie Triplett Killed.

Ernie Triplett, 27 year old Belvedere. California driver, one of the most popular race drivers in the nation, was almost instantly killed early in March at El Centro, California, in a pile-up of four racing cars. Triplett was the hero of many a speedway crash, and winner of scores of major races in this country.

A stalled car, driven by an inexperienced driver was responsible for the accident. ” Swede” Smith, roaring into the home straight of the dirt track lost control of his car after doging the stalled car and turned over against the outside railings. His mechanic ran across the course to aid in dragging Smith from beneath the overturned car. Flashing into the straight in a hard fight for the lead, Triplett and Al Gordon, almost abi east, were unable to see the mechanic until nearly upon him. Triplett whipped his machine to the right, hit the mechanic, skidded, and locked wheels with Gordon’s speedster. Triplett’s car broke loose, and turned end over end., throwing the ill-fated driver high into the air at the edge of the course. Gordon also overturned, but was able to walk away from the course. Triplett died in a hospital soon after the wreck, as did Smith. Gordon was awarded the race, which was declared ended at the time of the wreck.

Around the States.

The Studebaker Sales Corporation, of South Bend, Indiana, has announced that racing engines for use in the Indianapolis race and other Championship events are obtainable at their factory at $750 each. This motor is almost exactly the same as the power-plant that carried five Studebakers to sensational placings in the 1933 Indianapolis race. The engine is the Studebaker ” President,” 8-cylinder in line type, with 4 downdraft Stromberg carburetters. A magneto to eliminate the battery is installed, and a new water pump. A higher compression ratio is obtained with a new high compression head. The motors are of 250-cubic inch displacement, and develop around 150 horsepower, non-supercharged. One of the streamlined models used in the 1933 race was said to have attained 145 miles per hour on the straights. They are known to have a top speed of better than 150 miles per hoar.

Al Gordon, according to press reports, will soon retire from Pacific Coast competition, to go on a tour in the interests of the Ford V-8 machine.

Bill Cummings, sensational Indianapolis crack, is not driving in early season races, but will be at the wheel in the 500 mile race, it is understood.