RALPH DE PALMA MAKES $3,500 FOR A DAY'S WORK

NOT A BAD DAY'S WORK. Ralph DePalma......................$3,500 Eddie Rickenbacher...............$1,500 Pete Henderson......................$1,500 Earl Cooper..............................$750 Eddie O'Donnell.......................$700 Frank Galvin............................$600 Ralph Mulford.........................$500

Ralph DePalma worked little more than two hours Saturday afternoon, driving a high powered Mercedes racer over a mile circular track in competition with twelve other racing stars - and got $3,500 for his work.

Pete Henderson worked a few minutes longer in his Maxwell racer and drew down $1,650.

Eddie Rickenbacher, Henderson's teammate and captain of the Maxwell team, suffered five blowouts to his tires and was forced to be content with a paltry $1,500.

Tom Milton nearly lost his life when his car struck Wilbur D'Alene's skidding machine early in the 150 mile sweepstakes. Tom finished, yet he copped only $500. And D'Alene didn't get a cent - except expenses.

But that's the game. It is the racing game. And racing drivers declare it is their business just like a furniture man plays the game of selling furniture or the grocery man competes with his rival for groceries. And they say you can't win unless you finish.

Rickenbacher was pronounced the real hard luck driver. Rick drove a pretty race with Ralph DePalma. Both are local favorites and both were liberally applauded. Rick and Ralph drove almost neck and neck, reeling off lap after lap. Once Rick passed Ralph. Then his troubles commenced. A rear tire blew. Then another. Near the finish he was forced to stop twice for tire trouble, and DePalma, who had driven a masterful race with only one stop for a quick change of tires, copped the big prize of $3,000.

Rick's four stops at the pits cost him exactly $2,250 as he was able to win only the third prize of $750 in the 150 mile race. Each of those four stops cost him $462.50. Even if he had finished only second to DePalma, each of those stops cost him $187.50.

Rick smiled after the race. He won the fifty mile event which netted him another $750. "It is all in the game," said Rick.

It is the game. The drivers know it and are sympathetic. But it is the game just the same.

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