Barney Oldfield, the world's master driver, and DeLoyd Thompson, aviator, are on their way here to appear at the opening of the new $100,000 Speedway on next Sunday afternoon, according to a telegram received this morning by John W. Black, their personal representative.
The telegraphic communication stated that the veteran driver and intrepid birdman last night left Owensboro, Ky., with Des Moines as their destination. The information contained in the message was indefinite, and Black is not certain whether they will direct to this city or whether Barney and Thompson will stop off a day at St. Louis which is on their route.
It is a certainty, however, that Barney's two racers, the 300 horsepower Christie, a freak front-drive machine, and 100 horsepower Fiat Cyclone, and the flier's Day Tractor biplane will reach here either late tonight or early Saturday morning. With them will be E. Waldo Stein and Carl Dashbach, Barney's mechanicians, and Don Phillips and Ralph Newcomb, the plane experts.
Dashbach was formerly mechanician for Resta, and was badly injured at Indianapolis this year. Newcomb gained considerable fame as an aviator before retirement a few months ago, and Phillips recently returned from Europe where he installed Gyro motors in aeroplanes for the English army.
There is a possibility, however, that Barney and Thompson may accompany their retinue of assistants here. But if they do not, it is a certainty that they will reach Des Moines early on Sunday morning.