The city of Des Moines is about to stage the first of its 300-mile automobile derbies and from present indications only the good will of the weatherman is necessary to make the event a grand success when the starting gun is fired at the Des Moines Speedway, west of Valley Junction, Saturday.
There can be no question about the ability to make time on the new board track. Tests of all kinds have been made on it and speed limited only by the capacity of modern automobiles is believed to be possible.
The advance indications from the business office look toward a highly successful meeting financially. The $10,000 in prize money has already been pledged and drivers who are entered will know that their efforts, if successful, will be well rewarded. There is likewise no chance of the race fizzling out because of lack of entries. The list went over the even dozen mark last Friday and among the more recent names to be added are men prominent at every big auto race meet in the country.
Prominent Des Moines men have been appointed on the list of officials for the big day, altho the American Automobile association, which authorizes the event, will have its representatives on the spot.
In the tryouts yesterday Ralph De Palma set a new world's record for ten miles on a mile board track when he went the ten miles in 6:09.18. George Robinson made ten miles in 6:17 on a like track at Los Angeles in 1910. De Palma made an average speed of 97.50 miles per hour.
Seven drivers qualified for the big race yesterday afternoon and those who are not yet in will take another whirl at the distance today. Secretary Geis Botsford stated that he is certain at least nine cars will be ready for the big go when the starting gun is fired at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon.