Des Moines NewsAugust 1, 1915
RALPH DEPALMA CIRCLES MILE SPEEDWAY TRACK IN 37 SECONDS
NINE QUALIFY IN AUTO SPEED TEST ON BOARD TRACK
Ralph De Palma Tops Racers with Qualifying Speed of 97.33 Miles an Hour.
BY SAM ABRAMSON
Nine of the fifteen drivers entered in the big 300-mile automobile derby on next Saturday, qualified in the first of the three elimination tests yesterday afternoon on the mile board speedway.
Ralph De Palma, the intrepid Italian racer, led the field with his Stutz car, circling the track in 36:98 seconds or at the rate of 97.33 miles an hour. He topped Eddie O'Donnell who qualified for Ralph Mulford in a Duesenberg with an average speed of 97.25 miles an hour with a time of 37.4 seconds for the mile. Bob Burman was third, negotiating the mile in 37.94 seconds.
Results of the first qualifying trials follow:
De Palma, Stutz: 36.98 seconds, 97.33 miles an hour.
Mulford, Duesenberg: 37.4 seconds, 97.25 miles an hour.
Burman, Peugeot: 37.94 seconds, 95.2 miles an hour.
Cooper, Sebring: 38.12 seconds, 94 miles an hour.
Chandler, Duesenberg: 39.33 seconds, 92.8 miles an hour.
Alley, Ogren: 40.25 seconds, 90 miles an hour.
Shrunk, White Special: 40.43 seconds, 89 miles an hour.
O'Donnell, Duesenberg: 42.6 seconds, 84 1-2 miles an hour.
Brown, Duscheaneau: 43.90 seconds, 82 miles an hour.
Barndollar, Clergy Special: 47 seconds, 72 miles an hour (failed to qualify).
O'Connell, O'Connell Special: 50.4 seconds, 68 miles an hour (failed to qualify).
DePalma and Burman Star.
De Palma and Burman were easily the stars of the afternoon program. Both veterans of the racing game, they held the small crowd spellbound with their daring driving. Altho eighty miles an hour was the speed limit fixed for qualifying, these two racers negotiated the mile track for the five mile distance at the rate of speed exceeding ninety-five miles.
De Palma outraced Burman in five mile exhibition, encircling the track at an average speed of 97.55 miles and three times covering the mile track in 36.9 seconds. His Stutz racer responded to every touch but slight engine trouble immediately preceding the event, prevented the Italian from attaining an even greater speed. Burman in his Peugeot, averaged 95.8 miles for the five miles, his best time for the mile being 37.8 seconds. On a second trial, Burman blew a rear tire on the fourth lap but skillful driving prevented the car from turning turtle.
Engine Stops O'Donnell.
Eddie O'Donnell was scheduled to try for a new record for the fifty-mile distance but mechanical trouble caused him to postpone the attempt until another time. O'Donnell had no difficulty in qualifying, however, in his Duesenberg.
No program will be held today as the speedway officials do not desire to again incur the wrath of county officials enforcing the Sunday blue laws. Additional elimination trials will be held next week.