Des Moines NewsAugust 5, 1915
FINAL TRIALS IN RACING MEET TO BE HELD TODAY
Drivers Who Have Not Qualified, Will Make Last Attempt on Speedway
BY HI HEK
Final elimination trials for the big 300-mile speedway race scheduled Saturday afternoon on the new speedway track, will be held this afternoon.
Scott, Clark, Lombardi, Barndollar, Donaldson, Henderson remain to round the mile curve at not less than an eighty mile clip in order to secure a place in the starting line when the starter gives the signal for the opening of the big race. Ralph DePalma, Eddie O'Donnell, Chandler, Mulford, Cooper, Alley, Brown and Shrunk have already qualified.
Auto Matinee Scheduled.
A regular matinee is scheduled today with Ralph DePalma going for a new ten mile record. DePalma and Eddie O'Donnell cut some capers on the mile track in practice whirls Wednesday. DePalma had intended to circle the track at 100 times to establish a speedway record, but mechanical trouble at the end of the forty-eighth lap caused him to postpone the attempt. He traveled at a 98 mile clip. Eddie O'Donnell likewise spun around the circular track at a 100 mile an hour gait.
The drivers will spend Friday in tuning up their cars preparatory to Saturday's event. They are also expected to participate in baseball booster day and will be the guests at a chamber of commerce luncheon Friday noon.
Big Race Starts 1:30 P.M.
The 300 mile event will start promptly at 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon. A new bridge for automobilists has been constructed over the south approach and will be open until within a half-hour of the race. The subway will be the only other entrance to the track for autoists and will be open all the time.
The Rock Island will run usual shuttle trains while the street car company intends to provide extra service to adequately handle the crowds.