BOTSFORD TAKES RAP AT CRITICS OF AUTO RACING

Chamber Secretary States Misinformation About New Speedway.

So much misinformation and so many misleading statements are said to be circulated regarding the Des Moines speedway and its management that Geis Botsford, secretary to the chamber of commerce, has given out the following statement:

One of the reports is to the effect that the track will be opened by drivers not racing under the American Automobile association auspices. This is not true. The blanks for sanction have been filled and forwarded to Richard Kennerdell, New York, chairman of the contest board of the A.A.A.

Every driver with whom a contract has been made or from whom an entry has been received is an A.A.A. driver. The management has paid $1,000 to the A.A.A. for its sanction. Mr. Kennerdell will himself direct the races over this track.

Mr. Fred J. Wagner, of Smithstown, Long Island, the A.A.A. licensed starter, will be the starter for the races over the track and his timing devices will be used and the timing done under his direction. This costs the management $750.

Another report circulated has been that the ownership of this track and the Omaha track are identical. This is not true. The Omaha track belongs to sixty-one stockholders. The Des Moines track belongs to three men, Mr. Henry R. Gering, Mr. Samuel Orlof and John Prince.

They have not one cent of interest in the Omaha track and were never stockholders in it. They did make a plan for the Omaha track and had a contract for its construction, but after erecting the framework and starting the surfacing, they settled with the Omaha owners for a consideration of $3,500 over and above lumber and labor cost and surrendered their contract.

The owners of the Des Moines track appreciate the disappointment to the public by reason of the Omaha races. They know, however, that this disappointment was due to two things: - First, the war in Europe which is keeping foreign drivers out of America this year, and second, the mistake Omaha made in claiming July 5 for a date with Tacoma giving races on July 3 and 4 and Sioux City on July 3. With the limited field of drivers it was impossible for all three meets to fill.

Tacoma had Burman, Oldfield, Cooper and Carlson from the ranks of the stars. DePalma was not in shape to race because of damage to his car. Drivers who finished at Sioux City at 5 p.m. on Saturday were unable to ship to Omaha, overhaul their cars and start by 12:30 noon on Monday. Result, a poor field and a poor race. There is no sanction out other than Des Moines, until September. This gives the management the entire field to deal with.

I have checked correspondence, contracts, telegrams and entries personally and know that the management has spent upwards of $5,000 in addition to purses to secure good drivers and that they have arranged for such drivers as O'Donnell, Oldfield, DePalma (Ralph), Burman, Cooper, Alley, Chandler, and that they have made a splendid offer to Resta, with a prospect of securing him.

I know that they have not advertised a driver with whom they have not made arrangements. I know that they checked plans track and stand with Mr. Kennerdell and have follwed many of his suggestions in building.

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