Farmer Boy Speed Marvel of Year

"The Maud Muller of the gasoline circuit." That's what J.B. Burton, automobile expert for the Chicago Tribune, calls Eddie O'Donnell, the baby of the motor speed game, who is at the wheel of a Duesenberg. A little more than a year ago, O'Donnell, who began his career by raking hay on his father's farm near Whitewater, Wisconsin, was promoted from mechanician to driver in on the Duesenberg team. That was in February 1915. For three years he had been Eddie Rickenbacher's assistant, and now he is a worthy successor to his teacher as captain and dean of Duesenberg drivers. And all because of his record during his first season as driver. During 1915 he got his first place in the Glendale (Cal.) road race; third in the Elgin trophy event, beating out Ralph DePalma for that position in a thrilling drive at the finish; second in the Sioux City and Omaha speedway races; third at Des Moines, New York and the Twin Cities, and fifth at Indianapolis. On the speedways alone he took down 19,000 in prize money.

And this year he has kept up the good work by winning both 300 mile road races at Corona and Fresno, Cal., within eight days.

In a little more than a year he has forced his way to "big four" honors, and will be an important contender for first honors in the auto derby at Des Moines on Saturday when he will compete with De Palma, Rickenbacher, Christaens, Cooper, Mulford and many other stars much older in the game. He will drive one of the Duesenbergs, the only car he has piloted since his advent into racing game.

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