SPEED KING QUITS TRENCHES TO DRIVE AT DES MOINES SPEEDWAY

With the war in Europe demanding the service of every ablebodied man, it is not to be wondered at that only one foreign driver of a high powered racing automobile has appeared on this side of the Atlantic. Josef Christaens, the Frenchman by birth and Belgian by adoption, who is to drive in the great auto derby on Saturday is the lone European pilot who has succeeded in getting his release from the trenches long enough to campaign and manage the English Sunbeams. His appearance in America is the first since 1911, when he drove an Excelsior into sixth place. He is considered a favorite, even with such men as Ralph DePalma, Ralph Mulford, Earl Cooper and others. The greatest crowd that ever watched a sporting event in Iowa is expected to witness the speed kings of the world in the fight for the elimination of time and space.

During his early days Christaens prepared Darracq cars for racing, later becoming chief engineer for the Vivanus company of Belgium.

In 1910 contracted aviation fever, learned to fly in four days at Henry Farman's school, and exhibited all over Europe.

He has competed, and gotten into the purse at the Grand Prix at Dieppe, the French Grand Prix, the Grand Prix of Le Mans, and other European contests.

Christaens is a hard fast driver, but too much of an engineer to be reckless. He thinks things out in advance, knows exactly what he is going to and does it right to the end.

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