THE ."'SUNDAY . OBEGOXIAX; rORTLAXD, JUNE 21, 1914.
AUTO FIGHTS SNOW
AND WINS TROPHY
Buick First Car to Reach
Tahoe Tavern Over Emi
grant Gap Road This Year.
JEST CONSIDERED CRUCIAL
Jlany Difficulties Encountered on
Trip Over Summit of Sierra K
vada Mountain Told by Motor
ist Cup Conditions Met.
The question of what car was to win
the silver trophy cup for 1914, offered
bv Tahoe Tavern to the nrst automo
bile to cross the summit of the Sierra
Nevada Mountains over the Emigrant
Gao state road under its own power,
was answered the other day when a
1914 B25 Buick touring car, in cnarge
of Joe Schmidli and Claud McGee. of
the Howard Automobile company,
drove up to the door of the popular
lake resort.
The Tahoe Tavern cup Is one of the
most-sought-after trophies in this part
of the state. The conditions under
which it must be won make it one of
the hardest imaginable tests. on every
part of the car, as well as on the
driver.
The rules to be followed in compet
ing for this prize are: The car must
be fully equipped; it must make the
entire trip over the Emigrant Gap state
road on its own wheels and under its
own power; no paraphernalia to help
engine to be used, except that which
is carried in car. The only time the
motor is allowed assistance is when
the road is blocked impassably and a
detour is necessary. The car must pro
ceed on its own power, however, as
soon as it is again on the road.
Tahoe Tavern Cup Won Three Times.
Complying with these conditions, the
Buick has won the cup for three con
secutive years. It has proved that it
is just as much at home in a contest
over the snow as it is in a mud plug,
a. long-distance endurance run or on a
race course.
A Buick of this model holds the rec
ord between San Francisco and Port
land and another Buick of this model
holds the world's speed record for 100
miles for cars of its class. Two cars of
this model tied for nrst place in the
recent 3000-mile tour of France relia
bility run out of 134 starters,, and an
exact duplicate of the Tahoe cup-winner
had the honor of being the first car
over the road between Truckee and Reno
in 1914.
Trip Considered One of Hardest-
Mr. McGee, who made the entire trip
from San Francisco to the Lake, gives
the following interesting account of
what is considered one of the hardest
trips ever made by an automobile:
"When Fred Gross -and I left San
Francisco, we carried in the tonneau
of our Buick a complete camping out
fit and supplies to last us two weeks.
. as we realized that the winning of the
Tahoe cup this year was to be a much
harder proposition than ever before, as
the unusually heavy snowfall -of last
Winter and the continued hot weather
of this Spring had left the snow in
very bad shape.
"The one difficulty, however, that we
were unable to anticipate, was the
weather we were to encounter after
we reached the snow line. We had at
least a sample of every kind of weath
er. The first night's camp was near
Soda Station.
Thunder Awakens Men.
Just at midnight we were awakened
by a heavy peal of thunder and in less
than five minutes the rain was coming
down in sheets. It was then we con
gratulated ourselves on having a fully
equipped car. . It was then only a min
ute's work to out the top on the Buick
and store .our food supply in the ton
neau. We returned to our water-proof
sleeping bags then, and let It rain.
"The next mornine the sun came out
hot and this and the rain of the night
before made the snow, so soft that
proarress was almost an Impossibility.
After a mile and a haif of the hardest
kind of work, we found a good place
to camp and decided to wait for more
favorable weather. . About noon it
turned colder and a hailstorm struck
us at 2 o'clock. The hail turned to
rain later.
"Just to fill our cup of trouble full,
Mr. Gross received a telegram that he
must return to San Francisco at once
on account of illness in his family. I
was all alone that nlerht. and the next
day, and it took turns raining and
snowing, with a little hail and sleet
mixed in.
Substitute Arrives tor Trip.
"Mr. Schmidlt came up to take Mr.
Gross' place. The next morning after
his arrival it was raining harder than
ever. As there was no indication of
better weather ahead, we decided to try
and make Soda Station before night.
The continued stormy-weather had so
softened the snow that there was prac
tically no bottom to it. and to make
matters worse, the water running un
derneath it had made it full of holes
which were not visible on the surface.
Even now it is a mvstery to us how
the car ever pulled through, but pull
it did.
"Sometimes we would back up and
take a run at a drift and maybe make
six inches headway. Other times, in
making a run at a bad place, the front
wheels would drop out of sight in a
hole undermined by water. It was
then a case of throw the car in re
verse and pull the front end out of the
hole, but the worst of all was when
the back wneels would drop into one
of these water holes. .
"The car would settle down to the
running boards, and the only thing to
do was to shovel out the snow until
the back wheels could get traction on
the ground. This usually meant that
the car was sittin on an angle of
from 30 to 45 dr- when it was
ready to pull itself out of the hole.
fnor Is 10 Feet Deep.
"In spite of the unfavorable weather
and road conditions, the Buick arrived
at Soda Station .that evening-. As the
next three miles was an easier grade,
we expected no trouble in making the
Summit Hotel the next morning.
"Once more we did not figure on the
weather. The first sight to meet our
eyes in the morning when w crawled
out of our sleeping bags was six
inches of tresh snow, and more falling
all the time.
"About noon there was a change in
the weather, and at last it was a - change
for the better. At 3 o'clock the Buick
left Soda Station, and at 6 o'clock it
was at the Summit Hotel. Three miles
in two hours may not seem very fast,
and for once we were not in any fear
of being arrested for speeding. But
when it is taken into consideration
that the snow was from three to 10
feet deep, and that the front and rear
axles were buried all the time. It Is
to wondered at that the car could
make any headway at all.
"That evening it was clear, and Mr.
Growling, manager of the Summit Ho
' tel. assured us that we would have cold
weather the next morning. We went to
sleep wth the thought that at last our
luck and the weather had changed, and
sure enough it had. The morning was
clear and cold with a light crust on the
snow. This gave the chains something
to grip, and the Buick climbed the big
drifts between the hotel and the Sum
mit without difficulty.
"The crossing through the snow
sheds at the summit was blocked with
20 feet of snow, and In order to get
onto the road on the north side' of the
sheds. It was necessary to cross di
rectly over tbe top of them. This
crossing was made at a point, known
to railroad men as the eastern end of
tunnel 7. At this place the snowsheds
join a round -granite knob. By driv
ing the ear up a steep, narrow ledge It
is possible to get within 12 feet of the
top of the wooden shed, but this last
12 feet Is the hard part The roof of
the shed is built on a one-te-two
pitch, and the chains on. the rear tires
almost wore in two the heavy planks
which form the roof. v
Descent Is Perpendicular.
"The descent from the top of the
shed to the road a quarter of a mile
below was almost perpendicular, but
by exercising a due amount of precau
tion it was negotiated without trouble.
It will never again be necessary to
cross the . top of the sheds, as the
Southern pacific Company and the
State Engineer are now building a
crossing under the railroad tracks.
This crossing Is located in such a po-
SPEED MODELS AIM
Stock Cars to
Speedways
Be Chased Off
Hereafter.
PISTON PRESSURE IS CUT
Designs for Next Year Calculated to
Win Back Title on Tracks Lost to
European Slakes at Indian
apolia Race Meet.
INDIANAPOLIS, June SO.' (Special.)
Five hundred miles, at 100 miles an
hour, without a stop or tire' change,
on one gallon of oil, and 25 gallons of
gasoline, is the difficult target the
management of the Indianapolis motor
every principal highway leading out
of Dallas Is oiled for a distance of
over five miles.
The main road between Dallas an
Salem, has been oiled for nearly the
whole distance, as well as the road
between Independence and Salem. The
road leading north out of ' Dallas
toward McMinnvllIe is oiled nearly to
the Yamhill County line. This oiling
is proving a great success and is keep
ing the roads in good condition.
SHERIFF PREFERS 'CHALMERS
Tillamook Official and Former Agent
Drives New Car Home.
Sheriff Crenshaw, of Tillamook
County, passed last week in Portland.
looking over the automobile market.
"In 1909-10 and '11." he said. "I was
the Chalmers agent at Tillamook. While
it was satisfactory at that time, I didn't
know but that some of the other makes
had overtaken and surpassed them, so
I have taken my time this week in
making a thorough investigation of the
Portland automobile market. '
Sheriff Crenshaw has held his pres
ent office for eight years. Duties In
connection with his office at the time
of his first election compelled him to
give up the agency. On Friday be de
cided to invest in a "Little Six" Chal
mers and drove It home.
In a message received by H. L. Keats
MOTOR TRUCK FINDS YET ANOTHER FIELD TO INVADE.
WHITE TRUCK FOR THE AERO SQUADRO.V, UNITED STATES ARMY.
E. W. Hill, manager of the White.Company's branch in Portland, in speaking of one peculiar field which
the motor truck has found for itself, said: ,,,,
"If George Washington, the founder of our Army, could pay the United States a visit today, he would
be hard put to recognize the country in which he Is proudly and unanimously given the title of 'Pater
Patriae," but he would experience even greater difficulty in recognising the service to which he success
fully devoted the greater part of his life. '
' "The advance and multiplication of modern inventions has nowhere wrought greater alterations than
in the Army, and these great changes in no one thing find better exemplification than .in the accompany
ing photograph of a White 1-ton truck that is owned and operated by the aerial division of the United
St&tcs Army
"The White which has to date made -more than 35,000 miles without needing a repair part, is used as
a consort truck in conveying the Army aeroplanes with their supplies to and from the hangar.
"Thus it will be seen that, while the heavier-than-air machines in no way replace or trench upon the
activities of the motor truck In its chosen field Insofar as they themselves are concerned, aeroplanes have
succeeded in making motor trucks accessories both before and after the fact."
gition that it will be free from snow
long before the summit is open.
"When we finally got back on the
i i . ohitvA Trt tinur Lake we
uiBimnj " ' -
thought our troubles were over, but
one more .disappointment was in wrs
for us. This last trial, was in the shape
of a snowdrift about 100 feet long.
When we arrived at the lower end of
it the Buick faced an almost sheer
drop of 25 feet.
"A consultation was held and
Schmidli decided that he could drive
down the face of the drift This he
did without accident, but it is safe to
say that an automobile was never in
tentionally driven down . a steeper
place. This was our last experience
with the snow.
. Road Open to "Touring Parties.
'The Buick arrived" at Tahoe Tavern
- ...,,,. l.tep . wh it. and
its crew were -warmly welcomed.
"In spite, of the tiara goins wu.u
... n. i l ...tnr.H ' II (it the least
me i un: jv -
bit of mechanical trouble was experi
enced and the tjooayear nu-nu-v.
tires demonstrated that they would not
. . thav w-a run absolutely
flat for at least 20 miles and this with
chains on. Upon our arrival at Con
ner Lake they were pumped up to nor-
1 arnt thAFA WU TlOt th6
mm J,ltool"u " . .
least sign of the hard service they had
just been through.
"The Emigrant jap roaa wao o
- i .A 4.n-4np nnrties
irom enow atu - - -
June IS. From what we could see of tt
below snow line, it will be mucn oei-
ler lute J v ... .
Engineer Baxter is working along Just
below snow line ana tne worn. -
-. ; a nprmnticnt nature.
puiLlUK a" " " 1 r :
There are 35 men now working on the
road between Truckee and Tahoe Tav
ern, and this piece of road Is better
than usual, even at mis eariy uam.
STANDARDIZATION OF DESIGN IS
I EDA AT NEW YORK MEETING.
Equitable Service to Users and Closer
Adherence to Standard Warranty.
Are Two Points Emphasised.
'NEW YORK, June 20. (Special.)
At a meeting of the commercial ve
hicle committee of the National Au
tomobile Chamber of Commerce, held
last Tuesday in New York, a number
of matters of importance to motor
truck makers, dealers and users were
discussed. Foremost among these was
standardization of truck design and
the danger of proceeding too fast in
this direction at the present time.
Wide differences exist in fundamen
tal characteristics between the most
successful and widely used makes of
commercial cars and an insurmountable
obstacle to standardisation of such
characteristics is the variation in work
ing conditions and the kinds of work
the ears are called upon to perform.
Standardization of equipment along
proper lines, it was agreed, is both
desirable and feasible.
Another topic considered was the
possibility of bringing about a clearer
recognition of what constitutes rea
sonable and equitable service in look
ing after trucks sold to users. The
committee agreed that the chief need
is to bring about a more general and
closer adherence to the terms of the
standard warranty and that, owing to
differences in conditions and practices.
It seems impracticable to do more than
define broadly. what constitutes service.
The adoption of such a definition,
however, was left for some time in the
near future when a convention of com
mercial vehicle makers may be called,
at which the views of many manufac
turers on the subject can be obtained.
The meeting waa attended by W. T.
White, president of the White Com
pany, chairman; H. Kerr Thomas, as
sistant manager of the Pierce-Arrow
Motor Car Company, and 1L J. Bud
lontr. president of the Packard Motor
Car Company, of New York.
speedway has set for the motor indus
try of the world to shoot at during the
next three years.
First to reduce fuel consumption, the
cubic inch piston displacement of the
next Heosier contest has been cut to
300, the minimum weight, however,
remaining the same, at 1600 pounds.
These specifications are expected to
stay in force at least three seasons, or
until every branch of the science in this
class of competition has been thor
oughly probed. When there is no more
to learn, a further reduction will be
effected, less than 161 cubic Inches be
ing the final goal. . ;
' Speed Experiments Planned.
Regulations of this character nat
urally put automobile raelng into the
experimental division of the Industry,
where, properly, it belongs. The day
when makers can -take stock or semi
stock mod-Ms and compete with them
successfully is past, as the last 500
mile sweepstakes race, won by foreign
ers in specially built cars, amply testi
fies. Europe has for some time re
garded gas contests as a laboratory,
not proving ground, which explains in
a large measure Its buccsss.
In line with this Idea, it is thought
a number of American factories will
enter the game from business if not
patriotic motives. Special racing de
partments, having no connection what
soever with the ordinary branches of
p'roduction, except to lead' the way,
will be instituted, and a determined ef
fort begun to put the United States
once more on a footing with, her
foreign competitors.
' Stock: Cars to Be Banned.
' This movement, naturally, will see
the finish of the . "barn built" car,
which has been so prominent in Ameri
can racing of late. With the finest en
gineering skill and the best of ma
terials required to win success, it Is
not thought likely that the heterogene
ously assembjed freak will have a
chance.
In advancing the artOf course, the
speedway proposes to W Its material
as well as moral share. Td render high
speed work more safe, the surface of
the track will be widened 15 feet on
the inside and retaining walls built
Additional comfort will be provided for
drivers and mechanicians by a club
house inside the grounds, with a swim
ming pool and every other imaginable
convenience. In short, if the gasoline
efficiency of the present era is not
raised wonderfully during the next few
seasons, it will not be the speedway's
fault
AJAX TIRES FEET HEAVY TEST
Contest SJiows Use Derived From
Proper Care of Goods.
Illustrating the saving In tire ex
pense and the largely increased mile
age which can be obtained by proper
use and careful driving, the result of
the AJax 1500 high-mileage contest
for chauffeurs teaches a lesson from
which owners of automobiles can de
rive great benefit
The contest was for employed chauf.
feurs and covered a period of one year,
the chauffeur obtaining the highest
mileage on one AJax tire receiving the
first prise of $500.
Mr. Oibney, of Marlboro, Mass., ob
tained the highest mileage -with 16,782
miles, on a Locomobile: the second
highest Fred Dickas, of Detroit Mich.,
obtained 13,900 miles on a Packard; the
third, W. Mann, of Victoria, B. C
13.761 miles. In fact the lowest mile
age obtained by any of the first 15 was
9500 miles.
OILED ROADS FIND FAVOR
Dallas' Movement Sleets With Suc
cess and Highways Benefit..
DALLAS, Or, June 20. (Special.)
The movement started by the Dallas
Commercial Club during the early
Spring to have the roads around Dallas
oiled has met with good success.
The' Independence Commercial Club
joined in the movement The oiling
was done at the expense of the Dallas
and Independence Commercial Clubs,
the County Court and the farmers
living along the roads oiled. Today
he says: "Had a delightful trip, de
spite the bad roads In spots. No trou
ble of any kind. Everything In good
order in every detail. Wouldn't feel
at home driving anything else but a
Chalmers. Will never drive another
'four.' Everything Indicates that the
easiest picking that I ever had when I
had the agency before Is going to be
duplicated. Am certainly glad that the
way is open to permit me again to act
as your representative in Tillamook
County."
REGAL AGENT TAKES CHARGE
J. R. Moler- to Make Headquarters
for Northwest In Portland.
J. R. Moler. special factory repre
sentative of the Regal Motor Car Com
pany, is in the city to secure an agent
for the Regal car.
Mr. Moler will have, charge of the
Interests of the Regal motorcar in the
Northwest and will make Portland his
headquarters.
More Economy Tests Held.
In a number of economy tests recent
ly, made by the motorcyclists In vari
ous parts of the country, unusual re
sults were obtained by some of the
riders. At Stockton, CaU Will Rundel
rode his motorcycle 109 miles on a gal
lon of gasoline, while Ed Perkins got
162 miles out of his machine, using the
same amount of fuel. Grlton and Hofer
of Los Angeles present affidavits show
ing that they made 117 miles on a seven
horse power chain drive motorcycle.
And O. E. Evans and 3. Roy Hoskinsoif
of Dayton, Ohio, made a gallon of gaso
line carry them 108 and 109 miles re
spectively. - Wisconsin Man Buys Auto.
Charles Steinbach purchased a
Studebaker car early last week. Who's
next? North Chilton correspondence,
Chilton (Wis.) Times.
ENGLISH SEE MERIT
American Cars Recognized by
British Experts.
I THIS IS CONFIDENTIAL
LONDON TIMES GIVES DATA
m
r
Those Interested in
Motor Trucks
Should Secure This Book
SHOWS 90 PER CENT
OF THE TRUCKS
MANUFACTURED IN
AMERICA ,
- Write for it today FREE I
B. F. Goodrich RubberCo.
Broadway and Burnside St. .
" PORTLAND, OR.
Writer Still TTnwilling to Concede
Superiority of American Makes,
Vet It Marks Beginning
of Friendly Rivalry.
BY K. K. OERMNGER.
That there is merit in American ears
has at last coma to be recognised by
the English. It has come with reticence
and their natural prejudice. H Is true,
yet. nevertheless, it should mark the
beginning of a more friendly rivalry
and a better reception of American
cars abroad.
The London (England) Times, ac-
knowledared the uremler newspaper, in
an article published recently commends
the modern construction of motor cars
"hailing- from the United states,'
choosing the Oakland as representative
of American cars.
. Writer la Critical.
. The article is In reality a resume of
American tendencies as compared with
English and European designs and that
the writer was still unwilling to con
cede American superiority is evidenced
by the heading of the article, which
reads "British Influence on American
Cars." '
Indorsing the Oakland's long stroke
motor, the article continues, "the gear,
ing is not excessively reduced and, a
very radical departure, the whole chas
sis Is slung as low as most European
machines. In the monebloa engine there
is one excellent feature which Is al
most purely American. The cylinder
heads are detachable, an arrangement
which permits of easy and thorough
decarbonlzation. The general scheme
Is sensibly planned, the carburetor, in
particular, being placed In a position
unusually accessible for an American
engine.
"The body is certainly one of the
best American bodies fitted to any
chassis of this price, and it has the
further advantage of giving low seats,
a quality which la seldom found In
American cara -
Details Are Watched.
an the running of the car the first
and most important virtue to be noticed
(and one which lifts this chassis wen
out of the ruck of trans-Atlantic ma
chines) is the vlbrationless action of
the engine. Every possible test was
annlled to search out lurking crank
shaft vibration period, but at no speed
at which the car could be driven, from
10 in 12 miles an hour, was there the
slightest approach to that very evil
and common falling. It is certainly
one of the smoothest running engines
I have driven without consideration of
price. It is very well balanced, it
Dioked ud smartly and accelerated very
rapidly on all gears. The engine makes
very little noise at any speed and the
car is an excellent hill climber."
The fact that American manufac
turers first introduced dependable
electric starting, lighting and ignition
systems Is overlooked and the com-
entary on the ueico equipment is
characteristic "The Delco starting,
lighting and Ignition system is used.
and on trial proved to be perfectly ade
quate." AITKEN IS SEXT TO EUROPE
National Wants Driver to See Race
and Factories on Trip.
John Altken. a member of the experi
mental department of the National
Motor Vehicle . Company, of Indianap
olis, is being sent to Europe by his
firm to visit the foreign automobile
factories and to witness the Grand
Prix race.
Altken has every year bathed In the
limelight at the time of tbe speedway
races. For many years he was a driver
In races for the National Company, and
then managed the National's race
teams, most noteworthy being the 1912
500-mile race, when the National won.
Last year Altken managed the Peugeot
team at the Speedway and brought
Jules Goux home an easy winner. This
year he managed the Peugeot team
again.
He sails about the :otn ana win De
the guest of Jules Goux while In Paris.
The Frenchmen became greatly at
tached to Altken and have been per
sistent in their invitations. Altken
Put on DIAMOND Squtege Trtad Tira
and save MONEY. Non-Skid None Better
WE HAVE A SET IN RESERVE FOR YOU.
ARCHER AND WIGGINS
: 0K STRKKT, t OH.r.H ITH
i AUTOMOBILE SUPPLIES. EPORTINO GOODS
."V
1
tt
Halladay Shock Absorbers
for Your Ford
"THE GOAT takes all the bumps
$ 1 2.50 Set of Four
DALLOU ? WRIGHT
BROADWAY AT OAK, PORTLAND. OR.
RfllVQFP GASOLINE a
GASOLINE and OIL TANKS
on ristifl in rti.
I. IMvalfJara. Ma-oeaala-
tlva. 411V Lerbett IS. Mala I4T.
DIAMOND TIRES
V&aniziij<etreadmi R.LEL0DCE1T. "-"ftilS!..0
NORTHWEST AUTO CO.
Factory Distributors of
Cole, Lozier, Reo Cars
BROADWAY AT COUCH STREET
Main 8887 A 4959
The mark of
m
Quality,
Service,
Endurance,
Safety,
Satisfaction.
Chanslor& Lyon Co.
627 Washington St.
in
.-.
his
says that a rar will he placed st h
.!-...( .-Uh aa C n art laih.ainaaia it In
chauffeur, lie says that ne win vim
the various Automobile factories and
win auena ine urino -nx ' v .
It Is said that Altken will msnae
the Peugeot team In the Urand Prix.
It Is known also that when the French
men were here they Invited Altken to
drlva one of their machine In M
race, which Is the annual red cleaur
of Kurope.
f.rsr leaves M"t . f'e.
Captain W. II. lrer has ri!
manager of the Northwest Ante Com
pany. Heverel Inviting propositi"""
have been pre anted to Captain O'av
but he will taka a wall-earned vacation
hafnre emoarklnf In fcuaieaaa nm
ri
r- 1 . v
Service j W 01
free to jQP
4
y- Owners
Only
Howard Service to Buick owners has become a factor with the automobile
buying public of Portland.
We now propose to extend this service, so far as possible, to every Buick
awner in the Pacific Northwest. .
To that end we have promoted Edgar C. Albee to the position of Service
Expert.
Mr. Albee has been in our employ far four years, working exclusively on
Buick cars, and we believe him a qualifie4 expert on Buick cars, together
with the Delco generating, starting and lighting system.
He will endeavor to call on every Buick owner in the Pacific Northwest,
and will gladly render any aid or service toward the improved operation,
care and maintenance of all Buick cars.
Any advice or effort by Mr. Albee will be absolutely gratuitous.
We trust Buick owners and prospective automobile buyers will appreciate
this extension of the Howard Service, and beg to remain,
Yours very truly,
Howard Automobile Company
Phones: Main 4555, A 2550 Mel G. Johnson, Manager
Fourteenth and Davii Streets