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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1914)
THE SUNDAY OREGOXTAX, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 20, 1914. " ENTRY BLANKS OUT sidecar. A bill is now being prepared to present to the next Legislature amending: the motor vehicle law to de fine a motorcycle as "a vehicle with not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, with the driver seated astride." It is the purpose of the legal action "Each in a. class by itself" War Not Expected to Reduce Indianapolis Contestants. Future of Latourell Falls Highway in Doubt. ROAD MAY BE SHUT STARTERS ARE INCREASED Speed Trials to Determine Final Field to Be Held' Ten Days Ahead of Race Motor Dimensions Cut Down a Third. INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. 19. (Special.) -The 1915 racing: campaign of the In dianapolis motor speedway is open, 600 entry blanks for the next 500-mile race. Slay 2D. having been distributed this week among manufacturers and private owners here and abroad. Despite the committee of the F. A. M. to defend the rights of motorcyclists. The com mittee has no sympathy with the reck less rider or the law violator, its sole purpose being to see that the motor cyclist sets a square deal. NEW MOBELETTE IS AXSOTZSCED f "Sociable" Seating and) Full Equip ment Included In $380 Model. Woods Mobilette Company announces a new model with "sociable" seating, at $380 f. o. b. factory, fully equipped with top. windshield, headlight and prest-o-lite tank. " This new model will be in addition to the two models at present being man ufactured, one of which is a tandem seated pleasure car and the other a de livery car. All three models are built on the same chassis, 3 8 -inch tread and 104-inch wheel base. The manufacturers of Woods Mob ilette claim "thorough standardization" as the important feature ' of their product. Features of construction of Woods Mobilette include a four-cylin- ROUTE HAS GOOD SCENERY Despite Steep Grade and Almost Impassable Condition In Winter Many Motorists Oppose . Abandoning Way. - Just now some autolsts are wonder ing what is to become of the Latourell Falls road, which goes from the top of the Columbia bluffs to the new Co lumbia River highway. While no motorist has ever been par tlcularly fond of the 26 per cent grade THE NEW MODEL BUICK TRUCK WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH THE VALVE-I2T-HEAD MOTOR, A BUICK rEATURIL '' ' ' tsu 5 ? v I - V t 2? 1 l-.V, t Vc '. I t 1 t H A. T ft I - a iff ll " The Model C Buick truck rated as a three-quarter ton carrier. Some time ago the Bulck makers adopted the valve-in-head motor as the type which they considered Ideal for four or six-cylinder plant, as they have found them to give continuous power impulses, resulting in- extreme flexibility. The 1915 model truck is now equipped with this same motor and has been found successful. Two years ago the Bulck plant built a couple of trucks for its own use around the factory and placed the touring car type of motor in them. This resulted in the building of more trucks with this type of ; motive power. , . This truck is now capable of doing tricks which many touring cars will not do. By way of demon strating, it was driven up Fourteenth street and turned Into Hall street. It took the hill to beyond the -. hairpin curve before the motor refused to respond. , n m m sbm m a FT?3 war, no scarcity of entries Is expected, Italy alone being counted on to produce at least six nominations. Specifications for the contest have been much changed from years pre vious, the chief revisions being the re duction of motor dimensions by one third, or from 450 to 300 cubic Inches, and the raising of the speed minimum to 80 miles. With smaller machines better results are expected. This is the fundamental motive of the racing game. The number of starters has been raised to 33, as compared with 30 of other years. This is the full capacity allotted the track under the rulings of the American Automobile Associa tion, which specifies a limit of one car to every 400 feet of track. Speed Trials to Be Held. Speed trials to determine the final field will be held 10 days ahead of the race, in the inverse order of entry, the fastest 33 being eligible. In the event of more than three cars of one make to enter, the fastest three will be ad mitted. This is to eliminate the speed way from controversies between fac tories and private owners desiring to enter cars of the same make, in excess of the American Automobile Associa tion maximum. Cars will line up for the start in the order of the time made in the speed trials, the fastest car starting in first position, next the pole. Racing numbers will be issued on the same plan, the-l fastest car receiving No. 1. This is to avoid the possibility of a spill during the flying start, when a slow machine in front would be in the way. The color of the cars will be accord ing to international usage, i. e., Ger many white, Belgium yellow, France blue, Italy red, and America red and white. In previous years individual combinations have been employed, at times to the great amusement of the spectators. Axles Mmat Be fw. Regulations as to the physical condi tion of drivers and the mechanical soundness of cars will be more rigidly enforced than ever before. The front axles of all machines must thus be en tirely new two days before the race. This Is to guard against possibility of accident, due to crystallization or other defect. Any car spilling an excess of oil on the track will, for like reasons, be disqualified. The Dawson-Gllhooley accident of last year has caused chain-driven cars to be barred from the track unless the chains are adequately, thoueh not nee esaarily, fully inclosed. . Gilhooley came to grier because a bursted tire caught between his chain and gears, rendering nis car Deyond control. Prizes remain suhstantlallv the sn.mu. $50.00 being split ten ways among the winners, with 20.800 first money. The intermediate trophies, however, includ ing the G. & J. trophy, the Remy cup and brassard, the Prest-o-Lite trophy and the Wheeler-Schebler cup, will not be withheld, if their winner fails to go the entire distance of 500 miles, as for merly, but will be awarded regardless of their owners status at the finish. This, it( is thought, will speed up the race a great deal. License Fee Abolished. Motorcyclists everywhere are inter sled in a recent decision of the Sec retary of State in Connecticut, under which motorcycles carrying a sidecar will not hereafter, be forced to pay an extra fee of J 5. In Connecticut the registration fee for solo motorcycles is $2 and the oper. ator's lisense fee is $2. In addition to this sidecar operators were required to pay a second registration fee of $5 and carry license tags on the sidecar the same as required by automobiles. The motorcyclists felt that this wa unfair. Legal action Chairman W. M. Johnson, of the Federation of Ameri can Motorcyclists prepared a brief of legal questions involved and presented it to Secretary of State Philips, of Connecticut- After going over the matter the sec retary decided to suspend any further attempt to enforce the regulations as der water-cooled engine, 2 -inch bore by 4-inch stroke, providing an extraor dinary high power for the weight. The construction includes shaft drive (no belts or chains), sliding gear type trans mission, cone clutch, full floating rear axle and irreversible steering gear. The frame being of the "over-and-under" "type, provides a low center of gravity and great safety, while the long wheel base, long springs and light unsprung weight afford exceptionally easy riding qualities. Horse thief Is Outwitted. Though starting In pursuit 48 hours after a horsethief had escaped, three motorcyclists of Hannibal. Mo., had no difficulty In overtaking the culprit and regaining the outfit he bad taken. A man rented a horse and buggy, prom ising to return by noon the following day. He failed to show up, however,, so the three cyclists started on his trail. They followed him to Qoincy, iu., tnrougn Meyers and Hamilton, and finally overtook him just beyond Keo kuk, la. and the sharp turns, this road still pre sents some of the most beautiful vis ions to be seen In. that part of the country! ' Should this road be abandoned It would be missed and some of the motor men have suggested the plan of keeping it in shape as a gravel road. This would give to Portland tourists going over the road a chance to make sev eral miles of the country over a little different line. However, In Winter it Is almost im passable and a heavy car will spin its wheels almost all the way on the hill, as it is exceedingly slippery. Just by way of showing the difference in con struction of the new road and the old, motion pictures were taken along that route last week. The automobile from whlcn this work was done was lent by C. L. Boss, the local Hudson distributor. His big car was put through some severe work on the last trip of the camera man, but responded nobly. Parts of the country touched by the film man were not the most pleasant driving, and the Hudson six received a Our Challenge Anti-Skid Tires We challenge any competitor's tire toshow the same combination of real anti-skid protection and low cost per mile that is given by either "Nobby Tread" or "Chain Tread" Tires.' real road test. It made a great show ing on the Latourell hill, which many machines have to take in spasms. Half way up the. hill some thought ful person has placed a bucket, with a hint that motorists with imperfect cool ing systems may stop and recuperate. but the Hudson passed up all things like that Cyclists Object to Bad Roads. A novel club of motorcyclists has been formed at Bothell, Wash., called the Chuckhole Club. Each member of this organization pledges himself to boost the good roads movement In every possible way. Also each motor. cyclist agrees to personally see that at least one chuckhole is filled up each month. The emblem of this unique club is a miniature spade. The time comes to every man when Easy street seems close, although only a few arrive. F. J. SILL, J. WEBB AND THE HUDSON BIG SIX TAKING MOTION PICTURES ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY. if nWx vKif tip j i VAX - -u. , y-vi J ' ' S r CARBURETOR MAY WIN CHANCE SEEN FOR. OREGON WOLF IV WITH MASTERS PRODUCT. Credit for 63-Mlle Speed of Eiatera Boat GIvea to Equipment That Brongrht Hiarfcer Efficiency. Ted Orabe, factory representative of the Master carburetor, is going after John Wolff, owner of the Oregon Wolf IV. with the idea of getting him to use the Masters model and go after the Oregon Kid, which has trounced him pretty thoroughly. The Oregon Kid II has not had. de cisive victories and Grabe thinks that he can help Wolff get away with the race. Many of the big men have taken on his model and say that the Master has given them as high as 14 per cent more speed and proportionately greater mileage. The Disturber IV, an Eastern boat, recently held a pace of 63 miles an hour over a 28-mile course. The Mas ter is taking much of the credit for that race, as the new principles in volved in that carburetor is said to have given it the additional revolutions which won that race. Grabe also points out the economy and the fact that it will burn practi cally any kind of motor fuel. Recent demonstrations showed it giving full power using 3-cent "toppings." The Government recently adopted the carburetor as standard equipment on the Glenn Martin type of aeroplanes. There is absolutely no adjustment on the device, which makes it ideal for aerial work. Motorcycle Notes. .With 16 charter members, a motor cycle club has been organized at Sao City. Ia. They expect to have suf ficient membership to Join the F. A. M. by the first of the year, t "annah, Qa., is planning a cross-coun-ry run for the near future. Motorcyclists of Johannesburg, South Africa, recently collected over $103 for the Governor-General's war fund by carrying passengers to Booseas Camp at a shilling a head. Another grandmother who enjoys the hnnlthful recreation of side-car riding is uranamouer uaiaweii, oi lisco, m. Her daughter pilots the motorcycle. S. D. Burchenal, president of the Riverside Motorcycle Club, of New York City, has Just completed a 2600- mile motorcycle trip, througn Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York. Burchenal ia a contractor, and says he covered 14.000 miles on his two-wheeler during 191S. Hie 1915 Boick Trock Model C-4 Capacity 3-4 Ton K fill fJ K:'v. if8 5 jf V if:! u .... r-v X " . 4 1 '".rf 11 - ' . M A Valve-in-Head Business Car A Bniek bnilt for business purposes a 1915 Commercial Car Triumph. Handsome in appear ance. Easy to operate. "Inexpensive in upkeep. Equipped with the Buick Valve-in-Head Motor, which insures fuel economy, more power and greater flexibility. This Buick Truck has ample loading space,' is electrically lighted, and correct in principle, embodying all the time - tried and proven Buick engineering successes. PRICE Including Express Body with Wing Boards, Portland -S1375 x - Chassis (Complete Car, Less Body, Seat and Cushions), Portland S1275 Buick Trucks are exactly suited for merchants and manufacturers, also for municipal, state and public uses.. Solve your transportation problems with a Buick Track it costs less to maintain than a team and will do four times as much work. Howard Autoirioibile Co. Fourteenth and Davis Mel G. Johnson, Mgr. Main 4555, A 2550 to the additional license fee for the