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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 1917)
10 SAXON CAR CIRCLES STURDY LITTLE ROADSTER REACHES PORTLAND ON TRIP ENTIRELY AROUND RIM OF THE UNITED STATES. r Another Accomplishment THE .Trail Blazer Finds Many Dif ferent Kinds of Roads in . v East and South. WESTERN TRIP DELIGHTFUL It t t t NATION S BOUNDARY t . . i t ' t A' " Vt r-v ' ' . lfU, v ' tip - ' I . . . , . . ... n m i: ft I - V - it I -. - I f A I 1 1 narknesii Overtakes Tourists on Ytima Desert, Forcing Camp on Sands Columbia Highway Pictures Are Taken. Arriving in Portland Thursday night from San Francisco over the Pacific Highway, the Saxon trail blazer for the National boundary . highway has completed a stretch of scenic beauty that far excels any strip of road tra versed between Washington, D. G, and Portland on the southern . boundary. During the past two days the Saxon trail blazer has been the object of much interest in the salesrooms of the Saxon Motor Sales Company or Ore gon. In covering the 7300 miles of border road, the Saxon roadster has encoun tered a variety of road conditions not to be met with on ordinary cross-continental tours. Following the kinks and curves of the United States boun dary from Washington to Portland makes up the major portion of the trip. "Leaving Washington on March , we blazed through the pine hills of old Virginia over heavy clay roads which a month of rain had rendered almost impassible' related the Saxon pilot. A w. Srhlabach. on reaching Portland. "Whenever possible, we left the road,- threading our way through tne pine woods and clearing the brush with an axe as we went. The trail blazer was the first car to travel from Washing ton to Richmond, Va., since February 1. We had traveled six days before meet ing another car brave enough to ven ture forth on the country roads. Through the Carolinas we worked our way, finding the clay of a sandy com position and a little easier to travel. Tide Cover Georjria Roads. "The coast road of Georgia offered novelties in the way of anti-clay cor duroy roads over woodland swamps and occasional plunges through roads submersed by the tide. Mud and wash outs of all descriptions are provided by Came Nature for the Southeastern coast in the early Spring. Each day we forded several streams and ferried Across one or more rivers. A six-mile ferry across the swamp on a flatcar pulled by a small locomotive was one of the novelties of our travel. Then we reached the east coast of Florida and enjoyed the 350-mile stretch of brick and shell roads through the beau tiful palm groves along the Indian Kiver. "Crossing the state of Florida, we encountered heavy sand, which in some places was made passable by so-called 'straw roads,' built by scattering pine needles in the wheel ruts. Between Pensacola and New Orleans many fer ries carried the Saxon roadster through the bayous of the Gulf rivers. Some of these old-fashioned ferries are ex tensive undertakings and require two hours or more in navigating-the wind ing bayou. Highways Are "Lanes" In Texas. "In Louisiana we found that roads followed the levies, as the river bank is the high land of the Mississippi delta state. In Texas we drove over miles of cattle ranges where direc tions were difficult to follow and the ranchers refer to the highways as "lanes. For roughness, the roads- fol lowing the Rio Grande from Browns ville to Del Rio through the light al luvial dust surpass anything we have yet experienced. Here the hot sun beat down on us and the entire car seemed so hot we could hardly touch the metal. The radiator seemed to be the coolest spot on the car. "In crossing the Yuma Desert we drove for 60 miles through heavy sand, winding our way between the sand dunes. Darkness came, on before we could get back onto the good roads and we were forced to sleep one night on the sand. "The entire trip up the coast from San Diego has been a pleasure, as the roads are in excellent condition. The trail blazer has probably covered the most difficult lap of the entire boun dary trip. ;"The success of the present trip is ltje largely to the great strength and light weight of the sturdy little Saxon rqadster, but we also took precaution tx make special preparations to meet the different road conditions. T'To ford the numerous unbridged streams of the Southeastern ceast, which were swollen from Winter rains, jve equipped the Saxon trail blazer J'or deep sea going. An ordinary hot water bag, with a hole cut at the bottom, was fitted about the carbure ter. The top of the bag was suspended from the hood. To keep the motor from smothering, an extension was fitted to the motor breather pipe and ari especial exhaust pipe was adjusted to- the side of the car. above the high water mark. By wrapping heavily all the electrical connections, we were able to navigate streams that flooded tle bottom of our car. All we lacked was a periscope to put the Saxon roadster in the submarine class. Soft Tires l ed on Sand. , "In Texas we encountered extremely riilficult traveling which required preparations of another sort. The sand from Corpus Christi to Brownsville is of; a light, sifting variety and much more dangerous for tourists than the Yoma Desert. Only a few cars cross th.e sand each year. VHere we carried four strips of can vas, 3x20 feet, laying them across Ante sand dunes for the wheels to track on By carrying the strips ahead of this car. we were able to cross any sand riUnes with the portable road. De flated tires wrapped with burlap en abled us to cross most of this bad sand. Not the least of our Texas border -tuipment was an automatic gun which Jiung from the dash. In fact, most Ttfxans consider a high-power gun as regular equipment on an automobile." Uefore leaving Portland, the trail blfczer took many photographs along thfe Columbia Highway for use in propaganda to promote trans-continental touring from the Kastern states. rtXLEX IS READY TO TIGHT Holder of World's Road Race Rec ord Not Afraid of Teuton Shells. ):ddie Pullen. holder of the world's road race record and now employed a technical expert by the Chevrolet faptory. went to the registration booth n;d registered for the draft Army on Registration day, stating that he was refidy to serve If he was needed by his imintry. but that he felt that until he warn needed he could do more for the country by remaining at his work. Pullen has dared death so many times on the race course that it should be no novelty for him to dare the shells anc i.-Mes of "Bad Bill" Hohenzollern'r ban. r . r 1 1 I " a . iff V 5 it "v rr-ft.-.-;-:. A. W. Scblabarh, at the Wheel of the Four-Cylinder Saxon Trail Blazer, as He Appeared I'pon HI Ar rival In Portland Lait Week. PARK ROADS OPENED Mount Rainier Park Season Plans Are Announced. CREWS CLEAR HIGHWAYS Motorists . Already Have Penetrated Reserve Four or Five Miles Within Entrance Fee for Entry of Antos Reduced. The roads inside Mount Rainier Na tional Park will be open for travel as far as some of the resort hotels, according to advices received last week from De Witt L. Resburn, park super visor. Motorists have already penetrated the park to a point some four or five milea within the park entrance. A large crew of men have been working clearing away debris-and snow from the highway to prepare for the open ing. It will probably be some time before the road will be open as far as the famous new Paradise Valley Inn. Mount Rainier National Park is lo cated about 66 miles from Tacoma, the same distance that separates Portland and Mount Hood. Portland motorists who wish to tour the famous Wash ington Park may do so by driving north over the Pacific Highway route from Portland to Tacoma, or branch off from the Pacific Highway at Chehalis and take a short cut to the park. In past seasons automobiles have been taxed $5 for the privilege of en tering Mount Rainier National Park, but this year the entrance fee has been reduced to $2.50, according to re cent announcement. TIRES VITAL TO SPEED BARNEY OLDF1ELD SAYS CASINGS REGULATE RECORDS. speedway at Cincinnati in preparation for the Decoration day contest in that city. , . . ... Oldfleld recently visited the Fire stone factories to inspect the making of the new Firestone Cord tires, which he will use in all his races this year. He expressed the opinion that this new Firestone product was certain to prove itself equal to any speedway test, and reaffirmed his intentions of retaining his old slogan, "Firestone Tires Are My Only Life Insurance." The veteran driver -will pilot a new type of racing car this year. Its con struction is a radical departure from all previous models and is expected to create a sensation when it appears. The design is a pet idea of Oldfield and he is of the belief that it will revo lutionize the racing game. The new racer has a completely en closed body, built like an egg shell. Oldfield and his mechanician will be completely protected from injury by track accidents, while the shape of the body will give the minimum of wind resistance, which is one of the greatest causes of power loss in racing. The new car is built of aluminum throughout, its roof being trussed and all Joints reinforced by oxide welding. The engine was built especially for the car. which is exceptionally light when compared with the weight of other rac ing machines. With his Firestone equip ment and his new machine, Oldfield ex pects to lower several world's records during 1917. Veteran Driver Visits Firestone Fac tories to Inspect Manufacture of Cord Brand. New speedway records now depend as much upon the efficiency of tire- makers as on the automobile manufac- OFF1CIAL OF OREGON STATE MOTOR ASSOCIATION IS TO SIGNPOST MAIN HIGH WAYS OF STATE. ' The directors of the Oregon State Motor Association have in structed the association secre tary, George M. Chambers, to leave about July 1 for a road trip from Portland over the Co lumbia River Highway to The Dalles and on to the Idaho state line, from The Dalles south over the Central Oregon Highway to the California state line and back over the Pacific Highway. rom California to Portland. While on' this trip Mr. Cham bers will mark all of the forks in the road with Oregon State Motor Association signs 8 by 19 inches in size, showing the prop er route to follow in reaching the respective towns on the main highways. Mr. Chambers' coming trip Is to be but a starter for a series of similar trips to be made for sign-posting and road infor mation purposes. turer, according to Barney Oldfield. veteran driver and holder of many records. Speedway racing has reached a point where improved resilience, en durance and balance in tires are neces sary for increased speed, so Oldfield says. During the past five years.. oianeia has taken part in very few contest events, devoting his efforts to time trials and exhibition driving. . This year, however, he Intends to take an active part In all the big auto races. He is working out daily on the big AUTO REPAIRING Used cars and trucks for sale. C. & M. Oil Retainers for Ford cars in stalled. Storage day or month. Mills & Hepworth o9 vretU Eroadwav jl PACKING OF TIRES IS ART Care Should Bo Exercised to Pre vent Cutting in Toolbox. "How should I carry this tube in my car?" is a question which the new fledgling to the automobile recreation frequently asks. The service manager or the isk Rubber Company applied nothing more than plain cold reasoning in his answer to this query. He says, "ihe best way of all Is to carry your spare tube mounted and in flated in your spare tire, but where an additional tube is desired, it should be wrapped in heavy wrapping paper and bound with rubber bands. "If not wrapped it is likely to become cut or chafed from contact with tools or other equipment carried in the tool box and thereby permanently injured. The use of rubber bands instead of string for tying the package is recom mended because it will prevent cutting the tube should the string be tied too tight-" MOTOR MAKES TOURIST NATION IS PLEASIBE CROl.VD OF MAN WITH CAR. Goodricn Rubber Company Provides SIsns on Hlghnrays, Marking Tralln Over Country. The motorist should be educated to cut . himself loose from the apron strings of the city or county and be come familiar with some distant scenes. He should be induced to get out on the road, or, in other words, be come a tourist, and see the country. Automobiles have won popular fa vor as no other mechanical invention, because they open to man quick and comfortable travel. Roads throughout the country, due to good roads legisla tion, have been wonderfully Improved since motorcars began appearing In numbers on the highways. Every year the construction of new roads in creases. Each new section of road way means added Joys to the pleasures of the motoring tourist. "The automobile." says Arthur Bris bane, the well-known New Tork writ er, "gives you the Nation for your park and pleasure grounds. It is the great est addition to human happiness and freedom." "Touring." says W. D. Albright. Northwest manager of the B. F. Good rich Rubber Company, "is bound to be the ultimate elixir of life, not only for the owners of cars, but also for the whole automobile industry. Motordom will be perpetually rejuvenated by the magio of moving cars. Every owner of a motorcar and every citizen who can afford to' become an owner must go on the road and be whisked away into the country, so that, like the thousands of others, they may become and will re main touring enthusiasts. - "The B. F. Goodrich Rubber Comnanv has smoothed the roads for motorists in every section of our land. One hun dred and fifty thousand miles of uni form guide posted highways bear trib ute to its work.' Our silent, sleepless sentinels, the signposts, point the way for tourists all over the United States and total over 100.000. Five large, well equipped guide-post trucks are kept busy all seasons of the year. Enam eled road signs are giving way to ar mor plate, which virtually defies de struction, and this service Is free to LEADS THE FIELD FOR NEW CARS SOLD DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, 1917 Chevrolet ...... 183 Maxwell 173 T Dodge 143 i Buick 141 Overland . . . . 96 Studebaker : 61 j Saxon 33 (and others) (Figrures compiled by M. O. Wilkins, Publisher Automobile Record.) ."D''lllT'TT"! The' Chevrolet is the only car (with the excep- -LV- VV Hj XV tion of one high-priced eight-cylinder car) to climb the famous Hall-street grade on high gear. . OTT7"CT' The Chevrolet lowered the speed Tecord between Ol HjHU Portland and Eugene, beating the Shasta Limited's 1 time. T7 f TSTsT A yTV The Chevrolet in the hands of thous XL V V--LNi V1VA X " ands of owners is averaging 25 to 26 miles to the gallon of gasoline. T7TVnrT TT A The Hall-street climb and the XLlN JL U XVrVrN Vill Portland-Eugene run are con- vincing demonstrations of Chev rolet endurance. egner & Fields inSTKlliUTOKS GRAND AVE. AT BURNSIDE PHONE EAST 23 R the tourist. Any motorist considering a trip can secure free touring infor mation by application to his dealer." MOTORISTS ARE "TIRE WISE" Reliable Dealers Pleased Tliat Own ers Investigate Before Buying. -The motorist is rapidly becoming "tire wise." More and more, accord ing to officials of Bailou & Wright, local distributors for Racine country road tires, is the car owner familiariz ing himself with conditions and methods of tire manufacture. Nowa days Mr. Motorist does not go into a tire dealer's and buy a set of casings with the same nonchalance that he would enter the butcher shop to pur chase a ring of bologna. Prior to pur chase the modern motorist investigates. studies. Chances are. dealers say, he knows almost as much about tire manu facture as the dealer does himself. "And this," says C. F. Wright, "is a mighty good sign. We feel that the motorist makes better tire investments in direct proportion to the extent of his knowledge of tires. Scores of our patrons have told us this Spring that the savings in tire mileage costs has more than rewarded them for the pains they have taken to make themselves familiar with the ways of making tires." AoSfo Owners Figure the Big Saving Their Cars Make MANY Velie customers were recently asked this question. Do you figure your VeKe as part of your every day equipment or as a luxury The replies came from business men, merchants, farmer men in all lines of work. Without exception they voted their Velie cars a time saver, a health promoter and a money saver paying a big return on the investment. Their replies are summarized in this: It would mean a big loss to go back to the railroad and street cars for daily trips and give up the economy and benefits of outdoor travel. Velie values mean the largest return en the investment. Its long service its sturdy construction its swift, sure, smooth performance its wonderful records for being always on the job, are he to such features as the Vebe-Cootinentml motor Timken axles, front and rear multiple disc clutch push-button starter ignition. An extra con vciucficc ana comfort come from its soft undershmg springs deep-tufted genuine leather upholstery long and roomy body, with its famous lasting Velie finish. Eight body style Touring Cars, Touring Sedan, Foot Passenger Roadster, Coupe, etc Better see the nearest Velie dealer about early delivery. D. C. WARREN MOTOR CAR CO., Distributors 58-60 North Twenty-third Street - Phone Main 780 VELIK MOTORS CORPORATION, MOLINE, ILLINOIS Bmili,,. WXi.ntil.i. Mmtmr TwmtJkm UW Tractate Announcing the Occupancy of Our New Building Cor. Second and Taylor Our Patrons and the Public Are Cordially Invited to Inspect the Most Complete Plant of Its Kind on the Pacific Coast. With our new modern equipment and years of experience we will be able to give our custom ers and the general public better service. Wentworth Irwin, Inc Auto Body Builders Painting, Upholstering Distributers Trucks Southeast Cor. Second and Taylor ATTENTION Automobile Distributors The manufacturers of a medium-priced, popular, quick selling; automobile, well known and thoroughly estab lished, are desirous of obtaining a new distributor cover ing this territory. Only high-grade, responsible appli cants considered, as our contract is of merit and a money maker. Discounts enable the right type of distributor to get his territory covered by sub-dealers promptly. This Is Not a FEELER We Mean Real Business If interested, write care of Box AV 152, Oregonian (All replies strictly confidential.)
