oc-plain-dealer 1922-03-18

AUTOMOBILE SECTION PLAIN LEADING NEW VOL. XXV—NO. 190 SPRINTS TO BE STAGED IN L.A. LOS ANGELES SPEEDWAY, Mar. 18.—Announcement was made today of the series of sprint races to be staged on the Los Angeles Speedway, April 2, and according to A. M. Young, manager of the Beverly speed plant, the affair is to be a national championship event. The speed meet is to consist of five short races which should provide the most thrilling race program ever witnessed in the West. Fifteen of the drivers who were entered in the last great race on the local bowl have signed entry blanks. There are to be four twenty-five mile dashes and one fifty mile final. Five prizes are to be offered in each race and the winner of each dash is to be eliminated. One of the most important features of the matinee is the fact that the race meet is to be staged at popular prices. General admission is to be but $1.50 with the open grandstand at 50 cents additional. The box seats are to go for $5, and the main grandstand seats are to be sold for $3 and $4, with children under twelve years of age admitted for 50 cents. The race meet is being staged at the request of the public and the drivers. After the 250 mile race staged March 5, which drew the largest crowd that ever attended an automobile race on the Pacific Coast, there were hundreds of requests received. SPRING DECLARED BEST SALESMAN "Spring is the greatest automobile salesman in the business," says the Frank P. Taggart Motor Co., agents for the Chevrolet. "One bright spring day will sell more automobiles than the combined efforts of all of the flesh and blood salesmen in the business." "Incidentally, cars are not at all numerous this spring and those dealers who are in a position to make deliveries can do so only through the exercise of careful planning during the months that have passed. It seems as though a genuine car shortage was upon us and this situation will intensify the individual responsibility of the dealer for those cars of other seasons which are still running in his territory. "The continued satisfactory performance of any automobile nowadays depends almost exclusively upon the dealer who sold it. If he is strong enough and willing enough to follow that car through all the years of its life and usefulness, the owner of the car is going to find an increasing profit in every season he owns his car and his ability to get a new one will not seriously discomode him. "But, if the dealer falls down in point of service or in measure of responsibility, those who have been unable to replace the old chariot with a new one will find their troubles to multiply with the increased demands upon the car during the summer months. "We are stressing our own responsibility in connection with everything we ever have sold. Our guarantee goes on the car and represents a tangible responsibility that is often much more potent for the car owner's benefit than the guarantee" GRAHAM TRUCK WANTS If a truck will stand treme conditions of road, it will stand up conditions. So Charley Y. Simple, isn't it? But no of the fair weather van Mann, who is agent has received some Brothers trucks with power plants, and also the story of a new test circumstances showing truck will do. The Columbus, O., truck proposed the test nature of mine There were seven entries The route lay from Jacksontown on good thence to Thornville thence to Somerset and ton. The Graham Bros. first to reach New Lea Part of the route Run Hill, the worst hit is a mile and a quarter proved, with many back grade of 18 to 22 per cent most impassable mud bad ruts. Here are the results: 1. Graham Brothers Dodge Brothers powered the hill to break point 100 feet up the tion and the driver back down 20 feet and This time he plowed the heavy mud up to chains used. 2. The second truck leaders in its class, tribes to climb the hill able to proceed farther. The race meet is being staged at the request of the public and the drivers. After the 250 mile race staged March 5, which drew the largest crowd that ever attended an automobile race on the Pacific Coast, there were hundreds of requests received by the speedway management asking that another race be held here before the drivers leave Los Angeles to go to Cotati for the coming race on the north bay counties bowl. There was a meeting of the drivers and it was agreed that a race would meet with the approval of the race fans, especially if the program could be changed, giving a series of fast events in which there would be the greatest speed in the cars shown throughout every lap. There is another angle to this series of sprint races. Pietro Bordino, the fast Italian with the Fiat, will have a chance to show his speed as he will be able to run through the short fast events without eating up tires as he did in the long race. Bordino should prove one of the great hits of the short race program and with him will be such stars as Ralph De Palma on the Ballot; Jimmy Murphy on the Duesenberg that (AContinued on Page Four) Buick Economy of Upkeep "Stretches motoring dollars" It goes a long way with me! But, if the dealer falls down in point of service or in measure of responsibility, those who have been unable to replace the old chariot with a new one will find their troubles to multiply with the increased demands upon the car during the summer months. "We are stressing our own responsibility in connection with everything we ever have sold. Our guarantee goes on the car and represents a tangible responsibility that is often much more potent for the car owner's benefit than the guarantee of the manufacturer himself." AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC SERVICE IMPROVED Removal of electrical machinery in connection with its battery repair work from the rear of the shop to the front, immediately back of the office, has enabled the Automotive Electric Company to give the public a better service than ever before, as the firm foresaw. The stock of supplies has been moved to the very front of the company's quarters. Batteries are concentrated just back of the machinery. A new line of spotlights has been put in, the facilities for a complete Durant service, breaker points, ignition, etc. The company has the agency for the Atwater Kent generator, Elsemann magnetos, Auto-Lite and Westinghouse starters and generators, Briggs & Stratton switches and Connecticut ignition and switches. The firm's supply of Delco and Remy goods is unusually complete. TESTS NOT SUITABLE INDEX OF MOST IMPASSIBLE MUD AND BAD RUTS. Here are the results: 1. Graham Brothers powered the hill to break the point 100 feet up the hill and the driver back down 20 feet and chains were used. 2. The second truck leaders in its class, triutes to climb the hill, ble to proceed further due to lack of power traction, as it was e-chains. 3. The third truck ently for 14 minutes to through the mud and but had gone no farther second truck when it also equipped with chains. 4. Truck number 4 plowed its muddy way foot mark reached by ceding, but could get rushed. 5. The fifth truck in 5 minutes, but stalled power. Chains were used. 6. Truck number 6 800 pounds light, made climbs to the top of when the additional 800 put on, this truck went so hard that the dealer tered the truck told back down—as he have his truck than tha- "A great many automakers make a big hurrah about mileage that they claim make—or have made special test," says H. S. Gale for the Oldsmobile and "They don't tell you averages about half the they made on the special." "Gasoline is the cheap motorist uses. Take 5 miles average miles that drive in one year as a from. Say one car gives the gallon and another p (there are less than 1 factured that will give average motorist) thenence of 139 gallons of at 23½c or a different in one year's driving. saving in the average ing any auto for one yr." If you are out on your gasoline is low, $ over five gallons of gas break a rear axle or sit the transmission or diff far can you be towed a repalring can you get d- RUBBER DOLLARS-- What Do You Mean, Rubber Dollars? We mean just this—that the new Buick certainly stretches the dollar over lots of highway, and over lots of motoring pleasure. More automobile, more gasoline and oil mileage, more riding comfort, more resale value, are pretty good examples of dollar stretching—aren't they? Buy a new Buick and see how much fun it is to spend this rubber money. It certainly stretches a long way with the Buick. ANAHEIM AUTO CO Wm. Goodrum Prop ANAHEIM FULLERTON Buick Distributors for Northern Orange County GRAHAM TRUCK WANTS RIVALS If a truck will stand up under extreme conditions of weather and road, it will stand up under ordinary conditions. So Charley Mann believes. Simple, isn't it? But most trucks are of the fair weather variety. Mann, who is agent for Dodge cars, has received some more Graham Brothers trucks with Dodge Bros. power plants, and along with them the story of a new test under unusual circumstances showing what the truck will do. The Columbus, O., dealer for the truck proposed the test which was in the nature of mine rescue work. There were seven entries. The route lay from Columbus to Jacksontown on good paved roads, thence to Thornville over a detour, thence to Somerset and New Lexington. The Graham Bros. truck was the first to reach New Lexington. Part of the route included Lick Run Hill, the worst hill in Ohio. It is a mile and a quarter long, unimproved, with many bad curves and a grade of 18 to 22 per cent. It is in almost impassable mud and filled with bad ruts. Here are the results: 1. Graham Brothers truck with Dodge Brothers power plant ascended the hill to break the way. At a point 100 feet up the hill it lost traction and the driver was forced to back down 20 feet and start again. This time he plowed right through the heavy mud up to the top. No chains were used. 2. The second truck, one of the leaders in its class, tried for 10 minutes to climb the hill, but was unable to proceed farther than 50 feet. DEMAND IS HEAVY FOR LINCOLN Upwards of 1,000 orders for Lincoln cars were received before the new car was publicly announced, according to George Dunton, distributor of the Ford. This car, one of the most expensive and elaborate of any manufactured in America, now sells at several hundred dollars less for each model. The owners the Ford Motor Company, while continuing the Lelands in charge of manufacture, are looking after the marketing of the machine themselves. The Lincoln car was designed and built to meet the demand for a better car than ever had been produced in the country before. Henry M. Leland, the builder, had '60 years' experience dating back to the dark days of the Civil War. He became one of America's leading builders of machines tools. With the development of the motor car in Detroit, Leland and his son Wilfred C., had an active part. They were particularly associated with the building of extremely fine cars. Theirs was the first auto equipped with high speed, high efficiency V-type engine, which changed the trend of fine car raking in the United States. During the war the Air Services chose them to build the Liberty motor, and they gave up the auto business for their new task. They organized the Lincoln Motor Company SPEED IS FACTOR IN THIEF'S ARREST Until the complete registration of all the motor cars in California is finished, and the new lists are published in book form, every motorist and car owner should make it a particular point to remember his or her new number. Officials of the Automobile Club of Orange county say that this is a very important item and one that every one should be particularly careful to observe. "In case of theft," said A. S. Ralph, manager of the Automobile Club of Orange County, "time is an important factor, and the sooner the number of the car is in the hands of the police, the better chances of a quick recovery of the stolen property." "When you don't remember the number of your car and report its loss to us, or any other Insurance company, we have to take the time to look up, or rather find out the number for you. As the new registrations are not as yet published in book form, this is a lengthy task. Every minute at such a time is precious and enables the thief to make his get away." "If you can't memorize your numbers, or are afraid to trust your memory, write down the number of your car. Then in case of loss or accident, you are ready to give us full facts and details," and aid us in making quick time in recovering your car." 42,000 MILES IN 2 YEARS IN ESSEX The Essex is one of the cars which they buy and buy again. The local branch of Townsend & Fairway favor a so-called tainted by his ments. "The course, buyer, regard and the He show good reliability." TESTS NOT SURE INDEX OF MILEAGE "A great many automobile dealers make a big hurrah about the gasoline mileage that they claim their cars make—or have made on some special test," says H. S. Gilnette, agent for the Oldsmobile and the H. C. S. "They don't tell you that their car averages about half the mileage that they made on the special test or run." "Gasoline is the cheapest thing a motorist uses. Take 5,004 miles as the average miles that the car owner drives in one year as a basis to figure from. Say one car give 12 miles to the gallon and another gives 18 miles, (there are less than 10 cars manufactured that will give 18 miles to the average motorist) there is a difference of 139 gallons of gasoline used at 23½¢ or a difference of $33.36 in one year's driving. A wonderful saving in the average cost of keeping any auto for one year." "If you are out' on the road and your gasoline is low, $1.50 will buy over five gallons of gas. But if you break a rear axle or strip a gear in the transmission or differential, how far can you be towed and how much repairing can you get done for $1.50" With the development of the motor car in Detroit Leland and his son, Wilfred C., had an active part. They were particularly associated with the building of extremely fine cars. Their was the first auto equipped with high speed, high efficiency V-type engine, which changed the trend of fine car making in the United States. During the war the Air Services chose them to build the Liberty motor, and they gave up the auto business for their new task. They organized the Lincoln Motor Company and received a contract to build 17,000 Liberty motors, the largest order given by the Air Service. In four months they built a factory of solid brick and concrete, the main building of which was four stories high and three city blocks long. Competing with four established plants they made more Liberty motors in a single day and month and the largest total of any of the manufacturers. The new Lincoln car sells now at $3750 for the touring car, $4275 for the phaeton de luxe, $4275 for the roadster de luxe, $4580 for the four-passenger coupe, $4690 for the sedan, $5650 for the suburban limousine and $5450 for the seven-passenger sedan. These are the prices delivered here. DEFENDS MORALS OF RESERVE INDIANS CALGARY, Alta., Mar. 14. —Vigorously defending the general morality of the Indians on Alberta reserves, Archdeacon Tims told the Angelican church synod here that the code of morals observed by the red men was as good, if not better, than that adhered to by the whites. Charges that bigamy was commonly practiced on the reserves was denied by this eminent authority on the habits and customs of the Indians, who spoke highly of the respect with which the race observed the marriage laws. Witman, eyesight specialist. TRANSCONTINENTAL TRIP CALLED SAFE Reports published in eastern newspapers to the effect that motorists fairly take their lives in their hands to attempt a trip across the continent by auto to California are vigorously refuted by the touring bureau of the Automobile Club of Southern California. Motorists are warned by the eastern false reports to beware of the cars leading builders of machines tools. 42,000 MILES IN 2 YEARS IN ESSEX The Essex is one of the cars which they buy and buy and buy again. The local branch of Townsend & Medbury received further examples of why they do it this week, when Omer F. Divers of the Pecos Oil Company, Texas, came into the shop and told of having driven 42,000 miles in the two years or less since he bought the Essex he is now using. The car has been driven most of this distance in the Picos country, which has no real roads, and is in good condition still. It is the third Essex Divers has had, and his next car also will be an Essex, he announced. Back of this quality is a service which is given without stint by the agents. Blaine, Wash., man by the name of Lashe is another satisfied user, who visited the shop recently. He showed a record of 22 miles to the gallon, after the car had been driven 34,000 miles in 18 months without any breakdowns or hitches of consequence. This man already has made his deposit on another Essex. Plain Dealer for Good Job Printing. SO. CALIFORNIA BEST TOUR FIELD Establishing beyond a doubt that Southern California is the greatest touring field of all time, the annual report of the Automobile Club of Southern California for 1921, has just been issued. Imagine a group of motorists so active that they use 3,804,952 road the gallon and another gives 18 miles. (there are less than 10 cars manufactured that will give 18 miles to the average motorist) there is a difference of 139 gallons of gasoline used at 23½c or a difference of $33.36 in one year's driving. A wonderful saving in the average cost of keeping any auto for one year. "If you are out' on the road and your gasoline is low, $1.50 will buy over five gallons of gas. But if you break a rear axle or strip a gear in the transmission or differential, how far can you be towed and how much repairing can you get done for $1.50 or say $20.50? Some of these dealers advertise that the car they are selling ran or averaged 25 or 30 miles and some prevaricate enough to claim 40 miles to the gallon of gasoline. But you buy a car from them and then go to them and say—'I'm only getting 14 or 15 miles.' What do they tell you? Ask them to guarantee you 25 or 30 or 20 or 18 miles to the gallon,—and make them sign up to return you the money you paid on car if it doesn't, and they will not do it. Why? Because they know that their car will not do it. One dealer says one of their cars averaged 40 miles to the gallon. I'll pay him cash for one of his cars if he will put up a bond guaranteeing to refund what I pay him if his car doesn't average 25 miles to the gallon. I'll guarantee to drive the car like the average car owner drives for a period of six months or say 5,004 miles. I'd have to drive it that far to save $66.72, the difference in cost for gas in cars averaging 12 miles to the gallon and the other 24 miles to the gallon. "The cheaper and poorer cars give the greatest gasoline mileage. Think it over." NEW EXIDE BATTERY SURE IS WINNER Much interest has been shown by the public in the new Exide battery which the Ennis Electric Company has placed on sale here. The battery has probably a longer life than any other on the market. The rubber insulator placed alongside of the old reliable exide wood separator is responsible. It more than doubles the life of the battery. Battery users are invited to inspect the battery for themselves. Reports published in eastern newspapers to the effect that motorists fairly take their lives in their hands to attempt a trip across the continent by auto to California are vigorously refuted by the touring bureaus of the Automobile Club of Southern California. Motorists are warned by the eastern false reports to beware of the great western open spaces, which perhaps means the deserts, as they are dangerous. There is no danger in crossing the desert by auto, says the Auto club. That is all bosh! Southern California is as readily accessible by motor car as any other point in America, and much more so because the highways leading to this section are officially signposted. The National Old Trails route westward is in good shape, and a motorist can make the trip in approximately twenty-one days, allowing some time for sight-seeing. According to eastern pessimistic reports, it takes a motorist three months to reach California. The eastern papers also print stories to the effect that the cost of such a trip is terrible. The Auto club rises to refute this statement, saying that the tour from the Atlantic to the Pacific can be made at a cost of five dollars per person per day. This includes everything except tire cost and unforeseen accidents. Certain precautions to all transcontinental travelers are issued at present by the Auto club, however, these including advice to always have the gasoline tank full and carry plenty of water in the radiator, as well as an extra gallon or two of oil. Motorists are advised not to camp near water on account of mosquitoes, but outside of the mosquitoes, no dangerous animals are reported on the entire journey. According to reports circulated without foundation in the east, a tour to California is as dangerous as trekkking with Stanley in Africa! Bosh! say the club officials. SO. CALIFORNIA BEST TOUR FIELD Establishing beyond a doubt that Southern California is the greatest touring field of all time, the annual report of the Automobile Club of Southern California for 1921, has just been issued. Imagine a group of motorists so active that they use 3,804,952 road maps in a single year! That is the number issued by the club to motorists during 1921. There were 3,141,225 "fire prevention" warning signs for use on the highways turned out during the year by the club's printing department. In order to keep pace with the demand of auto owners in the southern part of the state for road information 6,368,301 strip maps of local highways were printed. To those not acquainted with the immense amount of touring carried on in Southern California these figures are almost beyond comprehension, but their authenticity is vouchered for by club officials and the audited books of the organization. In the touring bureaus throughout the southern counties there were 331,614 personal calls for information regarding touring conditions answered during the year, and 245,657 telephone calls in addition to these. During the year the club's insurance department issued 46,077 policies totalling $2,443,184 in premiums. This established a record for the United States, it is pointed out. Southern California motorists stand in a class by themselves, say club officials. Using their cars the year round, they cover more miles than any other group of auto owners in the world. They are continually moving somewhere and help in no small way to increase the financial prosperity of the southern part of the state, making it the one vital "white spot" of America. See Laguorgue, 596W, painter. AUTOMOBILE SECTION TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR EXTRAVAGANT TO BUY POOR QUALITY Quality is the cheapest thing you can buy. This is the slogan practiced if not proclaimed by the Buick manufacturers. And the dealers back it up with a service unequalled by perhaps any other make of car. In this latter connection General Manager E. T. Strong says: "Has it been the custom of the dealer to supply the owner with genuine parts, made solely by the manufacturer of the car? Or is he satisfied and willing to pass on to the owner substitute parts, inferior in quality and below the company's standard specifications? Does he use a few of the car manufacturer's parts and then buy the bulk of his replacement parts from concerns whose business it is to turn out cheap repair parts at cheap prices? Consideration of this point is vital to a sound investment in motor car transportation over a period of years. The finest mechanism produced must in time show signs of wear and require the replacement of working parts. And a motor car is no exception. The quality of a car should, of course, be of greatest interest to the buyer. He should satisfy himself in regard to the correctness of its design and the goodness of its manufacture. He should be sure that the car has a good record for performance and durability. And, naturally, he would not favor a car that could not be obtained in a body type exactly suited to his individual motoring requirements. Then, should come this: "What is the extent of the manufacturer's and the dealer's desire." STARR CAR TO FIGHT FORD? The Starr car, which the Durant Motor Company will distribute this summer along the Pacific slope, is being made as a means with which to fight Henry Ford. This report circulated at the time when the contract of Durant for its manufacture was signed, is being reiterated now, with further details. With the Starr put out at $195 delivered here, dealers are wondering whether a price war looms. The story goes that several big manufacturers of important car parts, acting for their own interests and also for big businesses which are fearful of Ford's growing domination of the motor car industry and his alleged radical tendencies, have banded together and agreed to manufacture practically all the parts of a cheap car, which they persuaded the Durant Motor Company to assemble and distribute. The leaders of this group of manufacturers of parts are said to be the Continental Motor Company and Timken Axle Company, whose capital united with that of other concerns of smaller size is said to be considerably larger than that of the Ford Motor Company itself. Whether Dodge Brothers and other interests formerly allied with Ford in the manufacture of his IN ESSEX the cars which and buy again. of Townsend & other examples this week, when Pecos Oil Comto the shop and 42,000 miles in since he bought driven most of Picos country, oads, and is in It is the third and his next sex, he announty is a service but stint by the by the name satisfied user, recently. He 12 miles to the had been driven months without tches of consehas made his sex. RELIABLE TIRE CO. SELLS 100 TIRES Sales of 100 tires, all Bell NonSkids, are reported by the Reliable Tire Company during the month ending yesterday. Sales might have been still larger if certain sizes ordered by the firm had been obtainable. During this week's rain storm the nonskid powers of the tire were demonstrated to various patrons beyond a doubt. The tire was only introduced to coast dealers quite recently, but has made good wherever offered. Today the firm begins its second month of business in Anaheim. The quality of a car should, of course, be of greatest interest to the buyer. He should satisfy himself in regard to the correctness of its design and the goodness of its manufacture. He should be sure that the car has a good record for performance and durability. And, naturally, he would not favor a car that could not be obtained in a body type exactly suited to his individual motoring requirements. Then, should come this: "What is the extent of the manufacturer's and the dealer's desire, once the car is bought, to guarantee the owner uninterrupted transportation? If you will make inquiry about that when you are purchasing a motor car—and an investment in a fine motor car deserves such investigation—you can very easily get to the heart of the repair question." Whether Dodge Brothers and oler interests formerly allied with Ford in the manufacture of his car are interested in the present gigantic fight with Ford on his own ground could not be ascertained. Nor can the facts that the Continental and Timken interests are actually in the combination. But it is argued that they have every reason to be interested in a special way. That other manufacturers, not only of parts but cars, are glad to line up with them in such a fight is evident, when the far-reaching effects of Ford's competition in the pleasure car and more recently tractor field are considered, it is declared. There is no price war at present but one appears to be looming. CHICLE TREES DISCOVERED Chicle producing trees have been discovered in British Guinea and the discoverer has obtained a concession covering 6200 square miles of territory which he will prospect. If it's from Witman's it’s good. Studebaker nothing we might say about the ease of handling the 1922 Studebaker is so convincing as to drive it yourself for your the 1922 Studebaker is so convincing as to drive it yourself for your own sake include the Studebaker among the cars you consider worth buying you may drive any day and anywhere to test Studebaker performance just telephone us to come to you Harry D. Riley 151 S. Los Angeles St. a safe place to buy a used car