DE PALMA WON HARD-FOUGHT RACE

Topics:  Ralph De Palma

Daily Capital Journal (Salem, Oregon)
August 31, 1912

MADE 305 MILES IN 263 MINUTES

WAS BERGDOLL'S RACE UNTIL TIRE TROUBLE PUT HIM OUT IN MIDDLE OF LAST LAP

His Average Speed for Entire Distance Was 70 Miles an Hour---Besides Winning the Big Leading Event, De Palma Also Won the Elgin Trophy Race---He Drove a Mercedes Car in Both Races---Crowd in Attendance Is Estimated at Above 75,000---Time of Last Race 223 Minutes, Distance 254 Miles

Elgin, Ill., Aug. 31.—In one of the hardest fought events on the history of automobile racing, Ralph De Palma, driving a Mercedes car, won the free for all event in the Elgin road races here today. De Palma also won the Elgin trophy race.

In the free for all race De Palma covered the 305 miles in 263 minutes and 36 seconds, an average of 70 miles an hour. Until the start of the last lap the race belonged to Bergdoll, driving a Benz car. Bergdoll was forced out of the lead in the last lap by tire trouble.

In the Elgin trophy race, 254 miles, De Palmas time was 223 minutes and 20 seconds. Mulford was second.

Berdoll was second in the free for all race. Chandler, who succeeded Mulford, after the Elgin trophy race had been run, was third.

The shorter race was run at the same time as the free for all. Mulford was second in the Elgin trophy event. Merz, in a Sutz car, was third. When this race was finished, Bergdoll was leading the free for all by five minutes. He continued in the lead until the last lap, when tire trouble permitted De Palma to forge to the front.

The cars were sent away at intervals of 30 seconds. The machines were timed individually for elapsed time in each race, thus making it possible for one car to lead in the Elgin trophy race and another in the free for all.