NATIONAL CAR WON DESERT RACE

The Arizona Republican
July 14, 1912

It is Now Going After the Australian Record.

When the news of the world breaking record made by the National car in the recent 500-mile race reached Australia, the owners of foreign cars began to offer wagers that a National could not lower the record between Sydney and Melbourne. Harry W. Cooper, formerly of Chicago, and now distributor of National cars in Australia wired at once to the National factory at Indianapolis for a stock car with which to go after this record on a $5000 wager.

The distance is about 712 miles and a Panhard car now holds the record with an average of 34 miles an hour speed. The route lies through a desert, over dangerous narrow mountain paths and over all manner of hard roads and trails. It is considered in Australia the hardest test known to a motor car and Cooper is eager to demonstrate the American-made machine, the National. Cooper remembers that it was a National that won the desert race from Los Angeles to Phoenix and is confident that he will break this foreign record.

Cooper has sold several National cars in Australia and has a large following of National car devotees who are eager for the new car to reach the country and start for the record. There is no official race scheduled, but from reports considerable interest centers around the event. Many of the private owners make this a gala occasion and form motoring parties that try to follow the contender. The car has been shipped from the National factory.