A CUP RACER IN THE MAKING 
BY J. WILLIAMS MACY, JR. 
HE Vanderbilt Cup Race, on October 6, 
will undoubtedly be an event excelling in 
interest any other outdoor occurrence 
of the year. For the last two years this annual 
automobile road race has raised all Long 
Island, where it is held, to a fever of excitement 
and interest such as is elicited by no other 
event of any character whatsoever. In 1905, 
when Hemery brought his big Darracq over 
the line a winner by a good margin, more than 
two hundred thousand people witnessed the 
monster spectacle from points of vantage along 
the twenty-eight mile course, and shouted 
themselves hoarse as car after car swept by 
again and again in a whirlwind of dust, gasoline 
smoke and noise. This year, it is estimated, 
at least half a million people will actually be 
on the ground to see the greatest automobile 
contest in the Western Hemisphere, and many 
times that number will eagerly read the details 

(ad 
HERBERT LYTLE AT THE WHEEL OF HIS RACER 
of this mammoth event which they were unable 
to see. Already the thousands of automobile 
enthusiasts and ‘‘cranks,” to say nothing of the 
merely curious excitement seekers, are prepar- 
ing to assemble from miles around. Not only 
from Long Island, New York¢State, New 
Jersey and other near-by States is the enthu- 
siasm great and interest aroused, but the great 
West, and even Europe, will send their con- 
tingents to swell the gala crowd, all anxious 
to see which driver and which car, or rather 
which make of car, will best withstand the 
terrible strain and come forth a winner. 
The contest this year, more than ever before, 
will be one of American cars, made and driven 
by Americans. The Automobile Club of 
France, whose representatives have heretofore 
carried off first honors, is determined to rest on 
its laurels this year, and not compete; neverthe- 
less, there will be some French cars entered. 
This fact, and the fact that the 
interest in the event is growing 
each year, has aroused the Ameri- 
can manufacturers to the greatest 
efforts, each to make his particular 
car the one to carry off the trophy. 
As exemplifying this spirit, we 
will take, for example, one would- 
be competitor who has been en- 
gaged for the last eleven months 
in turning outa car to represent 
them in the rg06 race. We might 
almost say twelve months, for even 
while the race is on plans are 
being laid for the next year’s 
event. Nine months were spent 
in designing and constructing this 
champion, and two months in 
trying it out over the reughest 
roads and steepest hills, everything 
possible being done to bring out 
any defect, fault or blemish which 
might jeopardize its chance when 
the great trial comes. 
Mr. Herbert Lytle, who drives 
the big Pope-Toledo racer that has 
been built especially for this classic 
event, won the right from his team 
mate in the race last year by 
showing himself-a ‘‘brainy” as 
well as a daring driver. He is 
considered one of the most expert 


