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A CUP RACER IN THE MAKING 357 
drivers in America, and he and,his 
mechanic, Bert Dingley, who in the 
race last year was the favorite driver 
of the two, are counted perhaps the 
most capable American aspirants 
for the cup. 
Lytle’s car, which, as has been 
said, has been built especially for this 
race, is of 120 horse-power, and the 
general construction is in keeping 
with the regular 1907 touring car 
of the same manufacture. It has 
four cylinders, with twin heads, cast 
integral, and individual copper water 
jackets for each pair of cylinders; 
ignition by gear-driven magneto. 
It is fitted with a multipledisc clutch, 
with a selective type of transmission, 
four speeds forward and one reverse. 
The valves are mechanically opera- 
ted by means of a system of walking 
beams in the head, with one set of 
four cams and four push-rods. All 
of the steel construction is chrome 
nickel steel, having a tensile strength 
of 225,000 pounds to the square 
inch. Even such partsas the frame, 
sprockets, chain, axles, etc., are made 
of this material. ‘This not only in- 
sures great wearing strength, but on 
account of its great strength permits 
a lighter construction than could 
otherwise be obtained. ‘This is an 
important consideration, as the rules 
of the Vanderbilt Cup Race prohibit 
the weight of each contesting car to 
be in excess of 2,204 pounds. Here- 
tofore not a few of the cars have been 
prevented from entering due to over- 
weight. This ruling has its ad- 
vantages, however, the most important being 
that it places the contest on a, footing of 
equality as to weight. 
Lytle has driven his racer thousands of miles, 
over a very rough and difficult course near the 
factory, and on a special course in the public 
park of his home city, the interest in his success 
being so strong among his townsmen that the 
city gave him the exclusive use of certain roads 
in the park for practice. He has tried out every 
part of the car, down to the smallest nut or 
brace, and his trained ear can detect the 
slightest hitch in its running, when a layman 
would be almost deafened by the thunderous 
exhaust from its mighty cylinders. Day in 
and day out he has lived with his expensive 
charge, working doggedly to discover possible 
defects and remedy them. No hand but his 
own and that of his trusty mechanic has he 
allowed to touch the racer, and he has dreamed 

TUNING UP THE CUP RACER ON A BOULEVARD IN TOLEDO 
always of success. The nervous tension of a 
driver who thus has prepared himself for the 
mad race of 300 miles cannot be imagined. 
Three hundred miles of rushing around a 3o0- 
mile course, between thousands upon thousands 
of frantic spectators, stopping at controls, to 
dash away a few seconds later into a speed 
of almost a hundred miles an hour—what 
a test! 
It is estimated that the average cost of one 
of these giant machines is in the neighborhood 
of $25,000, and, when it is brought to mind that 
this sum is merely the cost of constructing the 
car, and does not include the cost of bringing 
the car to the race, caring for it en route and 
upon arrival, repairing damages sustained, etc., 
driver’s and mechanic’s salaries and so on, it 
will be readily understood how anxious the 
American contestants are to “get away” with 
the famous trophy. 
