The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 13

13 THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR, FRIDAY, MAY 31, 103:.. 4. come los way I to See Speedway Race FIGHT FOR POSITIONS IN RACE SHOWN. it; nf in thr, VICTOR'S FAMILY HAPPY. OFFICIALS PLAN itrs fur thrt lunui-si Histnnc ivi In thn JHJ niil VPS.

nro. it wm i- 1 1 i1 lO-in ile It will In- iiuicil Imu 1 1 j'OMtions IIiuM iiatci I nt ci i imu lilly inilfs in RACER KILLED; 3 1 INJURED n-niiiy weiv by twu Kin-sts lfi wild dasii for till- lil'st It'll the Cohinihia Club. TRACK CHANG No. Drhcr nnd far Mil "48TT i c2 it (I 7 3 0 0 it 7 Clay Weatherly Dies as Car Hits Wall His Mechanic Not Expected to Live. (PleturoH on Paw lfl.) I (iiiiiiningM, Hoyle riiiilmls Special iio.7'7 r.

wTnrspci iai i .7 Miller, Hol7 Products htIhI 5 IVtilln, SpeeiUwi special MiicKcnie, I'iiiiing Special II Cant Ion, Siillivun-O'llrii'ii special I I Stmw, I'iiHini; Special 13 llorucre, Victor (iaskel Sp Hi Lit, shiiler Kislonc Shm inl 17 Stnpp, Marks-Miller Sicclal IK inrlni'r, Sampson liinllo Special ...110 "To" i 0 500-mile race in first place with cheers in his ears and the checkered BY DONOVAN A. Tl'RK. Death strurk quickly at the In-inapolls Motor Speedway yesterday claimed the life of Clay Weatherly, 25-year-old race driver of flarmon, III. Weatherly, a graduate of the dirt racks having his first fling at the time," lost control of his Bowes Seal Fast Special on the northwest ID Frame, Special 'Jl Hepburn, Vct-doi Special. aaitolM-rts, Ahi'ls-l- ink Spec Iai (iilinoro Special 31C.

iTlltT, h. Special" 3(1 L. Meyer, UIiik Free Special 1 1 (iulottii, ltowes Scullast Special over and he had crossed the wire in car No. 5 for his last, lap in the turn, rammed against the wall and finished his rendezvous with death in front of the screaming spectators in Grand Stand H. His riding mechanic, Francis Brad- 23 years old, 5016 West Morris street, suffered a broken back and is not Expected to live.

He was taken to the Robert Long Hospital. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Brad-burn, live at the Morris street address. Death Rides Car.

It was the second time within nine days that death took the wheel of the Bowes No. 45 racer, Johnny Hannort of Norristown, Eastern dirt-track champion, was killed near the same spot May 21 while attempting to qualify the car for the speed classic. Weatherly was on his eighth lap at the time of the accident. 'A few minutes later Lady Luck took command of the race cars and rode with drivers and mechanics the ES Speedway Will Be Altered to Eliminate Crashes at High Speed. Alterations of the famous Speed-way raring course are contemplated to begin within the near future it was definitely leamerl last night fol lowing running of the twenty-third annual Snfl-milc race.

Persons close tn Speedway activi ties admitted that plans had been drawn to remodel the celebrated rae- ing course to the end that "there will never be another car leave the 1 track," It was said, Considerable agitation on the part of the public has been current several years since higher speeds attained in recent years when the average was pushed consistently over the 100-mile-an-hour mark looking toward track changes that would make the course safer on the turns where nearly all of the accidents occur. Maintained It Wan Safe. Speedway, officials have maintained that the general condition of the track was the one thing that kept drivers from attempting excessive speeds and was in tysolf an important safety factor. This year, however, with continued spilling on the turns in both practice and during actual running of the race, plans have finally been accepted for making the track, which is substantially the same as when it was first paved with bricks in more safe at the higher speeds that have been developed since when Billy Arnold's l(MI-milo-an-hniir pace set an example that has been bettered in each succeeding year, being climaxed by Kelly Petillo's 106.24 average yesterday. Kvaslve on Subject.

Speedway officials last night were evasive on the subject of just what changes were contemplated, but they were positive in their assertion that accidents in the future would be extremely rare. This was taken to mean that turns would be treated with additional banking that now seems necessary to hold cars that have pushed average driving speeds approximately 50 per cent higher than during the period twenty-five years ago when the track was first paved. Serious accidents in practice as well as in the actual running of the race have been given careful study by the Speedway governing board, with the result that the remodeling program has been definitely mapped It is believed that the track can- be I made absolutely safe for all driving speeds and still leave plenty of thrills for the spectators. Just when work will be started In repairing the track was not definitely made known, although it was under stood that it would he in sufficient time for preparations for the next race. Aim Yoib Nursing a SlUi IIADIO? Trade It In On a General Eleejric ALL WAVE RADIO 0 10 10 10 10 to I.

3 2 10 flag of the A. behind him. A. A. slipping away HU.

522 is Joyous was this pair 'at the end of the race. Their husband and father, Kelly Petillo, was the first to get the checkered flni; o( victory, breaking by far the track record. Mrs. Petillo and her son, Kelly 8 years old, had only one fear that "maybe he will run out of gas." "TEN-YEAR" HUNCH WINS FOR PETILLO FIGURE YOUR OWN ALLOWANCE 1 nf For Your RAIH0 This Is Your yQ Down Pa) mcnt Balance Easy Terms. 16 DIFFERENT MODELS Ranging in Price From $21 .95 to $225.00 FREE SERVICE and GUARANTEE for 90 Days BY KKLI.V PKTIM-O, Winner of the 135 3H)-MHe Race.

You can't beat the Italian ton-year cycle that's the goodie in the coconut as to why I won the 500-mile gasoline derby at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That was my hunch before the rac and just how well it worked out is reflected in the way I finished. Just figure lor yourself Beralma the winner in 1915 Deraolo in 1925 and yours truly in 1935 ten years apart and all three American-Italians. AC ISnclio-lElcctrichop OPKN EVENINGS MILTON ALBERSHARDT, Prop. second position, but I had ton much under the hood of my racer for him.

He's a fine guy and deserves as much praise as myself. Will I continue to race? Certainly. Why break up that ton-year Italian cycle? You can't beat it. Throe years ago I begged for a chance to drive when came here I've only started to win races. I'm going to win more of 'em that is, if Pete DePaolo remains as my pit manager to do the thinking for me while I do the driving.

5207 COLLEGE AVE. at EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT Believe me that boy Rex Mays certainly gave me a scare for the first 300 miles and when he went out of the race there was no taking the heavy foot off the gas as Wilbur Shaw was hanging on like grim death. I knew I had the power in my Gil-more Speedway Special as well as the speed and I had the double worry in the late stages of the race wondering whether or not I would pop out of gasoline, On the first day of the qualifying tests I won the pole position only to have it taken away from me because I used a half pint of gasoline too much. I averaged better than 121 miles an hour and knew that I had the mechanical baby that would capture the race if I got anything like an even break in the luck. Gives Credit to DePaolo.

A big share of the credit for winning this international event should go to my pit manager and friend-Pete DePaolo. He gave me the signals as I flashed past the concrete wall and I followed his instructions to the letter. Before the starting bomb De- Paolo said to me, "Kelly, you ve the ability and you've got the car. You do the driving1 and let me do the thinking here at the pits, and I don't want you to miss a single signal." I followed instructions, although it They arc Mr. and Mrs.

A. Kaii'hi in l-iTMia. mi. is ((iinmei -1 ml attache and If enl nilviscr tn the I'l'rsian at Washington. They cam" 1 ivimnapolis and the nee as pucstfl or Kcrt Uinlcy.

vice ins. licit of the Mnnrum-Ili'miiKton plan to return to Wn.shiiiKtun toilay. PETILLO'S CASE El Disappointed Blit Not DiS" couracjccl, He Didn't Qualify Until Third Trial. Much has been written about, the uncertainties of automobile racing, usually to commiserate a loser. The case of Kelly Petillo, the Italian-American with a punch on the throttle, reverses the usual order anil has a happy ending.

When Petillo went after the pnle position on the first day of the qualification trials, Saturday, Mav IS, he streaked around the two-anrl-a half-mile track at the Speedway nt an average of liM.fiM) miles an hour fnr the twenty-live miles, the record for nnnsuper-charged cars and an Rverage which place him in the coveted position. The qualification was voided when it was found that he had iifer five-eighths of a pint of gasoline more than the allowance. Worse l.uek Second Time, Disappointed but not discouraged, Petillo went out again to qualify the following Tuesday. This time even worse luck was dogging his racing wheels. In the tenth lap he broke a rod, cracked three cylinders nnd cut the crankcase in two, Still refusing to take a mechanical licking, the lmlo Italian and his backers sent a hurry-up call to the Kagle Machine Company, experts on racinc cars and who have a plant at East Market street.

C. W. V'ount, head of the company, was called into consultation and put his most skilled workmen on the job with orders tn get it out in time fnr Petillo tn qualify. Accordingly, the block was welded, three rvlinder sleeves were instnlleri. the rase was aligned and bored to give the crank- shaft a precision fit.

A rush order i was sent to California for a new rod and it was fitted into the motor and the assembly was completed last Saturday. Pole Position, Seven Rows Hack. On the next day. Luck, which had been withholding her favors, turned her head and let him qualify an avll'Ko of 115.095 miles an hour. Instead of the pole position in the first row, he got the polo position in the eighth row.

There were thirty-three other driv ors in the race and by the time Lady Luck had finished visiting around with this one and that one, and maybe was thinking of looking in on friend Petillo again, the race was and Oklahoma, not mentioning the HooHier state itsi.f, host to all the rest. The rrnwd down there was feeling fine, thank you, and pulling hard for blanket beds. Some had good seats from car tops. Maybe they dirin know who was ahead all the time or how fast they were going, but what of It? Crowd Equul Petillo. A good many arrived late.

They couldn't do anything with miles of HAPPILY copies pe ARLEN WORKS HARD IN LOU MOORE'S PIT Aoonlight vale Plight OPEN TILL NINE i OPEN TILL NINE Richard Arlen, screen star, really worked in I he Lou Moore pit. Persons who had thought him to( be merely a bit of movie scenery vere surprised to see the elaborate chart of laps that Arlen kept. While he did not don overalls he worked. Nobody will deny that. There was a big hand for a double clear through the crankcase.

The attraction when Kelly Petillo, winner 'rod lay on the track until pit at-of the race, and Bill Cummings, last i tendants removed it. year's winner, were in the pits at the same time about the seventy-1 Tony Gulotta asked practically first lap. Each pulled out quickly everybody for a ride yesterday after after refueling. 'his mount failed. As cars drew in for repairs or fuel Tony would rush Mauri Rose, the little Dayton CO.) up and ask, "Need any relief?" He driver, who wasn't even wanted in Is a veteran driver who never has the race two years ago and who was 'won a race here.

He at last had a second last year, had his troubles chance to ride for a time for Lou yesterday. He came in four or five Moore, times before he gavo the race up en- tirely. The first several stops were! Chet Miller's front-drive car took for repair of radiator horses and the on appearance of a clothesline in last was for magneto repairs, hundred and fourth lap. Tho radiator cap wouldn't stay on se- The silliest, thing the track me- curely and the mechanics stuffed chanica ever saw occurred yesterday half a shirt in the opening. The right in front of the pits.

Somebody shirt fluttered in the wind as the car threw a connecting rod and threw it whizzed on. to step down on that throttle during I Flashing wires, telling the story the first fifty miles of the race when of their thrilling rides to a breath-i realized that I was running along )ess world, brought fame to the na-in about twelfth position. But I had tion's premier racing drivers late made my pTBmtsfco Pete and I kept yesterday as they dashed across the it and I'm the happiest man in the lintsh line at the Indianapolis Motor world for doing so. Speedway. DePaolo nodded me to give the Tonight in the Indianapolis Ath-racer a bit more speed between the etic Club, which had its inception in fifty and 100-mile mark, although he the minds of those who were the slowed me down when I hit any- biggest figures in the early days of thing beyond 110 miles an hour for a the famous track the same daring lap.

Mays, Stapp and Gulotta were kings of speed will step forward to the only ones ahead of me when we 1 receive their share of the rich prizes remainder of the long grind. The young lady smiled especially on Al Gordon, 33-year-old West coast driver, and his mechanic, Frank Howard, 27 years old, of Los Angeles, Cal. Gordon lost control of his Cocktail Hour special at the northwest turn while on his sixteenth lap. The car careened crazily along the curve for ah instant and then darted to the outside wall, straddled it and hung suspended on the wall. Howard was thrown from the car and Gordon was pulled out after it stopped.

The racer was wrecked but Gordon and Howard escaped with superficial injuries. No other accidents marred the race despite the blistering speed and the rain that made the turns a menace to fast driving during the later stage. 31st to Die at Track. Weatherly was the thirty-first fatality at the Indianapolis track. He was the twenty-seventh driver or mechanic killed and the fourth fatality this year.

In addition to Hannon, H. W. (Stubby) Stubblefield, Los Angeles driver, and Leo Whittaker, his mechanic, also of Los Angeles, were killed in the elimination trials. Hannon's mechanic, Oscar (Shorty) Beeves of Indianapolis, suffered painful injuries but is expected to recover. The car in which both Weatherly and Hannon were injured fatally was owned by Leon Duray, famous race driver.

After Hannon cracked up mechanics worked frantically to repair it in lime to qualify for the race and Weatherly qualified it at a speed of 115.902 miles an hour Monday to obtain the pole position in the ninth row. After crashing into the outside wall on the northwest turn, Weatherly's car skidded down the track at a speed of more than one hundred miles an hour, smashed through the small wooden fenoe in front of Grand Stand and then bumped into the concrete wall that separates the stand from the track. The car then darted back toward the track and fell on its side in the narrow grass plot beside the wooden fence. Both Weatherly and Bradburn were thrown several feet into the air when the racer hit the upper wall at the turn. They landed on the track.

Weatherly was dead when he was picked up and his mechanic was unconscious. They were taken to the emergency hospital in the Infield. Weatherly died of a fractured skull and crushed chest. He also suffered numerous broken bones. Several Women Faint.

7 Several women spectators in the grand stand who saw the accident lainted and many men and women left their seats in the stand. Weatherly was not married. He lived with his mother, Mrs. Minnie Weatherly at Harmon, III. Ho had been driving in dirt track races 'in the middle West several years but he never before had appeared at the Indianapolis track.

He was considered one of the best dirt-track drivers. While he was passing the pita before the neeident, Duray attempted to, slow him down by writing a warning signal on a huge blackboard, visible to the driver and his mechanic. Weatherly, however, failed to heed it. was placed in a cast at the emergency hospital. He later was removed to the Robert W.

Lone Hospital where his condition was aid to he "critical" last miii. i.o 'was riding In his first race. Ho wan born in this city and has spent most of his life here. He is unmarried. Gordon suffered bruises of the head and Howard suffered lacerations of the right hand.

They r.lso were treated at the emergency hospital. Describes Brush With Death, "It just got away from me, that'll all," Gordon explained in describing his brush with death. He attributed his escape to his steel crash helmet. The helmet was crushed on one side. Gordon and his mechanic were taken to the hospital in a fire battalion chief's car.

Thev walked from the automobile to the hospital. A few minutes later, Mrs. Gordon, near collapse, was brought to the inclosure. When she saw her husband calmly puffins on a cigar, tears streamed down her face. She said she was "weeping from joy" because her hus- band escaped with his life.

"I was coming out of the straightaway into the turn when I lost control of the car," Gordon said, as he sipped a soft drink at a stand after leaving the hospital. Howard, nervous, called for beer. "I stacked up last year on the southeast turn and then the north-I Vt turn this year," Gordon said, lie declared that he would "like to get back in the race" but contented himself with chatting with his pit crew and other drivers and chanica whose cars were out of the race. Gordon luffered painful Injuries last year. Ha was in the hospital several days when his car struck the outsldn wall.

Spectators were treated to few other thrills during the race in so far as smashups were concerned. Per-sons in stands along the south turn were brought to their feet shortly after the Weatherly and Gordon accidents when Rex Mays, the West coast driver who held the pole position and led the rare many laps, and Wilbur Shaw, who finished the race In second place only a few seconds behind the winner, went into skids lmultaneously and hit the top of the retaining wall together. They averted a crash by incnes ana managea to right their mounts and speed on. EVER SEE SUCH A HAD AT PEOPLES STORE THE PEOPLES WAY BARGAINS GALORE IT'S EASY TO PAY Covcltidfd From ZVyc One, (Copyright, 1035, by the North American Newspaper Alliance.) DRIVERS TO GET PRIZES TONIGHT ii 1 1 ii i i $100,000 Will Be Awarded to Speed Kings Notables to Attend. awarded for success on the great testing ground.

Tribute Will Be- Paid. The scene of the presentation of the money prizes and trophies will be the annual 500-mile race drivers' dinner. Annually the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and many automotive accessory manufacturers join in presenting to the winning drivers and to lap leaders tho tangible fruits of their victory. This year the total prizes will reach approximately fclOO.000, the greatest distribution of prizes of its kind in the world. Many figures high in the world of sport, industry, screenland and the radio will be honor guests or "just guests" at tonight's event, Indianapolis, too, through its civic and commercial organizations, Joins in the event, to give it an atmosphere of appreciation to those who every vear make the great race possible.

Tribute will be paid to the Speed- i way management, to the entrants and to drivers of the cars. Honor Guests for Dinner. Among honor guests for the dinner will be Mr. and Mrs. Richard Arlen.

both famous for their work In motion pictures; Col. J. B. Vincent, codesigner of the historic Liberty motor; P. H.

Kent, chief electrical engineer of the Chrysler Motor Corporation, and the international speedboat champion, Gar Wood. All of the winning drivers will be pres ent. Representing the Motor Speedway will be E. V. P.ickenbarker, president of the Sneedwav Corporation, I nnH (Pnnl Mvers eeneral manager of the Speedway many years and the man in direct command of the great event.

Mr. Myers will present the prizes and trophies to the drivers. Medals to Presented. Herman G. Deupree, general chairman, will speak briefly on behalf of the lap prize committee and the citizens committee.

He will introduce Louis J. Borinstein, president of the Chamber of Commerce, as toastmaster. Col. Rickenbacker will speak for the Speedway and will introduce Mr. Myers for the presentation of the awards.

Sam Freeman of Indianapolis will present the L. Strauss trophy, while a representative of the American Automobile Association Contest Board will confer the association championship medils. Gar Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Arlen and other distinguished guests will be introduced to the dinner guests.

Music by the Myers quartet will complete the program. Reservations for the dinner may be made at the Indianapolis Athletic Club, the Chamber of Commerce or the Speedway omcea. The dinner is informal. official referee, the first time such anC.rnham McN'amee, Dick Arlen, Paul honor had bei.towed on a Oallico, Ed Neil of the Associated woman, and she took an intercut in I Press the largest single delegation the whole business. The Putnams'ever to attend the event was made sauntered on the press grounds with up of 2,800 dealers and salesmen of Harvey Firestone after things were the Ford Motor Company from In-wcll under way and then drove away diana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Mig-for a brief lunch before returning for i souri, Ohio and Michigan.

Some the finale with Kelly Petillo as the 1.400 of these were from the latter star, state alone. They took up three big Joe Penm-r on Hand. I unions in the grandstands and Joe Penne, without his duck, LS on hand and enjoying the race when tory. drove the pace setting lap with he could. He was kept busy much Pop Myers.

of the time autographing ticket stubs, I Many States Kepresented. notebooks, cards or what have Tr l. 1U Along late in the going he had nybly ever doubted thii crowd enough time off to sav he was made up of people from the Hex Mavs and Kellv Petillo. Mavs 1 far corners, all he needed to do was was out "but Petillo seems to he 'walk down by the south turn in the doing all right." Jnn thought. Thy infield.

Tho cars parked there bore "all right" turned out to he the fas'-; licenses fiom Ohio. Michigan, Illi-est time ever made for the 500 miles mi. Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, on those bricks. Penner said he was I New York, West Virginia, New-having a lot of fun and was glad to Jerse North Carolina. South Caro-be here.

He and Mrs. Penner were linn. Tennessee. Louisiana. Texas, in a box of Grandstand A with a 'Alabama, California, Wisconsin, group of friends.

Minnesota, District of Columbia. MaJ. Frederic. Mclaughlin and his Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Maryland hit the century, but I knew that I was within striking distance and was satisfied with my position. Shipped Twice at Tits.

I made two stops at the pits and on both occasions DePaolo shouted into my ear, "Keep following instructionsit's your race." The first time I pulled into the pits was at seventy-two laps when I took on water and gas, and the second time at 110 laps for water, gas and a right rear tire. It was not until the half-way mark that I felt sure that I would win, although Shaw sped past me into first place when we had reached miles. There's nothing to it-Wilbur drove a grand race to win Mays later was forced out of the race with mechanical trouble. Forrest Willhoite of Detroit, was treated at the emergency hos pital for scalp wounds. He was struck on the head with a billy club by a guard when he attempted to climb the wall around the race grounds.

He was given a free ticket to the race after he was treated at the hospital, Fred Harter of Columbus, a spec, a or, also suffered a painful scalp wound when some unidentified person struck him with a bottle, Ho was sent to the hospital. 2 "BORROW" PLANE; HEAD FOR SPEEDWAY MILWAUKEE, May Government, aviation Inspectors were asked by Frank Pctruska to assist in recovering his airplane which was "borrowed" by a man and woman through a ruse at Curtlss-Wright airport, north of here early today. An attendant, Edward Rokenbrodt, said the pair drove up to the airport in a new sedan, and Informed him they had permission to take up Pe-. truska's plane, While Rokenbrodt was checking their story, the plane took off. It was traced to the county airport, south of the city, where the pair obtained fifteen gallons of gasoline and confided that they were en route to the auto races at Indianapolis.

Check by workers at Indianapolis airports last night failed to identify one among the many planes in this citv for the 500-mile race as the stolen craft of Frank Petruska. Indiana airport men were notified of the theft. wife. Irene Castle McLaughlin, got good entertainment, out of the cars taking the turns. They went down on the south end fnr a while just to watch 'em maneuver the treacher- ous incline.

"There's nothing more Bill Cummings, in his No. 1, to re-thrilling-," Maj. McLaughlin con- peat. They had butterfly hats and tends. Asked how it compares to i sun helmets, soft cushions and WE STAY We realize that a great many people find it inconvenient to shop during the day and we know that husbands and wives like to be tog-ether when they are buying furniture.

Consequently we will be open every Friday night as a convenience to those who prefer to shop at night. "It's the Peoples Corner" fyopfes OuMintfCo. I msm mm mmm Ice hockey, he said: "It's more dan gerous certainly." The m-jor, prom inent Chicago sportsman, is owner of the Chicago Black Hawks. Henry Ford Attends. Besides the many other notables of the nation and state who gath eredincluding Henry Ford Edsel Ford, Gar Wood, who and nilnlnH thn fnqtent water craft in the hasjotner cars just as baa on in front world; Cannonball Baker, Tommvlt0 hf)niP.

Rain. Milton, twice winner at the Speed- jyou can expect 157.000 people Ot cm. Ana wnen it came time to But to be worried by a little wait for train, bus or car when they'd Just seen the fastest 500 miles ever run on the Speedway. Kelly petillo didn't have anything on them. They had set a little record of their way; Governor Paul V.

Mc.Nutt, Mayor John W. Kern, Wayman Adams, noted artist who claims Muneie a. his Indiana home; W. A. Patterson, president of the V'nited Airways; Lamott Cohu.

director of Transcontinental and Western Air;.