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Senior Moment From Russ Dodge
as provided by Bill White:
1916 Match Race at Alcyon
(From Russ): This Senior
Moment is made up of segments of a letter written to family relatives on
February 18, 1985, by a man who was present for the match race featured in
the photo above. In his late 80's at the time, the letter is priceless
and contains many more historical details about the speedway and cars, than
is being presented. A debt of gratitude is owed to the Bill White family of
Mullica Hill, N.J. for sharing this family treasure many years ago.
I am in a 100 foot radius of those automobiles. It makes me think of a
dollar bill along side of a $1,000.00 bill.
The person who could not remember the result of the race must have owned a
Packard or other high priced machine. I do not know if it was a standing
start or running start, but I do remember when they came out of the dust
around the first corner, the model T was at least 10 feet ahead and running
away. I don't remember the length of the race, most likely 10 laps, 5 miles,
or more. The driver of the Ford never saw the back end of the Mercer. He
would slow down and let Stratton catch almost up to him and then run away
from him several different times.
On a mile track I think Stratton would have won. The Mercer had too low a
gear ratio. Stratton had a very good idea to overcome the low gear ratio.
The Mercer was a right hand drive with the gear lever on the outside along
with the hand brake. It was a standard shift like now. With the clumsy low
speed R.P.M. but durable engine, it would be too slow on the long curve of
the far side of the track. He had person in those times called a mechanic
with him on the left side. The Mercer had a 1/2 0r 5/8" cross bar on its
radiator cap about 7 inches long, cross wise to the hood. None of this shows
in the picture but a rope was tied to the gear shift handle, went ahead to
the radiator cap under the cross bar and the back to the riding mechanic.
When Stratton thought it was far enough around the first curve he somehow
signaled the mechanic to pull the rope and gear lever into second gear to
get quicker pick up. It seemed to work out all right. The trouble was the
Ford T was just plain quicker. That sharp first curve was the trouble.
Now I get to Mr. Green. I remember him that day as a man between 40 and 50
years, medium size. I heard he was a machine shop man and made the camshaft
in the Model T himself. The man who told it ridiculed the idea. He said
Green cut the cams with a file before he hardened them. I believe he did.
After all somebody had to hand make them on the first auto.
If you look close in the picture the back spring is the usual shape except
its ends are near parallel to the axel putting the back end about 4 inches
lower. That also takes some of the bend out of the universal joint, giving
slightly more power and a smoother flow of power to the back wheels. The top
of the hood looks like it slants to the back. A very close look does not
show the gasoline tank. I remember the driver just sat on a board. That I
had forgotten but it came back to me. Notice a long and round tank like
object alongside of the right side of the engine. I do not remember it, but
it could be an old motorcycle tank. As to the ignition and carburetor I
remember nothing.
I never heard of anything dishonest or dirty about the race. It was just a
case of the right piece of machinery for the particular job.
Senior Moment By: Russ Dodge |