THE INDIANAPOLIS CONTEST

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18653, 23 August 1930, Page 10

THE INDIANAPOLIS CONTEST

SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION. Fuller details are available regarding the contest at Indianapolis. Below is published a full account of the famous race. Soon after the new rules were announced, it was predicted that the cars starting in the 1930 race would be of widely varying design. To some extent the prediction was fulfilled, because amongst the starters were two 16cylinder cars,, twenty-four 8-cylinder cars, two cars with 6-cylinder engines and ten with 4-cylinder engines. This was certainly a change from past years, when every car was equipped with an 8-cylinder engine.

Last year, for example, of the first ten cars finishing, all were “eights.” The entry of the 4-cylinder car was particularly interesting as it indicated a revival of this type of engine, which has not been seen at Indianapolis as a real contender, since the days of the famous “Peugeots” and “ChevroletFrontenacs.” These four-cylinder products performed in a most creditable manner, and of the ten starting, one finished second, one seventh, and another ninth.

Engines of a greater piston displacement (up to 366 cubic inches) were eligible for this year’s race, but other limitations introduced into the conditions rendered many prominent British and CSfitinental makes ineligible, which might otherwise have competed. For example, cars with poppet valves could not have more than two valves per cylinder; this ruled out such cars as the “Bentley.” Notwithstanding the prohibition of super-chargers, and the attempt of the promoters to limit the race to a more standard type of car, than the special racing machines which have been catered for under the old rules, the winner’s average speed was very close to the record for the race. Regarding this car, the engine was a stock 122 cubic inch non-supercharg-ed two vafVe per cylinder “Miller” engine. The chassis in which the engine was installed was a standard Miller front drive model.

Arnold’s victory was the first Indianapolis win for a front drive car. He took the lead after the third lap and held it until the end of the race, something that has never been done before. He made only one pit stop. The consensus of opinion after the race, was that the new rules had proved themselves, and what was most important, had broken down the standardisation of racing cars and brought some stock-automobile engines back into prominence.