MOTORISTS SHUN JOHNSON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1073, 29 September 1910, Page 12

MOTORISTS SHUN JOHNSON.

NEGRO NOT WANTED ON RACING TRACK.

The story emanating from Indianapolis to the effect that Jack Johnson, the negro who recently won in the heavy-weight championship battle with Jim Jeffries at Reno, Nevada, would appear in exhibition automobile drive at the Motor Speedway during the present month created a stir in motor racing circles that bade fair to bring a boycott by white drivers against that famous course. Immediately on receipt of the news that Johnson would be allowed to give a driving exhibition as a feature of the meeting, protests arose from all parts of the country and more than one famous motor pilot refused to ride over the track at Indianapolis, if Johnson were allowed to appear on the course in his machine. In speaking of his attitude Chevrolet, the world-famed motor driver, said: ‘‘Jack Johnson is a prize fighter and has become notorious in that particular field. There are no negro automobile race drivers at the present time and if I understand correctly, there is a ban against it. I am hot willing to allow my name to be used ir the same race programme as that of Jack Johnson, and if the Indianapolis Motor Speedway management qannot' coiifihe itself to~ automobile racing without bringing a negro barnstorming pugilist, I believe it is time for the white drivers to quit the game on that track.”

Burman, another famous racing motorist, seconded the sentiments of Chevrolet and added: “Never before has such a condition arisen, and I believe that the automobile drivers should feel that President Fisher and other officials of the speedway, in even giving publicity to such a project should be the objects of censure at the hands of white men who make a business of automobile racing. I have heard several others say that they will not appear at Indianapolis in September if Johnson is allowed on the track, and although I won many victories at the last Indianapolis meeting, I shall refuse to be a party to any meeting in which Jack Johnson Or any other coloured driver is allowed to participate.”

Two objecting pilots maintain that the only virtue in Johnson’s automobile driving is. the fact that he puts money in circulation by paying fines

for speeding. They assert that it would be foolhardiness itself to race against Johnson who has no knowledge of the mechanical and of an automobile. They feel it would place him on a par with them—a position which they do not choose to occupy..