Page 79 - 2003 DT 12 Issues

Auto Race, continued from page 1 each lap as the cars flashed by him. This Answers to Quiz
showed the Pierce had won by a clean five
seconds . . . . 7-F, 8-F, 9-T, 10-T.
Buick locked its gears before going half “It is certainly unfortunate that such ANSWERS: 1-T, 2-F, 3-T, 4-F, 5-T, 6-T,
a mile and was out. The Oldsmobile, an unpleasant occurrance [sic] should
driven by Horace Barnes, lost its gas tank have marred what was otherwise a grand About those “False” answers: 2: It’s
somewhere on the road, after making the two days entertainment. Goodsprings has Mt. Whitney; 4: David Douglas named
first lap in good time . . . The big red de- been looking forward to this celebration, the Ponderosa Pine. The Douglas Fir is
mon, owned and driven by Charles 0. and spent money lavishly in getting its cars named after him; 7: The roots are only
Spencer, made the race of the day. It was in condition and in training its drill teams, 4 to 5 feet deep; 8: The term refers to
the first time on record that a Pierce-Arrow all in anticipation of having a grand old the erosion of granite.
participated in a race hear [sic] abouts good time. The intention of the affair was So you got eight or more right, you
(and) brought a storm of applause from a get-acquainted-with-each-other idea, stand tall . . . like the Sequoias. Five to
the crowd. It cut curves as perfectly and and the purpose is a splendid one. How- seven means you belong in the Sierra
with less inflection ever, it is to be Nevada. Four and under . . . you don’t
than many of the “The decision rendered by hoped that with the belong anywhere. Maybe New Jersey.
smaller cars; it spirit of good sports-
picked up its speed the judges had the distinct manship we’ll not
after rounding the odor of Limberger . . .” be at odds.”
curves as if it were The Goodsprings Gazette’s hopes Desert Trumpet
struck with a whip, and thundered down were grudgingly realized. By Decoration ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
the straightaways as if it were shot out of Day, auto racing and betting resumed in Editor
a canon. It was a perfect drive, and the the valley, although presumably with fewer Barbara Wolin
crowd conceded that the Pierce-Arrow judges from Las Vegas. In time, the wise
Contributing Writers
had won the race. guys of Las Vegas dominated the valley
“The decision rendered by the judges as Goodsprings and working-stiff towns Louis C. Kleber
had the distinct odor of Limberger [sic]. receded into mists of nostalgia. One thing Jack Ryan
The eager anxious crowd, with thousands never changed. Our love affair with the Tom Pfaendler
of dollars bet upon the results, demanded automobile. We’re still racing down end- H. Dan Wray
a decision. The timekeepers could not less highways and pursuing unexplored Publishers
decide whether their stop-watches [sic], horizons. But we’ve lost the awe these
which they had probably bought by the miraculous machines had for our grand- Norm Kresge
peck, were keeping the time right or not. parents. Some of that lost wonderment is Barbara Wolin
It was 2:30 in the afternoon, three hours caught in this excerpt from the Beatty
after the race, before they rendered their Bullfrog Miner, June 10, 1905: The Desert Trumpet is published
monthly by and for FORRC members.
decision. In the meantime they had the “Day and night the noisy devil car Statements, opinions and points of view
watches assayed by a jeweler (and a winds its way over the sands from Gold- expressed by writers are their own and do
couple of drinks) and decided the race on field, Las Vegas and other camps to Beatty, not necessarily reflect those of FORRC.
Please submit all articles, photos and art-
the time they originally guessed at. This where it drinks at the wells like a famished work NLT the15th of each month by
put the Dodge first, the Pierce-Arrow sec- monster. That cloud of dust in the distance calling 515-5350. If you are interested in
ond and the Mercer third. may be a simple whirlwind, or in it may becoming part of the Desert Trumpet staff,
“To say that the Goodsprings contin- be concealed the snorting auto and half a contact Editor at 256-8043 or FORRC
News @cox.net
gent was sore is expressing it mildly. Many dozen dusty, goggle-eyed passengers.” ; FORRC is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) or-
individual timekeepers, disinterested per- ganization dedicated solely to the welfare
of the Red Rock Canyon National Con-
sons, were interviewed, and they all
servation Area. FORRC provides
uanimously [sic] agreed that the time of volunteers and funding for projects in-
the Pierce-Arrow was the fastest. L.F. cluding environmental education, teacher
workshops, natural resource protection,
Riley kept the only score sheet that was
cultural resource monitoring, hike pro-
found on the grounds, registering time of grams and other services. Annual
individual membership is $10.00. General
meetings are held four times a year; Board
“The mission of Friends of Red Rock Canyon is to meetings are held on the second Tuesday
support the Bureau of Land Management in the of each month at Sahara West Library un-
less otherwise posted. Messages may
protection and enrichment of the Red Rock Canyon be left at 255-8743. Visit our website at
National Conservation Area.” www.friendsofredrockcanyon.org

FORRC/October 2003 Page 7