May 21 - The Struggle for Entries

Here are  attachments containing seven articles from the Wednesday, May 21, 1913 Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News desribing interesting developments leading up to the May 30, 1913 Indianapolis 500.
 
While Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials had set the limit for the size of the starting field at 30 cars it was apparent by this time they were not even going to get that many entries. The previous day, May 20, one of the cars entered, the Smada of designer and driver Fred Adams was withdrawn as he came to realize the car simply would not be prepared in time. Other competitors had earlier expressed conern about the driving skills of Adams, a novice driver of limited experience.
 
As for track action the biggest thrills of the day were provided by the Stutz team with drivers Don Herr, Charlie Merz and Gil Anderson dicing throughout a 10-mile dash. Harry Endicott (Nyberg) and Joe Nikrent of Case are called out as two drivers putting in a lot of laps. Other drivers putting in track time were Mercer's Spencer Wishart, the Peugeots of Jules Goux and Paul Zuccarelli as well as Bob Burman and Howdy Wilcox. While not on the track there is a rare mention of Robert Pennebaker whose Stearns-Knight racer was in the garage for tuning.
 
A special highlight of the day was the appearance of the deep blue National race car that won the 1912 Indianapolis 500. Joe Dawson, the man who drove it to victory, took it out for laps as well as his former teammate Johnny Aitken, whose driving career was in hiatus. In perhaps a foreshadowing Goux also hopped behind the wheel to the delight of fans. In a related attachment (NewsGoux052113) we find an image of Goux in the National on the track. One point raised here is that Goux was said to be trying to learn about shock absorbers that he felt were on the car that could help with the tire wear he was experiencing.
 
The article also notes the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Faroux. Charles was a widely respected French journalist lured to the Indianapolis 500 by the enthusiasm of his country over the entry of the Peugeots. Charles Sedwick, general manager of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway met them at Indianapolis' Union Station and hosted them at dinner at the Columbia Club.
 
The attachment, NewsPractice052113, contains an article that also summarizes the practice efforts of the teams with the big difference from the above article being the assertion that Bob Burman in his green Keeton racer turned the fastest lap of the month at over 90 MPH. Another interesting point is that the Peugeot drivers were learning to care for their tires when taking the turns.
 
The attachment NewsCartoon052113 contains an editorial cartoon that again emphasizes the excitement over the European entries for the race. In an attachment related to the item about the National running in exhibition, (NewsGoux052113), we find an image of Goux in the National on the track. One point raised here is that Goux was said to be trying to learn about shock absorbers that he felt were on the car that could help with the tire wear he was experiencing.
 
Attachment NewsStutz052113 offers a dramatic image of the Stutz team practicing as mentioned in the article summary above. Attachment NewsKnipper052113 find an image of the driver the press nicknamed "Prince Billy" Knipper in his Duesenberg engine Henderson racer which is noted for its "elliptical' springs that was said to be the secret to a smoother ride. In the attachment NewsHelmet052113 an article describes the use of a crash helmet worn by Bob Burman among other drivers. Made of leather it was inspired by its use in football and applications for motorcycle racing.