THE INTERNATIONAL LIGHT CAR RACE of the Automobile Club of America
Held on November 25, 1908, this race was later divided into two classes - a small car class, called the Tiedeman
Trophy and a larger car class known as the Savannah Challenge. The drivers and cars were:
Connors
SPO
Hilliard
Lancia
Bergdoll
Chalmers
Cameron
Cameron
Poole
Isotta
Burman
Buick
See
Maxwell
Lorimer
Chalmers
Jeffers
Buick
Munweiler Maxwell
Hearne Buick
Costello Maxwell
Burns Chalmers
Easter Buick
Kelsey Maxwell
The Buicks , driven by "Wild" Bob Burman, Hearne and Easter put on a great racing performance.
Burman led much of the race, but was delayed by a missing part and fell 11 minutes behind the race leader, Hilliard driving
a Lancia. Hearne also gave the crowd quite a thrill battling with Lorimer in his Chalmers, and exchanging third
and fourth position several times. Hilliard won the race with a purse of $500, averaging 52.59 mph over the 196
miles. It was believed that the Buicks had the top performing cars at the event, and certainly they were a
crowd favorite.
The Tiedeman Trophy
1910 and 1911,
sponsored by Mayor George Tiedeman of Savannah, Georgia.
1910:
This race was first run as the small car division
of the International Light Car race, along with the Savannah Challenge Trophy. The first winner of the
race was Billy Knipper, second place was Frank Witt in an E.M.F and Costello driving a Maxwell placed third. Fourth and Fifth
place were also secured by Maxwell drivers, Wright and Doorley. Knipper drove a Lancia and had an average speed of 58.44 mph,
driving a total distance of 190.3 miles. Knipper’s fastest time was 17.3 miles in 17 minutes and
20 seconds. The victor won a prize of $1000.00 Drivers Cohen, Endicott and Knight did not finish
due to mechanical failures.
1911:
This race
was November 27, 1911 and was 10 laps on a 17.14 mile course. The drivers competing were Witt, Evans
and Tower in an E.M.F., Kulick in a Ford, Roberts and Hartman in Abbott-Detroits. Witt won the race with
a time of 171.40 in 2 hours, 56 minutes, 23.34 seconds. His average speed was 58.10 mph. Evans
placed second, with Tower in third and Kulick in fourth. Roberts and Hartman did not finish their Abbott-Detroits
due to mechanical failures.
The Savannah Challenge - 1910 and 1911
1910 Race
This
race was 16 laps on a 17.3 mile course for a total of 276.8 miles. The cars and drivers were:
31 H. Hughes Falcar
32 L. Heineman
Marmon
33 W. Roebling Mercer
35
F. Gelnau Falcar
36 J.E. Dawson
Marmon
37 W.H. Pierce Falcar
Dawson
won the race, driving the entire 276.8 miles with no pit stops. It took him 4 hours, 23 minutes and 39 seconds.
His average speed was 62.92 mph. Second place went to Savannah's own Washington Roebling - of whom the present day
Roebling Road race track is named. Roebling tragically died on the Titanic several years later. Hughes finished
third in the Falcar and Heinemann in the Marmon finished fourth.
1911 Race
This race was 13 laps on a 17.14 mile course,
for a total distance of 222.82 miles. The cars and drivers were:
22 Hughes
Mercer
21 Heinemann Marmon
25
Nikrent Marmon
24
Barnes Mercer
23 Buckley
Case
27 Knipper Mercer
26 Disbrow Case
The
crowd favorite, Hughes, won the Savannah Challenge in his Mercer with a time of 3 hours, 15 minutes and 37 seconds.
His average speed was 70 mph. Heineman came in second place in the Marmon while the other Marmon driven by Nickrent
placed third. Barnes and Buckley were one lap down, placing fourth and fifth respectively.
