Those Smith Boys Put Over a Good One
They Stage Race in Opposite Directions Around the Goble-Kalama Loop
Buick Against Buick

George W. Dean Responsible for Madhouse Racing Idea That Has Salesmen Running In Circles for Glory

By Lair H. Gregory
The Sunday Oregonian
January 27, 1918

Frank V. Smlth. former carpet buyer for J. G. Mack & Co., sells Buick cars for the Howard Auto Company. And how that lad does hate his driving! D. Montgomery Smith, no relative to Frank, also a salesman for the Howard Auto Company, whose years of cartelling experience number 14, likewise hates himself bitterly for the way he can drive. 

And thereon hangs the yarn now about to be spun of the two confident salesmen, each driving a Buick and hating himself for the easy nonchalance with which he does it, a clash, a challenge, an appeal to Manager George W. Dean to settle the ruction, a proposal, its acceptance and the mad dash those Smith boys made in opposite directions last Sunday around the Portland-Kalama-Goble-Portland loop to settle the question of driving supremacy.

They were going over the prospect lists at the office the other morning, making ready, for a busy day. when Frank V. Smith chanced to remark that while be wasn't strong on this driving through traffic in town, when it came to country driving; he was there, boys, he was there.

How They Talk.

"Oh. yea." retorted D. Montgomery Smith. "for an ex-carpet buyer you drive very well," or words to that effect. "I can drive past you on any road, for all your 14 years' experience," snapped back Frank V. Smith or
words to that effect.

"What!" said D. Montgomery Smith, jumping to his feet.

"Yea. what:" said Frank V. Smith. jumping; to his feet. too.

Hostilities were averted, for Manager Dean came in just then. They put it squarely up to him to say which was the better driver. He side-stepped very neatly, did Mr. Dean. "Boys." he said. "If you really want to settle this, let's settle it right." And then he outlined a little plan. "Next Sunday morning." he explained, "each of you will be here with your car and one observer. You will start from in front of this office promptly at 9am.

"One of you will drive first to Kalama, cross the ferry to Goble, and return that way to Portland. The other will drive first to Goble, cross the ferry to Kalama, and return that way to Portland. Your speed limit will be 35 miles an hour I don't want to be paying any fines, and the first one in wins. Does It go?"

Ah, the Race is On!

It did. It went big. And so it happened that promptly at 9am last Sunday morning, Frank V. Smith in his Buick, with Edward V. Knox, another Buick salesman, as his observer, set out from the Buick dealer at 14th and Couch streets, for Goble. And D. Montgomery equipped also with a competent observer, set out in his Buick for Kalama, via Vancouver. He and his observer watched for D. Montgomery Smith over the whole way back. They recognized the tracks of Smith's car when they were a few miles this side of Kalama. but to their great bewilderment, they did not meet him.

Leaving him and his observer to their bewilderment, follow for a moment D. Montgomery Smith as he plunges on his way through the sticky mud of the Pacific Highway.

Mud Can't Stump Buick.

He found the going fine up to the point where signs directed him to take the detour road to La Center. He put on his chains there, and though the mud was deep, the Buick waded right through it on high. No trouble at all for that sturdy car. Along about Martin's Bluff. D. Montgomery Smith began to watch for Frank V. Smith and his observer, for he had figured thai they would make good time on the Goble run, beat him to the ferry, and pass him a few miles out of Kalama. His own turn to make speed would come after he left Goble.

To their deep bewilderment and perplexity. D. Montgomery Smith and his observer saw and recognized a few miles out of Kalama the tracks of the other car. But they did not pass it. D. Montgomery Smith reached Kalama in 1 hour 52 minutes, which is good, fast time for the road conditions, crossed the ferry with Captain Hoven and was back at Buick headquarters again at 1:20pm sharp. He found awaiting him there Frank V. Smith and his observer, who smilingly swore they had arrived at 1:11pm, nine minutes earlier, or 4 hours 11 minutes for the round trip, to 4 hours 20 minutes for D. Montgomery Smith.

Passed on the Switch.

There was honor enough for both of them in that showing and they shook hands on it. Whereupon, being questioned, Frank V. Smith admitted that he might have exceeded the 35 mile speed limit "just a trifle, perhaps," during moments of excited conjecture over what had become of D. Montgomery Smith. But a Buick won, in any event. Incidentally, they found they had passed within a couple of hundred feet of each other on the one point on the round trip of 84.1 miles that could have done the trick. Just the other side of Martin's Bluff the Pacific Highway forks in a kind of switch formation for 300 or 400 yards.

D. Montgomery Smith took the right hand siding at one end just as Frank V. Smith was taking the right-hand siding at the other end. And they passed each other on the switch.