Show nn Sports Mirror By JOHN MOONEY Telegram Sports Editor In line with the presidents president's recommendation that all sports receive additional stress during wartime the promoters of the midget auto races are going all out this spring to promote a better bet bet- ter more thrilling racing season than ever before The doodlebug doodlebug- sport which has has' grown from a seasonal ticket ticket ticket tick tick- et sale in 1940 to a admission admission admission sion business last year expects its greatest boom this season accordIng according according accord accord- ing to Tom Ralphs and Jerry Cannon Tire shortages will not affect the local midget drivers the track officials believe since 1 most of the bO boys 8 have ha a a. good supply of rubber on on hand al already already at- at ready and 2 the closing of several doodlebug circuits has pla plated placed ed a a. quantity of used tires on the market Already 28 cars have ha been checked over over In Iii the city and a a. definite starting field of at least 18 buggies is expected for the first races which will be May 17 In an effort to make the available available available avail avail- able rubber stretch as far as possible possible possible pos pos- sible though the midget moguls plan to have the boys drive only once a week on Sunday nights This will not conflict with any other sports events and will give the workers who have to labor on week nights a chance for some relaxation the promoters believe Only three of last years year's headliners headliners headliners head- head liners will be missing when the season starts Mike Julian having joined the air all corps and Harold Adair and Billy the navy I I The promoters are busy getting getting getting get get- ting the track In shape by resurfacing resurfacing re re- re- re surfacing the bad spots They plan this year rear to surface an ad ad- five fl feet on each of the curves to allow for more speed An electric eye timer used for the first time at the big Invitation In meet late in the season sea- sea son lion will be a regular part of the track equipment this year ear making It possible to get correct timing with the light beam across ss the track Among the popular boys who'll be back this year will be Ray Vinegar Winegar winner of the western Invitation championship meet Wimpy Patterson Howard and Stan Rock Johnny Smith Claire I Stevenson Ray Decker Ross Willis Lou Frew Erne Erne Booker Booker I Johnny and Bus Tib Tib- betts Winegar and Patterson are working at Hill field while Howard Howard Howard How How- ard Rock Smith Stevenson Decker and Willis are employed at Remington Smith a veteran driver on west coast tracks will pilot th the car in which Harold Adair copped the local midget sweepstakes sweep stakes honors last season Midget tires are not good for anything except midgets since they are manufactured with one edge about a a. half Inch higher to allow for continued sliding and skidding on the corners comers The midgets midget are going to keep em flying this year ear at the fair fairgrounds track and possibly a hundred thousand Salt Lakers I will vill trek through the turnstiles to W watch the bugs roar by In case youve you've wondered at the fielding and batting improvement of Manager Andy Harrington of the he Salt Lake Bees this year blame it on the war Yep Andy worked in the shipyards shipyards shipyards ship ship- yards all winter and then spent many of the evenings after December December December De De- De- De cember 7 patrolling his beat as asan asan asan an air raid warden I Mrs Harrington says Sure it was nice to have Andy helping I out but when that first blackout hit lit the coast and Andy had to leave us to go out on the streets we didn't think so much of it especially when unidentified aircraft aircraft air air- craft were reported flying over over- head over over-I A question comes from A. A J. J D. D I which may prove of Interest He lIe wants to know who was the most valuable player In the American league In 1937 Since several eral calls have been received on this matter well we'll list the entire bunch of most valuable pla players ers for the two leagues and let you take your pick Year National American 1929 None Simmons 1930 Terry Cronin 1931 Klein mein Gehrig 1932 Klein Foxx 1933 Hubbell Foxx 1934 Dizzy Dean Gehrig 1935 Vaughan Greenberg 1936 Hubbell Gehrig I 1937 Medwick Gehringer 1938 Lombardi Foxx 1939 Walters Waiters 1940 F. F McCormIck Greenberg 1941 Camilli H. H F. F Hank Russell local representative representative rep rep- of the U US S G A Is no little perturbed that only one entry has been received from this area for the Hale America open Most of the money taken in at this great tournament will go to Navy Relief and U S 0 O funds and the entry fee is 5 5 Entries must be in New YorkI York by May 13 so some of the local stars had best get a move on |