eleven o'clock
`` Good idea , '' exclaimed several , with enthusiasm , and forthwith they all donned the special maroon bathing suits that Mr. Herrick had provided for his life guards . But it is hard to tell whether it was the desire to acquire a good coat of tan or the opportunity afforded them to display their rather pretentious bathing suits , that moved them to take this step . However , fifteen minutes later , a group of ten uniformed and more or less self-conscious beach guards were sunning themselves in front of the south station in full view of the thousands of people who were gathering on the board walk to view the races . By eleven o'clock the crowd had increased to a veritable horde . Thousands lined the board walk from the garages to the finish line and hundreds of automobiles were parked in every roadway . Special guards , composed of the local troop of boy scouts with their staffs and a troop of militia from Portland had been detailed to keep the sightseers orderly and in position on the board walk . They were all having their hands full accomplishing the task , however , for the automobile enthusiasts began to get restless as the time for the start of the races drew near .