THE RACE ON WHEELS.
The great race meeting of the California Division League of American Wheelmen, under the auspices of the Bay City Wheelmen, was brought to a most glorious and successful conclusion yesterday afternoon at Central Park.
The day was simply perfection. In fact a more propitious afternoon for racing could not have been desired.
Long before the referee announced the first event the grand stand presented a most animated appearance.
"Standing room only" was posted at the entrance as early as 2 o'clock, and as the hours flew by the crowd grew so large that some of the old ball-players remarked that it reminded them of the good old days when the national game was the great sport of the day.
Bicycling, however, has taken the place of baseball, judging from the great interest the ladies and gentlemen manifested In the races, many of which were well worth going miles to see.
It was thought that several records would go under, as the wind had been kind to the wheelmen and gave the track a wide berth while the races were in progress.
Those, who prophesied that coast records would be lowered were not mistaken, as Foster took a fraction off his own record made on Saturday last, but it was not allowed as the men who clocked him were not official timers.
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| Walter F. Foster |
Ziegler, however, reduced the quartermile coast record and Fox took some figures from off the two-mile coast record.
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| Otto Zeigler, Jr. |
The following is a summary of the day's racing:
The quarter of a mile dash was the first event of the day's racing. In the first heat Upson was the only rider of the four whose names appeared on the list to face the starter. He rode as he pleased and finished in 40 2-5 seconds. In the second heat Wells, Fox and Zeigler were the starters. Zeigler was the first away, with Fox close up. The San Jose lad rode like a good fellow and Fox was unable to catch him. In fact, Ziegler held the two yards advantage he had gained at the start until the finish. The time was 32 4-5; Fox second in 33 1-5 seconds. It was a fast race from start to finish, as Fox compelled Zeigler to exert himself for all that was in him. Zeigler lowered the coast record, held by Burke of Los Angeles, one-fifth of a second.
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| California's Fastest Riders - Foster, Zeigler, Wells, Fox, Alexander, Upson, Bell |
In the third heat Toepke, Hall and Caldwell started. Toepke settled down to business the instant the pistol cracked and was never headed. He won an easy race in 34 3-5 seconds, with Hall second.
The fourth heat was contested by H. Terrill, Rose and Gibson. Gibson got away first, but had not gone more than a lap when Terrill passed him and won by five yards. Time, 33 4-5 seconds, Gibson second.
In the final of tlm quarter-mile dash Zeigler, Terrill, Toepke and Upson started. Zeigler, as usual, cut out the pace, with Toepke right after him. It was fast traveling from start to finish, and as the riders dashed around the elevation leading to the finish Upson put on a great spurt, and in the attempt to get on the outside of his opponents he leaned too far over and his pedal struck the track, sending him sprawling on his face and hands. He was up in a jiffy, however, and throwing his wheel on his shoulders, walked to his dressing-room as if nothing had happened. Zeigler won the race in 33 2-5 seconds, with Toepke a close second.
The half mile handicap race in four heats was one of the grandest features of the day's sport— that is, so far as good riding and close finishes are concerned.
In the first heat Terrill 15 yards, Hamlin 20 yards, Gibson 30 yards, Bennett 40 yards, Sterlina 45 yards and Cupid 55 yards, started. Gibson cut out the pace and kept the lend, with Bennett and Hamlin close up. This order of racing was maintained until the cowbell sounded time for the last lap. Then Hamlin shot to the front and the race home between him and Gibson was unquestionably grand. The former won by about two yards from Gibson in 1 min. 13 2-5 sec.
Second heat— Starters: Foster, scratch; Alexander, 15 yards Rose, 20 yards; W. A. Terrill, 30 yards; Simpson, 35 yards; Brown Jr., 45 yards. Simpson was away first, with Brown and Terrill close behind. This order was not changed until the second lap, when Terrill, who was riding well within himself, spurted and passed Brown and Simpson. Alexander was then seen to shoot from the rear, with Foster close up. The race home, which was sharply contested, was won by Terrill (time, 1 min. 10 3-5 sec), Alexander second, Foster third.
Third heat — Starters: Aylward 20 yards, Battles 40 yards, ` 45 yards, Dilges 40 yards.
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| Some Embryo Champions - Brown, Terrill, Reid, Price, Ready, Battles |
Ready was first to the front, with Dilges close up. Battles tried hard to overhaul the leaders, hut Ready would not be denied first place and won by a wheel's length in 1 min. 10 4-5 sec., Dilges second and Battles third.
Fourth heat — Starters: Zeigler, 10 yards; Bell, 20 yards; T. Q. Hall, 25 yards; Languettin, 30 yards; Cardinet, 35 yards; Day, 45 yards; Marsh, 45 yards.
Day, Marsh and Cardinet held the leading positions for one lap, when Zeigler, who was coming along like a house afire, shot by the leaders, with Hall and Bell pushing their pedals as best they could, hoping to cut down Zeigler's flight of speed. It was of little use, however, for any of Zeigler's competitors to exert themselves, as the San Jose lad kept on going and won by yards to spare in 1 min. 8 4-5 sec, Hall second and Bell third.
The finale of the half-mile championship was a race worthy going many miles to witness. The starters were: Hamlln, 20 yards; Gibson, 30 yards; H. F. Terrill, 15 yards; W. A. Terrill, 30 yards; Alexander, 15 yards; Ready, 45 yards; Dilges, 45 yards; T. Q. Hall, 25 yards; Bell, 20 yards; Foster and Zeigler, scratch.
Of course the great attraction was the scratch men, who eyed each other closely as their competitors in long distance marks were getting into position. Foster representing the Bay Citys and Zeigler the San Jose Road Club.
"Are you ready, gentlemen?" shouted the referee.
All set and bang went the pistol.
Zeigler evidently acting under the advice of friends started off as if he was contesting for a quarter-mile dash. Foster did not allow him to take too much of a lead and rode right after his sturdy little opponent from the Garden City. In the meantime the other riders were digging in for all they were worth, and the race developed into a spurting match after the first lap was passed. Zeigler was actually flying around the curve-s and the San Jose boys were shouting like good fellows.
"Stay with it, Zeigler."
"You've got 'em !"
"Look out for Foster, he's coming right alter you."
Sueh were the expressions heard in the stand and on the track as the riders went flying by the large and excited gathering on the grand stand.
Foster was rapidly gaining on Zeigler, and all eyes were fastened on the two scratch men when somebody at the upper end of the track shouted: "Look out for Terrill!"
Sure enough, W. A. Terrill and his yellow sash was seen shooting through the scratchers, and in a second or so he was up with the leaders.
Then the racing commenced in earnest. Every one was excited. The ladies in the grand stand rose from their seats and waved handkerchiefs and fans.
On came the flyers, with Terrill rapidly cutting down Ready's lead. Foster was bent over his wheel and racing for all that was in him. Closer and closer to the finish they came; finally Terrill passed Ready, and, to the great surprise of all spectators, Alexander came out from the rut, to use a turf expression, and beat Ready over the finishing line, with Foster a very close fourth. The race was won by W. A. Terrill in 1 min. 9 4-5 sec.
Two gentlemen, not official timers, caught Foster's time of start and finish, which was 1 min. 10 3-5 sec. This is better by a fraction than the coast record of 1 min. 11 sec. made by Foster on Saturday last.
The final heats of the two-mile handicap race, which were not finished on Monday, were, next in order.
Fifth heat — Starters: Simpson 165 yards, Battles 200 yards, Dilges 210 yards, Ready 225 yards. The riders were holding an in-and-out race until the seventh lap, when Ready stole a march on his opponents and shot to the front just as the contestants were settling down to spurt over the mound for home. The young Englishman won easily, with Dilges six yards behind at the finish. Time, 5:29 4-5.
Sixth heat— Starters: Rose 70 yards, Aylward 90 yards, Languetin 140 yards, Marsh 200 yards, Thompson 275 yards. Thompson won easily, but the brush for second place between Rose and Languetin was exciting. The former captured the event by about two inches. Time, 5:23 2-5.
Seventh and final heat — Starters: H. F. Terrill, Hamlin, Griffith, Patterson, Hill, Ebenritter, Ready, Dilges. Battles, Foster, Fox, Upson, C. K. Melrose, W. A. Terrill, Thompson and Rose.
When the riders had stationed their wheels on the marks assigned to them by the handicapper, the referee took an elevated position, so that all could plainly hear the crack of the pistol. Fox, as previously stated, refused his handicap and started from the scratch with Foster.
Just as soon as the shot was fired Fox shot away from Foster and cut out a pacte for a record. He was actually flying on wheels and opened a gap of twenty yards on Foster in the first lap. The paice he was going at could not be held long, and after he had completed four laps he showed signs of lagging. Foster, in the meantime, was traveling along at a well-calculated rate of speed. He was gaining rapidly on Fox, notwithstanding the big gap the southern champion had put between him and the Bay City's choice in the first three or lour laps. Fox proved in the sixth lap that he was made of the right stuff, and again shot put in the hope of catching the leader, who had a long handicap on him.
It was a pleasure to see the smoothfaced youngster from the orange groves slide along on his racer, and gradually diminishing tlin distance between him and the leaders. Foster was seen to falter on rounding the slope on the south end of the track, and finally stop riding. It was afterward ascertained that he was fouled by Griffith unintentionally, but, however that may have been, Foster did not protest when the race was over. He certainly could not have defeated Fox. who rode home as fresh as if he had just been out on a practice spin. The last lap of the race was very exciting. Fox had overhauled the leader, and had a gain of three yards after leaving the elevation on the stretch for home.
About thirty yards from the finishing line he looked over his shoulder to see who was next best man, and in an instant Hall of Los Angeles came along under a great burst of speed, passed Fox and won the race by a few inches. It was whispered after the race that Fox intended that Hall should win the contest provided the chances were favorable for so doing. The time was 5 min. 9 3-5 sec. As Fox, who was only defeated by an inch or so, was given the same time as the winner, he now has the honor of being the two-mile champion of the coast, having lowered Olsen's record of 5 min. 24 sec. made at Stockton last year.
One-mile Pacific Coast championship — First heat — Starters: Foster and Rose. Foster led until thirty yards from home, when he was caught napping by Rose, who put on a spurt and defeated Foster for first place by half a foot. According to rules this put Foster on the shelf, which means out of the contest altogether. Some said that Foster did not desire to win, anticipating a hard race with Fox.
Second heat — Starters: Wells and Fox. Fox did the same trick as Foster, and allowed Wells to defeat him at the finish, hut the judges gave a dead heat. Time, 2:51 1-5.
Third heat — Starters: Terrill and Hall. A good race home resulted, and although Hall defeated Terrill by six inches, the judges called it a dead heat. Time, 2:46 4-5 sec.
Final heat — Starters: Rose, Wells, Fox and H. F. Terrill. Fox again showed his great endurance and speed by winning a good race in 2 min. 45 4-5 sec, Wells second.
This ended the excellent tournament, which will long be remembered by the spectators and contestants as being one of the great wheeling features of 1893. The prizes were distributed last evening.
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| A Group of Coming Flyers [The Maltese cross is the emblem of the Bay City Wheelmen. -MF] |
The Bay City Wheelmen gave the visiting wheelmen "a smoker" last evening at the banquet hall in Odd Fellows' building.
Long before the blue smoke of the first pipe or cigar was wafted in the direction of the ceiling the hall was packed with the devotees of the wheel, who chattered merrily and enjoyed themselves in a manner which proved beyond a doubt that, they were out for a good evening's jollification.
During the hours of piping off things in general, several speeches were made by the officers of the league, and congratulations from all quarters of the house were extended to the Bay City Wheelmen for the able manner in which the league meeting was conducted. The clock in the tower of the Odd Fellows' building marked the Hour of midnight when the festivities were brought to a conclusion and the happy gathering dispersed, singing "We won't go home till morning."
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