Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-06-27
new CYCLE TRACK PROPOSED
William Kirk and Frank Tur-
ner Leading the Movement.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY
A Substantial Association
May be Organized.
The wheeimsn of Wilmington without
Proper Place to Train--A Desire to
Have Entire Control of a F1rat-cIass
Course Easily Accessible.

ing the matter of the establishment of
tirst.class track in the city or easily
accessible to it. The best place in the
city at the present time Is at Wawaset
Driving Park, but the main objection Is
that there is no means of reaching it at
the command of the general public.
There are no street cars anywhere near
1t and the only way to get there is 10
walk.
What is desired is a track that is
properly banked and of sufficient width
not to be dangerous for wheelmen, and
also one that Is no higher at one point
than at another. II would not be very
hard matter TO find field on farm
near the city that could be put in just
the desired shape at small expense, but
the desire of those Interested is to secure
place properly fitted up or that can be
fitted up which is accessible for specta-
tors. 1t is thought that such place
would be paying venture, besides being
of great value to the racing contingent
of the local cycling fraternity.
1t Is hoped by those who are agitatlng
the matter that an association can be
formed and place rented and put in
condition before next summer.
At present there is not u suitable place
In Wilmington for bicycle racing, and
consequently record breaking is out Of
the question. AS matter of fact there
Is not track about that is really safe.
There are defects which make the riders
timid. This was never more wildly
demonstrated than at the recent race
meet on the Union street grounds, when
all Of the falls were received at the
same place on the course, and each time
the cause was defects in the track This
was particularly aggravating TO the
visitors and they gave vent to their feel
ings after the sport was over. Most of
the local men were acquainted with the
course, and they were on the alert for
the bad places, which some of them had
previously located. But the Wilmington
boys fell, too, which showed that the
condition of things were very bad.
But the bicycle club is not in the least
to blame. The location is the best that
could be secured foI tho meet, and it is
really the best that is anywhere near the
street cars. Previous to the races assur-
ance was received from the City Rail.
way Co., the owners, that matters would
be put in as good condition as possible
and it is quite likely that the promise
strates more clearly the necessity of a
thorough reconstruction of the place
before it can become useful as bicycle
race course.
But to make good track at the Union
street grounds it would be necessary tc
abolish the baseball diamond there
which, at the present time, is more re-
munerative to the owners than cycling
pA,tII hn I,- 70.
wheelmen would submit to periodical
assessment sufficient to pay the renta
asked.
So it will be seen that there is only
bare possibility of the Union street ath
letlc grounds ever becoming q mode
cycle track, and consequently if vii
nlngton riders want TO secure training
quarters and a place where successful
meets can be given they must find SOM
other place. 1t has been suggested tina
one Of the fields in the vicinity of Union
Park be rented and put in condition, bu
of course the matter is as yet YER
young and nothing is certain as to wha
the outcome will be. However thos
back of the enterprise mean business
and il they can enlist the sympathies o
N enough friends Of the cause they will a
soon as possible have a model track il
or near Wilmington.
William Kirk, captain of the viii
mington Bicycle Club. Frank Turner
chairman of the racing association o
the club, and number of other racin!
men are the originaLOrs of the idea an
they are cndeavnring to work it up to
successful issue.
"Why,we are actually ashamed to hrin
men here who know what good trac
is" Capt Kirk remarked TO a reporte
of THE GAZETTE last Monday. THE
will invariably laugh az any course W
take them to about the city, and some
times il is hard work to get them 10 race
NEARLY every city | know of whic
is OF any Importance at all has a muc
better place for racing than we hay
here; and what is the resnltg The
men are winning races continually an
Our men are making seconds and third
They have q place at home to train an
they make good use Of ii. a good trac
always encourages racing men, an
when they have facilities for trainin
they can 20 away from home niue
more confident than when such facil
ties are denied them,
81 want to see good track here an
If ! and my friends cannot get one
will not be our fault. Weare in earne
about this matter and intcndto push it
Wilmington has lost the prcgtige
used to hold in the cycling world, IN
the main reason, undoubtedly, is til
our men have no proper place To ,r,t
and there is no concerted action amn,
the local racers.
When Wilmington was in TIN -,
,vl,nn Won ~sirL,I,Irz ~, 10 -