The herald., 1895-03-25
THE WHEELMEN

! Wheeldom is already all agog in antici-
patton of the annual occurrence of the
world famous Los Angeles Wheelmen s
Fourth of July Santa Monica road race.
This event has soft spot in the heart
of every wheelman in Southern California,
as it is recognized as the only Single
eveut' fixture not an advertisement of
any wheel or dealer which is run in Cali
fornia. 1t is nobody's picnic, but any
body and everybody's race. There are no
class A nor class B distinctions. Maidens,
novices. cracka-j acks and all ride.
In 1891, its first year, this rae. was won
by W. A, Tufts, in 1:17, with sixteen
starters.
In 1892 by Frank Waller, in :O2 :2S.
with thirty starters.
In 1898 by Pinto Jenkins, in $3.50 4-5
and siXty-four starters.
In 1894 by Emil Ulbricht, in 81 O1, and
100 starters.
The prize list this year will reach over
$1,000, and the promoters are assured of
over POO entries.
G.. Schmidt, Bill Taylor and Herb Nc
Crea, winner OF first place Santa Monica
road race OF 1893, all A men, and Clyde
Washburne, man, will all be members
OF the local Syracuse team this year.
McAleer, Lacy and Miller will constitute
the Stearns local team this season.
Mike Dirnberger and party are now in
tTdlnlnS at IdSO, ana are expected soon
in Los Angeles. Dirnberger is the Syra-
cuse wheels crack racer.
The big May 30 meet here promises to
be the best attended race meet in the his
tory of Los Angeles-many racing men
from other states having already signified
their intention of attending.
Hamilton, the famous Denver road
rider, will be one of the entries of the
Santa Monica road race this year.
Ulbricht and Lacy, of this city, will
represent the Bay City Club in the great
relay race.
1t is rumored that the Southern Pacific.
is planning to put in a third of a mile
new athletic park at Santa Monica on the
ground now occupied by the ostrich farm.
This, if carried out, will give Santa Monica
an additional attraction and one that will
place her prominently before the wheel
men of Southern California and the whole
country.
If this should go through, the much
vexed question of a winter training
gr.und and record breaking track for the
eastern racers will be solved. They will
then have place where they can come
after the summer races in the east are
over and ride for records; also train and
prepare themselves for the next summers 8
circuit This would mean race meets at
intervals during the winter months.
With such track as we are informed
will be built, there is no reason why
Southern California should not be known
to fame as the place where all the world S
bicycle records are held.
We have riders here who could make
records if there was suitable track. At
present there is not track in the state
that could be ridden under two minutes
Last fall we had good team of riders
1.-TWO of whom hold world s records) come
to Los Angeles for the purpose of riding
for records The climate was all that
found on which such re,old riding could
be done.
There is probability that the national
racing circuit will be extended to the
coast and with a first-class track Southern
California will get one of the dates. Think
Of the attraction of Johnson, Tyler, San
ger, Ziegler, Edwards, Dirnberger, Bliss,
etc. Who would net 60 miles to see them?