The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-12

MANY wHEELMEy WILL WITNESS
MENoRIAL-DAY RACES.
Series of Local Races to he Arranged
for that Day All Headed for This
Cfty-LocnI Men Training.

The indications now point to a crowd Of
several Thousand wheelmen from out Of the
city to attend the Memorial day races. Last
Sunday VIII Kreitenstein, who has the L.
A. ". union run in charge. was in the city.
After consulting with local wheelmen 1t was
decided TO abandon 1t as State union run,
at least so far as giving IL that name is con-
cerned. The reasons for this action are
many 1t was first decided to have the run
Sunday, June T. 1t was thought that, al
though bicycling Is a perfectly innocent
amusement. 1t might cause unfavorabse crit
icism TO bring a crowd of more than two
thousand riders into the city on Sunday.
Memorial day was the next beet day. 1t viii
be on Saturday this year. There was an OBJ
lection to making State run on that day
on account of the fact that there will be race
meets then at several points in the State.
To obviate all this. it was finally decided
that there would be union run as such
under that name, but that every effort would
be made to bring as large a crowd to this
city on Memorial day possible. Terre
Haute expected to turn out large crowd for
the union run, but there viii be races there
on Memorial day. Terre Haute riders do not
expect these races TO draw crowd from any
point east of Brazil. so that 1t viii not inter-
fere much with the Indianapolis crowd.
There ara two or three other places where
races will be held on Memorial day.
The plan is now to advertise series OF 10
cal runs to this city on Memorial day They
win really amount to union State run, but
cannot be advertised as such. for the reason
that the entire State cannot be free to take
part in It. Local consuls OF the L. A. w.
viii be asked to assist in getting up parties
to make the run. While there will be no
regular schedule for the runs. 1t is expected
that those who win come over the same
route will arrange to meet on the way, so
that all from each direction will reach here
at the sane time. 1t is believed that riders
viii come here from all parts of the State
within a radius of seventy-five miles, and
that the total number may reach more than
two thousand.
To accommodate this large number of
wheels. the dealers will be asked to close
their riding schools for the day and use them
for checking the wheels. The most available
schools for the purpose are those of the
Patee, the waverley and the Crescent. The
Outing has a good riding school. but 1t is
not on the first floor and 1t would be in
convenient for use as check room. Hay &
Willis will probably be asked to close it as
q school for the day and allow the use Of the
rooms for receiving visitors OF course the
headquarters will be at the Indianapolis Cy-
Gle Club building, on North Delaware street
It IS believed that not less than eight thou
sand wheelmen will witness the races, be-
sides the thousands who viii look on who are
not riders. The arrangements for the runs
from out of the city will necessitate the
changing the time of the start to about 1890
O'Clock. which win be at a time when many
of the city people viii drive out along the
route to see the riders For more than
mile they VIII have a stretch for start, and
finish over the same course. This will give
an opportunity for thousands to witness the
exciting part without undue crowding.
The prospects for this race are now so
bright that II is proposed to make it an an
nual state event. in which case there would
probably be no other races scheduled for any
other part of the state for that day in the
future. The prize list is already so large that
Il will attract the best riders of the State.
and the course is one OF the best in the West,
making good time certainty.
The local candidates for track honors are
getting In shape for the Memorial day road
races and expect to do some wonders a
month and half hence. From now on the
fair grounds track will be the scene of much
OF the active training. There are no riders
In the city who are training every day. ex-
cept such they may get by a scorch on
some Of the quieter streets during the even
irz. This Is from the fact that there are
no riders here who expect to earn their 1iv-
Ing by riding for bicycles which they cannot
sell give away.
Last Sunday Walter Rfbble, AL Ray, Bert
vlnson. o. b. Mccarty. Rollo Fisher. Sam
Wilson. jr.. VIII Bonheld and Marshall Levy
were at the race track trying to get their
muscles in proper condition to undertake a
scorch OF eighteen miles. the estimated
length of the race course. If to-day Is bright
and dry the fair grounds will again be an at
tractive spot for wheelmen and many OF
them Will try their wind on the track.