The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-29
WILL BE BUILT ON THE MANHAT-
TAN BEACH PLAN.
The Foundation at Kewalo Said to Be
of the Right Sort-An Enduring
Surface Will Be Provided.

The opinion OF those engineers or bi-
cycle riders who are the least bit fa-
miliar with race tracks especially de-
signed for cycle racing are now i'll
cycle park proposition of Mr.. G. S.
Dcsl<y met with favor at mass
meeting of wheelmen the other even
ing, popular enthusiasm over bicycling
has reached a very high pitch.
Those wheelmen whose very hearts
and souls are wrapped up in the new
enterprise have held many consulta-
tions on this subject during the past
couple of days. The consensus of opin-
ion favors track which, when com
pleted, would be like the famous Man
haitian Beach Bicycle course.
The lands in Kewalo addition were
formerly meadows, the water being
supplied by fresh water springs which
are now in the bottom of the new
lake. The soil is the best for track
purposes. The bottom consists of hard
white beach sand beds, separated by
is said, will make an admirable forma-
tion on which to build up a track.
In deciding upon surface for the
track, the new association will profit
by the experience of wheeling asso-
Citations in the States in selecting
most endurable and suitable surface.
At Manhattan beach it was necessary
to get a surface which would be en-
during; resist climatic changes, and,
by its composition and it's top finish,
enable the bicyclist to attain very high
speed. 1t was decided to use artificial
stone four and one-half inches thick,
made of two layers, the lower one
three inches deep, composed of granite
concrete (seven parts granite, one
Portland cement) the stone varying in
size from one-quarter to one-half inch
and the top layer one and one-half
inches thick, composed of two parta
powdered granite, one part sharp pure
sand and one part Portland sand.
Objection has been raised by some OF
the local riders that this surface might
be too smooth and that in case OF
rainy weather would be slippery. II
has been shown that special tools car
be used with the greatest ease tc
roughen the surface to allow tires to
get good grip on the track. EXper
ience on the Manhattan track has
shown that very high speeds have beer
attained even when the track is thor
oughly wet
That the new Honolulu track is tt
be one-third of mile course is par
ticularly fortunate. There was a time
that it was firmly believed by all tha1
the larger the course the better. Ex
perienced riders, however, have sue
ceeded in causing an evolution in thi,
line. They have proved that if a tract
is properly banked on the curves, thu
best results would be attained on {
course one-third mile in length. There
is also very evident difference IN th'
cost of construction, which the organ
izers of the association thoroughly ap
preciate.
An oval track is invariably used fol
cycling. In railway alignment it has
long been recognized that transi
toned curve is much easier to ride
around than circular curve starting
from the tangent. This plan has beer
carried out on the Manhattan beacl
4 track.
The proper arrangement of thu
curves proves of great benefit to al
the riders and is less dangerous. While
an expert rider may be quite at hom'
on a circular track, there is no doub
that the great majority of riders pre-
fer long tangents and gradual curva
ture.
1t has been conservatively estimated
that first class track can be built a
not necessary to borrow the earth t,
form the foundation.
"If the ASSOCIATION is formed ther
is no question but what fast tract
will be built" said a prominent cit
izen this morning, who has deeply in
terested himself in the scheme. "Cycl
ing has come to stay in Honolulu AM
we don't propose to take back sea
in the matter of race tracks. Our boy
shall have the best.'.ot,