The times., 1897-03-27
The GREAT SlX-DAY RACE
Many Notable Whcelmen Will Par
ticipate in the Contest.
Hale's Record Likely TO Be Broken.
Convention Hall Track the
Finest In the World.

Preparations for the great six-day bicycle
race to start Monday morning at Conven-
tion Hall are nearly complete, and only the
finishing touches are needed to put every
thing in readiness for the start tomorrow
night. A complete transformation has been
wrought, and those who are familiar with
the great han would hardly recognize it
under its present aspect. For two days
scores of skillful worknien have been busily
building the track. This afternoon 1T will
be complete, and even an inexperienced
eye cannot fail to see that it S a master
piece of its kind. Only ten laps are re-
Qured to MAKE e the mile, and this equals the
track at Madison Square Garden in New
York, which has heretofore been consid-
cred the largest indoor track in the world.
The track laid here for the siX-day ace
which occurred here in the latter part Of
December last, was twelve laps To the
mile, and it was even then considered the
fastest ever built up to that tine. The
present track will undoubtedly surpass
that one for speed, as the straight stretch
is much longer This increased length las
made il possible to decrease the angle of
the slope, so that the outer edge of the
track Oh the stretch Will be raised only
three feet instead of three feet and six
inches, as before. on the turns the angle
will be fully forty-fve degrees, with raise
on the outer edge of eight feet, six inches.
The erection of the structure has been
under the careful supervision of an eX-
perienced civil engineer, and every part
is as near perfect as tits possible to make
it. There will be no ice To chill the
riders and spectators in the last race,
for it has all been removed. The hall
Will De heated to very comfortable
degree, and those who stayed away from
the previous race because Of the chilly
atmosphere, need have no such fear tins
time.
The coming race will be n novelty to
Washington people, as IL will be the first
go-aS- yoL- please race ever held in this part
of the country. The eight-hour per day
contest Of December will be child's play
compared to it, and the interest here will
undoubtedly approach in some measure that
which was aroused by the similar races in
New York and Chicago. The thousands Of
novel sights which the great race will
offer cannot fail TO inspire this interest
Tests Of strength or endurance have
always possessed a peculiar fascination
for most people, and tits admitted that no
modern sport nearly approaches these SIX
day contests as exhibitions Of grit and
staying power. The man who stays in the
saddle the greatest number Of hours viii
be the winner
To break the record made by Teddy
Hale, the Irish champion, more than $40
miles will have TO be covered, As the Con-
vention Hall track is precisely the same
length as that on which Hale broke the
record. there seems TO be no reason why
il should not be equaled or even broken
next week. All the riders are famous for
their endurance, and one OF two are vet
eran six -daymen. Shock, the former holder
of the record, will compete, and he says
he never felt in finer condition. He looks
years younger than he did in the De"em-
Der race, and he viii very likely make the
younger men hustle.
Lawson, the Terrible Swcde," viii be
the most popular man in the race with
the Washington people. His fair riding
in the previous race won him golden
opinions and If he does not come out
ahead IL will not he for lack Of well
wishes. Riviere, the long-histHnce chatn-
pion OF France arrived in town yester-
day. and is in fine condition for the con
test 1t is said he holds all the worlds
records for distances between 100 and
500 miles
johnson. Albert and others are in town,
and are ready for the fray
As the entries do not close until to-
morrow. it is not definitely known just
who all the riders will he, but it is very
likely that there will be fully a dozen
entries. all of them men famous for long
distance riding.
The start will he made tomorrow night
Just at the hour of midnight, so that the
riders may not he Sabbath breakers.
A concert by the Marine Band will be a
popular feature. This will commence at 8
O'Clock and continue until the hour when
the riders start