Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-11
THE CIRCUIT RAG e

tSe OF some close and exciting racing, and,
a consequence. the spectators will find
plenty of interesting events the pro-
gram. Last year was the first time the
city was ever included in a circuit meet
There was good attendance of cracks. but
this year will far eclipse the showing Of
last season There will be a much larger
number of racers of national renown who
will compete for the prizes offered. Some
will come a pot hunting expedition,
while the leading cracks will come to keep
up their table of percentages by means of
which the champion of the year will be de-
termined.
Perhaps Arthur A. Zimmerman, once
champion of the country, will attract more
attention than any of the others. AS
racing man Zimmerman has an unprece-
denied history. and after short absence
from the track, the Jersey skeeter but
shortly returned to racing. He will ride
several exhibition events at the circuit
meet, and will also most likely enter some
of the races. He will undoubtedly be
watched with interest He may be has
BEEN, but there is still plenty of speed yet
left in him, and he is likely to surprise
some
Zimmerman is now Twenty-Five years of
age. He joined the professional ranks in
1854, and Immediately sailed for France,
where he covered himself with honors. AT
the time he Joined the professional ranks
II was stated he received a bonus of 10000
In cash for simply relin1uishing his anna
teur status. This sum was paid him by the
promoters of professional racing in France.
which style of racing at that time became
all the rage among the French. The last
year that he was in the amateur ranks
that is, in 1893, he is said to have won up
ward of $4,000 worth of prizes. He was
truly king then. Since 1894 Zimmerman
has done little American work, spending
the time in touring through Europe and
other countries. adding fame to his repu-
tation, and winning prizes by the whole
sale He won the championship of the
world. having defeated all of the cracks of
America. England. France and Australia.
He made friends wherever he went by his
good riding and good fellowship, and when
his determination to return to the track
was made known he received fattering
overtureS to race in France. An illustra-
ton of the esteem in which he is held in
France is evidenced by the fact that an
annual race, known the 'Prix de Zim-
norman" has been established, which
promises to be an event of universal i'm
portance in that country.
In all of his races Zimmerman rode
sixty-eight gear. That was low compared
to the gear of some of his competitors. yet
he always managed to vanQuiSh them.
While his time in racing has been beaten
repeatedly it must be remembered that the
bicycles then in use were not perfected for
the possible speed they are today. The
handlebarS had hardly any drop, and the
weight was extreme. To see him today on
his old machine would be almost a comedy
&c the racing public. Jimmy is described
as being in excellent condition, and it is
expected that for business reasons alone he
will make an extra effort on the tracks in
this country to convince his friends and
admirers that he is far from being has
BEEN He says he intends at first to race
against time with pacemakers, and if he is
satisfied that his muscles are not too old
to compete in the whirl he intends to en-
deavor to hold his own against Bald,
Cooper, kiser and the balance of the push.
He seems to think that he can do this, and
in his three different appearances before
the public this year he has managed to do
some good riding. 1t seems quite certain
that he will go abroad this fall and winter,
and he will endeavor to hold his end up
once again.
AS business man he was not near as
good as a racing man, and the earnings
which have amounted to many thousands
of dollars have all been spent in specula-
ton, with nothing to show for the sum at
the present time. 1t was this thing more
tnan any other fact that caused him to re-
turn TO the track. and the money he thus
makes he calculates upon investing. AS a
writer he has been quite successful. but he
recognizes that more money can be made
If successful in cycle racing than by writ
ing. The following extract from his work
will show his style, and also his common
sense:
The novice must expect certain number
Of falls until he obtains fair amount of
control over Ills machine. but there is no
just reason why others should suffer from
his ignorance. The excuse Il could not
help it, does not particularly allay the
pain of a severe bruise, nor does it pay for
broken wheel A man who is learning to
ride needs more room than can be allotted
to him on a bicycle road. 1t is no place
for him. An academy. a side street the
country will afford him better opportuni-
ty. No amount of talking. however, seems
TO abate this nuisance. and the best plan
when meeting it is to dismount.
To a man who has had fair experience
should he rarif hnt
yet how many good riders are seen upset.
ting other people and occasionally taking
header themselves. / am convinced this
Is due to- careleSSneSs. There Is a certain
class d people who Immediately they learn
the rudiments of any subject think they
know it all. At one step they go from the
foot to the head of the class and attempt
to DO things beyond their capability.
These bicycle clowns great nuisance
and imperil the persons and pleasure of
others besides themselves. You see
them every day on the road riding without
hands on the bars. squirming in and out of
the crowd without regard to road rules. or
plunging ahead blindiy with bent head as
III they were trying to count the particles
of sand l have no pity for this class and
car only advise the sensible riders to give
them a wide berth.
The only cure for carelessness is care.
Common sense will tell you how to avoid a
thousand and one falls If you will only lis
ten to il. If a rider in front begins to wob-
bic. slow up Don't De looking another
Always remember that in turning around
a lot of room is used, and therefore you
liable to be in the way of riders who
are going straight on.
Eddie c. Bald. or Cannon Ball." as he
is nicknamed, is well known to the resi-
dents of this city. He was here last
year, and his style Of racing was enjoyed
by ALL Bald. who was given the cham
pionship OF the cycle path last year, work
ed his way to the top on account of his
wonderful sprint, from which his nick
name is derived He rides careful race.
letting some one else make the pace. gen.
orally. and avoiding as much chances as
possible Of being pocketed. In the last
hundred yards he bends well over his wheel
ana jumps for the tape like a ball shot
from the mouth of cannon. Most of his
races are won in this short distance from
the finish, and he relies entirely upon this
ability TO jump the wheel His style of
racing requires a comparatively low gear,
and the training necessary is said to be
not nearly SO hard for long distance
work. 1t is claimed that in mile with
out pace, he could easily defeat Little