The age-herald., 1898-10-05
TEST MADE BY
 THE RACERS Of the New Eight-MiIe Track
 at West End. FAST TIME FOR AMATEURS Everything in Shape for the Opening of the Race Meet Next Monday Some Crack Professionals
 Are Coming to Enter.
FAST TIME FOR AMATEURS

The new eighth-mile bicycle track of the Birmingham Cycle Racng association seems to be complete success, if the time made on it yesterday afternoon is to be taken as an indication. The flooring of the track has not been entirely laid, but there is enough of 1t down to allow splen- did time to be made.
 A number of racing enthusiasts went out from the city to see the test made and there were also a number of people who live in the neghborhood of the track, as- sembled in the grand stands to watch the sport The Roberts brothers, of this city, were present with their tandem to set the pace, and Ped Hickman, Joe Riddle and Seap Harvill were to follow 1t.
 The tandem started half way around the track with the riders following close be- hind it. They arrived at the start at a break neck speed and away the bunch flew. When they struck the first curve the crowd present, very few of whom had ever seen any fast time before, almost gasped, for the wheels were running almost parallel with the ground and were going like mad.
 The Roberts boys, who by the way, are as good if not better than any other tam dem team >in the state, put all their ergy into the pedals and their machine fairly flew. The boys behind, however kept up with the pace remarkably well and only one of them was left behind.
 The bunch covered seven laps of the mile in 1:59, and had they completed the mile at the same pace, they would have had time of 2:12. Consde the fact that oft ba r,oan nd boV bad but little experience in riding on highly banked track, this time is doing remark ably well. There will be practice riding every afternoon from now until next Mon day, when the opening races will be held. A large number of wheelmen go out from the city every afternoon to see "how it feels to ride around.
 The management Is getting more and more crack riders to participate in the opening races, and from all indications, there will be a large number of profes- sionals as well as "rattling good" amateurs here. George E. Quinn, of Memphis, one of the oldest and best known riders in the south, is coming, and with him will be Frank Frain, young rider who has ex- cited great attention in the north. He has once or twice defeated Bald in open races and has ridden many other races that entitle him to recognition as one of the coming riders of the country.
 The following is the programme which has been made out for the two opening nights. In case there are more than six entered for any one race, it will be run in heats.
 FIRST NIGHT, OCTOBER 10.
 
 Race one mile, novice--First prize, value $1O; second prize, value, $7.50; third prize, value, $5.
 Race, two mile, professional, open First prize, $25; second prize, $l5; third prize value, $5.
 SECOND NIGHT, OCTOBER Il.
 Race, two mile open handicap, amateur First prize, value, $15; second prize, value, BIO; third prize, value, $7.50.
 Race, one mile open profess:onal-First prize, s25; second prize, $15; third prize, $5.
 Race, one mile open amateur-First prize, value $25; second prize, value. $l0; third prize, value, $5.
 The amateur prizes will be up to the list. The professional przes will be cash.
 All races will be run under the sanc- ton of the League of American Wheel men.
 Entree fees, 50 cents for theMfirst race and | 25 cents for each additional race Entries | close October IS, at o'clock.