The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-07
TAYLOR AT HOME.
Fresh From His Won.
derful Chicago
Performance.
CYCLONE OF THE CYCLE PATH.
Proposes to Make Re-
cord for One Mile
Straightaway.
CYCLONE OF THE CYCLE PATH.

and % 2-5 seconds.
Major Taylor beat the worlds rec
ord So seconds, which in these days
of shading down a fifth of a second at
time, denotes what wonderful per
Torrance the cyclone of the cycle path
did
He has been trying for several days
to cut under the best previous mark,
which was 1 minute and Is seconds,
made by Eddie McDufle, the Boston
rider, who has lowered his colors to
Major Taylor more than once and who
has no desire to meet the flying wonder
on the cycle path.
The performance of Major Taylor far
excels that of McDufTie. The latter
used wind shields and was as well pro-
tected as was mile-a-minute Murphy
when he rode. Major Taylor used no
shield of any sort. He got out behind
his steam motorcycle and chased It
around faster than any rider ever went
under similar conditions. Not only
that, but the doughty rider could not
get pace fast enough. If any other
rider goes faster than Major Taylor
did, the latter will go out again, and
there can be no doubt of the outcome.
MdJOi 4dylOT D6dJ out the motor
cycle which paced him. Going at that
tremendous speed, he jumped the
motorcycle on the home stretch and
came home abreast of it, in the wonder
full time. Any other rider would not
dare leave the protecting offices of the
motorcycle even for second going
at that speed. But Major Taylor had
more speed in him than the fast- going
motorcycle had taken out, and he
jumped 1t on the finish.
He rode under adverse conditions.
His manager, Birdie" Munger, was
one Of the men on the motor cycle,
which carries two. AS they crossed the
tape on flying start and going at a
terrific clip the men on the motor cycle
opened up full pressure and it jumped
the rider at the start. He was fully a
yaEd away, where he could not get the
benefit Of the pace. He plugged along
manfully, however, remaining a yard
away for the first quarter, and trying
his best to close up, for he knew that
unless he got close his chances were
ruined. At the end of the first quarter
he caught the pace, and from that out
it was easy for him.
He went the first quarter in 20 II
seconds. The second was even faster
being done in 10 LIS seconds, making the
first half 80 2-5 seconds, the fastest hall
ever ridden. That clip meant doing the
full mile in I'm. Is 4-5s. The motor
slowed down on the last half, and, as il
to disconcert the plucky rider, the mo-
| tors water pipe broke away and stood
out at right angles for the last three
eighths of mile. The third quarter
was done in 20 1-5 seconds, the same az
the first quarter, giving him 50 3-5 sec.
onds for the three-quarters. A triplet
ar the Ia eff niohfh DIV 10
him to the finish in case anything hap
pened to the motor, but the latter
stayed up and Major Taylor followed
it. The attempt of the triplet to come
in caused him to swerye and interfered
with him slightly.
On his return to this city Saturday
he was seen by The Spy man in relation
to his successful trial. He said the
only difficulty he had was on the first
quarter, when the motor was let out too
suddenly as 1t bounced across the
starting line. He said he has tried
nearly every day since he left Worces-
ter for the record, except two days,
when he took a run over to OttumWa,
Ia. and won the l.. A. w. champion
ship. But every time he tried the mo-
tor failed in some spot. One defect
would be remedied and the motor ap-
parently made all right, and out they
would go for a trial. But just as sure
as they came down to the finish the
motor would give out in some other
place.
He says If anybody breaks the rec
ord, he will get after it again, and he
will lower it several seconds. He
knows he can do 1t easily. He said he
wanted more pace ON the last half, but
could not get it. He thinks the motor
is in good shape now, and will carry
him around all right any time he wishes
to try.
He rode 121 Sager gear wheel. He
was under orders from the manufac-
turers of the Sager gear to stay at Chi
cago until he made the record. They
wanted the mark for their gear, and
they got it because they had the Wor-
cester wonder to ride it for them.
Racing at Ottumwa relieves him of
any danger of suspension. He did not
attend the first meet held in that city,
on account of the orders of the Sager
gear people to ride in Chicago for the
record. He did not intend to attend
the second meet in Ottumwa, but his
motor was broken, and while it was
being repaired he went over to Iowa
He won two firsts there, including the
L. A. w. championship.
Maj. Taylor intends to make the rec
ord for the one-mile straightaway on
the road. He does not intend to fol-
low the precedent laid down by Char
lie Murphy, and ride behind a box car
and engine, although he thinks he could
ride as fast as Murphy did But he
wants the straightaway record on the
road, and it won't surprise him at all
If he covers the distance almost as fast
as Murphy rode behind the train. Maj.
Taylor says he will go as fast as the
machine will carry him, and he won't
use any wind shields either.
His performance is much superior to
that Of McDuffie, not taking into con-
sideration that he reduced McDuff1e's
mark over five seconds McDuffie
used wind shields, riding in a sort of
hood. Taylor rode behind a machine
which differs nothing from the ordinary
tandem as far as furnishing pace is
concerned.
He intends to leave for Montreal
today, and will race in the inter-
national championships there. He does
not feel as If he can do himself justice.
He has been riding a 121 gear wheel
for several weeks, and said yesterday
that he would require at least two
weeks to get back the proper sprint.
He thinks he will be just about getting
his sprint when he races at the ma
tional meet In Boston.
He will ride in the open races and
shorter distances at Montreal. and will
double UP with Jim Casey in the tan
dem races. He thinks he and Casey
will win out.
Maj. Taylor says the outlaws are on
the run, and it won't be long until the
victory Of the league is assured. The
riders are not at all satisfied with the
treatment they are receiving, and think
they are getting the worst end of the
deal