Evening star., 1901-05-11
Pushing the Work at the Coliseum
Park Track.
Two OF THE CRACK CYCLISTS HERE
Manager Manning Strengthening
the Local Team.
NEW OUTFIELDER SIGNED

Work on the new Coliseum Bicycle Park
track has been somewhat delayed during the
past few days by rain, but whenever oppor-
tunity afforded the carpenters went to
| work, with the result that fully three
fourths of the course has been completed.
About two days more of good weather and
the track will be finished, and with it the
additional stands intended for both the
right and left sides of the course.
Harry Elkes, the champion of the world,
has been at the track this week, and so
anxious has he been to get into racing
condition that he has been spinning around
the partially constructed track at an al
most minute gait. After the carpenters
knock off work for the day Elkes and his
little party so to work clearing away the
debris and then for an hour the great
rider goes around the bowl at top-notch
speed. 1t is a dangerous task, as there is
no lower course to the track and the upper
parts have not been finished, but ElkeS is
a nervy lad and perfectly willing to take
all sorts of chances in order to train down
to racing weight.
Arrival of TayIOUre.
Edouard Tayloure arrived in Washington
this morning with Mr.. klosterman of Bal
timore and he too will go into training at
the Coliseum track tomorrow. Tayloure
is the champion of Europe and entitled to
an exceptionally brilliant rider and has
many admirers who believe he is the equal
OF Jimmy Michael or Henry Elkes. Mr.
klosterman is the managing director of
the three tracks, embracing this city Bal
timore and Philadelphia, and says he will
be enabled to present all the stars of the
racing world during the season on his trio
of tracks.
champion, Jimmy Michael, will arrive in
Washington and join Elkes and Tayloure in
training at the Coliseum track. This trio
is undoubtedly the best in the racing world
Michael, while champion. defeated every
body in Europe and this country with the
exception of Elkes. The latter had per-
formed the same feat, and when the two
met last December at the Madison Square
track, New York. Eikes defeated he little
'Welch Rabbit by a very narrow margin
Tayloure is the best rider in Europe, hav-
ing swept the boards at all the tracks
where he has been a competitor, and is
still confident that he can win from either
ElkeS Michael.
All of next week the men will be in train
ing at Coliseum Park. East Capitol and
l2th streets, and as no admission will be
charged it is more than likely that large
numbers will be in attendance watching
the work at every opportunity Should
the weather be favorable tomorrow EIkes
and Tayloure will take spins on the track
In the afternoon from 3 to o'clock and
these exhibitions are open to the public. |
BOth these riders have motorcycles at the
park, and the way they spin around the
bowl track is stirring sight to see
Mr.. Elkes, in speaking about the track
this morning to Evening Star reporter
said that he considered it undoubtedly the
best In the country. 1t has been construct
ed with mathematical accuracy. and he
says the riders will have the greatest con-
fdence in making the turns, knowing their
comfort and safety have been looked after
as well as the patrons convenience.
When EIkes and Michael Met
When Ekes and Michael met in New
York December % the former came out
victor by one and three fourths laps in a |
cred in % minutes 3 % seconds The |
New York Herald at the time said:
"It required only such a victory as this
to stamp ElheS the most marvellous
cycle rider present in competition With
in a fortnight he has demonstrated HIM
self to be among the strongest of endllr-
auce riders, the fastest Of sprint riders
and the greatest of middle distance pace
followers. His record is one never attained
by any other cyclist in the annals of the
sport.
From start to finish Elkes had his match
with Michael well in hand, and he crossed
the line with something up his sleeve.
From first to last he followed but one ma
chine two and three-qUarter horse power
gasoline tandem while four times the
Welshman found it eXpedient to change his
Eacemakers
"On the part of both principals the riding
was flawlesS. Never skip or a break
made ElkeS and never miss made Mi
chael. The latter trailed his putting mo-
tors closely and beautifully as he had
ever done in his life, but never before had
he been called upon to match the speed of
50 formidable an opponent"