The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-02
AN AUTO CYCLE RACE.
One Of the Novel Features at the
Coming Fair.

Another novel feature has been added
to the racing events to be held during
exposition week. A purse has been hung
up for two mile auto-cycle race which
is expected to be the fastest event of
the week Auto-cycle racing is popular
on the eastern tracks but this will be
the first time that the new machines
have raced for a purse on the Topeka
track.
L. B. Wyman has charge of this fea-
have a sufficient number of entries to
make the race exciting. The auto
cycles are bicyclists fitted with gasoline
motors. The rider has Onlv to sit on
the wheel and guide it while the motor
does the work The auta-oicycles are
expected to attain a speed from 80 to
40 miles an hour.
The auto race will be an open event
and all the riders will start from the
scratch. AT a racing matinee given re-
Gently at the fair grounds three auto
cycles went a mile to try the track.
The spectators found the race more ex-
citing than a horse race.
The automobiles will vie with the
auto-cycles in making the fastest time.
The Automobile club of Topeka has de-
cided to make display in the quarter
stretch of the race track the day the
automobile race is held The club has
15 members and the owners with their
15 machines will all be in the quarter
around and an exhibition given. Be
fore the race the machines will all be
paraded in front of the grand stand and
around the track and the chaffeurs will
be given an opportunity to show their
ability in handling the autos
j. NJ. Padgett has charge of the auto
mobile races and he expects to have
eight machines in the two mile race. No
more will be allowed to enter as a larg-
er number would add considera BILE dam
ger to the racers. Should a larger num-
ber enter the machines will be classified
and two or more races will be run, the
winners of the different events meet
ing in a final test Il think that from
four to eight machines can race on the
fair grounds track" said Mr.. Padgett.
"a larger number would be dangerous.
There is risk enough in automobile rae
ing. The machines are liable to slip
their tires ON the turns. Such thing
would mean a wreck. The Fair acci-
dent in France was caused by the tire
comingg off one of the rear wheels of the
automobile.
1.-The machines in the race will all be
stripped ready for racing. They will not
carry an ounce of anything that is not
necessary Most of the automobiles are
supposed to have maximum speed of
25 miles an hour. SO the machines will
all be on about the same basis. The
race will not be a handicap but will
be for all to start even. With the ma
chimes SO nearly equal as to speed it
will be the man who handles his auto
mobile the best that will win. There
will be considerable danger on the turns
so the nerviest man and the one who
manages his machine the best will be
likely to win.'
The purse offered for the automobile
race is 500. so it will be worth while
for the chaffeurs to take a little risk to
win. Mr.. Padgett will be in the race
with the automobile he used in making
record run from Junction CITY TO To-
peka Is miles. with four people or
board in seven hours over the sandy
roads. George Burghart will be in the
race with the machine he used in max
ing the run from Horton to Topeka, 81
| miles, in eight hours with two hours
stop. One of the Smith machines, which
made the % mile run from ST. Marys te
| Topeka in three hours, will be entered