Evening star., 1902-03-31
NILE RECORD BROKEN
Champion Beats Walthour's
Feat by HlSecond.
ON COLISEUM TRACK
TEE THRILLING o MOTOR RACES
STRONGLY POPULAR.
Local Amateurs and Their Ladies
Local Amateurs and Their Ladies
Watched the Work of Cycle
Giants Yesterday.

The worlds mile record on a six-lap
track was broken at the great Coliseum
track yesterday by Albert Champion, the
daring French motorcycle follower, and
new standard. though unofficial, was estab-
lished. He went the six laps In the loco
motive speed of 1:25 4-5, or just one Sec
ond faster than Walthour's time on the
same track last year.
The perfect. day brought a great throng
of cycle enthusiasts out to witness the
training as Manager Osgood courteousiy
admits gentlemen and ladies at this time
without charge. There were many there,
ALSO who had never seen Coliseum track
before. and they We're astonished by the
great bowl-shaped, board-rbbcd track with
ends as steep as banks and surface as
smooth as asphalt. The large number Of
these visitors, and it Is increasing daily, is
the best indication of the boom in cycle
racing that has been started so effectively
by the Coliseum 8 new manager. The great
amuSement-loving. public is being walked
up to the fact that motorcycle racing is
the most dangerous and thrilling outdoor
sport and amusement there is, and trapeZe
and bar acts in the circus pale into in
significance beside the very evident peril
of a nervy rider on a cycle run by motor
with lightning-like speed Even base ball
and horse racing seem harmless. Innocent
games when one hears the thrilling ''choo
choo' Of the motor cycles as they dash
round and round a track. No other sport
today approa ches it in this respect, and
therefore, it is that when any one once
sees a motor race or a race by bicyclistS
behind motors he becomes addicted to the
exhilarating sport with degree of tenac-
ity exceeding that of the average base ball
fan or foot ball ''rooter."
Like Lion Tanner.
Champion is just the rider to compel ap
plause and check respiration. He has the
nerve of a lion tanner. and yesterday the
sun fired his blood with new ardor. More
over, the arrival Saturday of Freddie Vet
ter and Oscar Julius. the famous motor
riders, suggested to him the possibility that
a worlds racing record might be broken if
Vetter made the pace for him. Accordingly,
yesterday morning Champion and Hall,
with Mr.. Eckhardt.. their manager: De
Rozier, Vetter and Julius repaired to the
Coliseum ready for q phenomenal dash
against time The famous motor tandem
49, that was used in Paris last summer
was brought out and Vetter and De Ro-
zier mounted and sped away. followed by
ChampiAse- on his wheel Mr.. Eckhardt
and 50 al local riders held their watches.
The trio were told ITO do ten miles and
they started in at terrific gait. The first
mile was reeled off in i :3S time. the second
by little the motors speed was increased,
the "choo choo" grew louder and louder,
and when the tenth mile began the motor
men were riding ahead as if on a locomo-
tive, and Champion. his. legs going like
piston rods, followed on his wheel within
an inch of the tandeHass rear wheel -
'a The Excitement.
Talk about excitement. The crowd of
spectators We're almost auaking with en-
thusfasm and fear as the nervy riders
whizzed round and round. The last lap
or sixth of mile was done in thirteen
seconds. the whole mile in 1:254s. and an
unofficial new worlds record established.
The time of the last lap showed that Cham
pion was then going at rs gait, and had
he gone another mile there Is no doubt that
he would have finished even faster than
1:25A He declares his purpose to ride the
mile in % or :2} before the week is out.
Many OF Washingtons foremost amateur,
riders were at the Coliseum yesterday to
arrange for training and entry for the big
events that are soon to be given. More
pleasing still was the news that Fred
Schade. Frank Hutchings and other flyers
of some time ago are going to re-enter the
lists at the Coliseum this spring. Mr.. Os-
good will be at the track from to pm.
every day to meet the local wheelmen. and
Tuesday evening he expects to meet the
Arlington Wheelmen at Carroll Institute
Hall and put himself and the Coliseum on
close terms of friendship with the popular
and thriving club. complimentary meet
in the near future Is also under considera-
tion.