The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-05-17
CLASSIC |LLbURN-
IRV|NGT0N CYCLE
RACE CALLED OFF
Manufacturers Lack of En-
fhnsiasm Causes Dropping
of Annual Contest.
THOUSANDS LOOKED
w TO EVENT
Race for Twenty Years Was
Witnessed by Large
Throngs.

After twenty years Of uninterrupted
success, during which 1t has won fame
as n of the greatest long distance
amateur annual cycling events Of the
country, the historic Irvington-M Mill
burn twenty-five mile road race is to
be discontinued this year.
The board Of managers of the Bay
view Wheelmen, under whose auspices
this big sporting event has been held
for the past five years, advance as the
eason for this action, lack of support
on the part of manufacturers who con-
tributed prizes.- at the last two races.
This loss of interest in the event has
made it a financial failure, say men,
bers Of the race committee Of the
cycling club. The dis~continuance Of the
race will be regretted by many, and
the announcement will interest thou
sands who recall the early days of the
great event.
Since it was a strictly amateur event
the promoters of the race have de-
pended on the entry fees to defray the
expense incident to the race and upon
manufacturers for the prizes. The pass
ing of the bicycle and the consolidation
of the firms making it has destroyed
that feeling of rivalry which caused
prominent manufacturers to expend
much none in exploiting their particu-
lar wheels at the race.
Many D~isappointed.
The announcement of the discontinue
ance of the race will cause genuine dis
appointment among those old timers
who saw the first one run twenty-one
xro1x- o,1 l2-1 ~o-I- "a -
be along the course at all of the other
The event was originally in
stituted by the League of American
Wheelmen before the advent of the
safety bicycle. The start Of the race
was made midway between Irvington-
and Millburn.
AT the crack of the starters pistol
the small army of cyclers from every
part of tine country started of toward
Irvington. Round a fiagpole in that
town they circled and back to Mill
burma distance Of FIVE miles. The
round trip from Irvington to Millburn
was taken twice and the race ended
where it had started midway between
the two towns.
Thousands of spectators were an
nually attracted to the neighborhood
OF the course and the outside trees in
the plot of woods near the starting and
finishing lines was always black with
people.
Other vantage points along the course
were preempted hours before the race
was to start. and the greatest enthusi-
assn prevailed while it was being run
off. In the time of the old Ordinary |
and star one with the big WHEEL in
and the other with it behind, nu-
merous headers, and rear-backs al
ways added much to the excitement
and pleasure of the day from the stand
point of the spectator.
Five years ago, when 1t had become
thoroughly established as a great ma
tional event, the race was taken over
by the Bay View Wheelmen and pro-
by them until the present year.
A striking evidence that contesting
themselves have not lost in
terest for the race last year. 1t was
won by George Lockner. of Syracuse.
New York, who, with a 415-minute
Of the big field. w. r.. Stroud, of
Philadelphia, who sarted from the g.
minute mark while finishing fourth,
captured the time prize. negotiating
the twenty-five miles in l hour 10 min
utes and 81 3-5 seconds
1t is believed hat other interests. UNI
to see this big historic event
lie, will undertake the promotion Of
the race this year, or at least attempt
to revive it next year. Friends Of the
point out that interest In cycling
races has survived in Newark to that
remarkable extent wher the city is now
he Mecca of professional cyclists, and
amateurs should have this annual