Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-10

Angeles and the idol of Cali
Il fornia followers of bicycle rae
ing, lowered the honors of the mighty
champion, Ivor Lawson of Boston, yes
terday afternoon in the professional
one-half mile open race at Fiesta park.
1t was a great victory and one fitting
to dedicate the renewal of bicycle rae
ing in California.
Fiesta park opened it's gates yester-
day to a throng of 5000 persons, and the
one who did not feel recompensed for
his journey was no lover of the two
wheeled sport.
For nearly eleven years bicycle rae
ing has been dead in Los Angeles,
and yesterday afternoon a double dedi-
cation was held, that of bicycle racing
and of the new five-lap saucer track at
Fiesta park.
The pick of the greatest cyclists In
the world was present and gave the
spectators an exciting exhibition of how
the two-wheeled cycle is manipulated.
Thirty professional and amateur
sprinters faced the tape, and each race
was contested closely, but the event
that caused the greatest amount of en-
thusasm was the professional tWo-mile
lap race. In this race was Lawson,
the world beater; Walker, the Aus
tralian champion; Giles and Grebs, who
for the first time entered the profess
Thompson, the champion of Santa
Monica.
Thompson Is Favorite
Thompson modestly admitted he re-
membered the first races ever held on
the high wheeled machines, but still be-
lieves he can hold his own with the
present day champions. Thompson
made a good showing and was favor
lite with the crowd. but it was case of
age against youth, and youth won out
in the finish.
The event which furnished the
greatest excitement was the profess
sional ten-mile, motor-paced race, be-
tween w. E. Samuelson and j. Walker,
and Samuelson won by three laps. The
time, IA minutes II 2-5 seconds, speaks
for itself.
The races were run without a hitch
of any kind, and the only thing to mar
the sport was an unavoidable spill IN
the first heat of the amateur, two-m1le
lap race Fourteen racers faced the
starting line, and on the second lap
Smith and Graham collided. Graham
sustained a sprained ankle, but Smith
pluckily resumed his place, and amid
thunderous applause finished third in
the race, despite his handicap.
The fun started with a one-mile
novice race, and the antics Of the young
riders, unacquainted with saucer
track, afforded plenty of amusement.
Gerber Wins HandiIy
In prize fight parlance it was case
of pork and beaners," but S. A. Gerber
outdistanced his field and won handily.
Charles r. Mitchell was second and
James Dewar third. The winners time
was 1926 2-5.
McNiel showed his class in the first
heat of the half mile amateur race,
coming in an easy winner with Bern
jessa and Carroll third.
The first heat of the professional one
half mile open race was easily won by
Williams, with Palmer and Bardgett
second and third respectively
The amateur two-mile lap race fur
nished lots of sport and good racing
and McNiel, by wonderful squirt at
the finish captured the prize.
Smith of Los Angeles came to the
fore in the second heat of the amateur
half-mile race, and Williamson and
Anthony had a close race for second
position, Williamson nosing out the
place.
Ivor Lawson, the world beaten, made
his first appearance in the second neat
of the professional half-mile open race
and was accorded a rousing reception.
Lawson laid low until near the finish
and then electrified the crowd by
wonderful burst of speed, winning the
heat in the time of 1 minute seconds.
Hoffman was second, with Furman
third
Eighteen Riders Start
The event of the day followed in the
professional two-mile lap race, with
eighteen of the best riders in the coun-
try starting.
Lawson was the favorite, and Fur
man, owing to his previous good work,
was looked on as a likely contender.
The little Australian, Walker, was not
considered by the throng, but Grebs
and Giles, who are we'll known anna
tours on the coast, had many follow
ers 1t is the first professional race in
which these riders have participated.
At the start Achorn took the lead,
and before two laps had been recorded
Giles, the New Yorker, retired from the
race.
"Father" Thompson, the champion
of Santa Monica, also found the pace
too warm and returned to his training
quarters.
Grebs made a wonderful squirt and
led the bunch, only to fall to the rear
and retire. Barnett, the Boston sprin-
ter came to the fore and by effective
pedaling took first position. No one was
expecting the break of Walker, but just
before the finish the little speeder tore
down the track and it became a match
between him and Lawson. The finish
was close, but the judges gave the race
to Walker, with Lawson second and
Samuelson third.
Exertion Is Too Great
The final event of the amateur one
half mile race looked like Smith, the
winner of the first heat, all the way.
Smith tried his utmost at the start of
the final, but the eXertion caused him
to drop out. Williamson, Mcneil and
Bernjessa fought a merry race, and
finished in the order named.
The final heat of the professional
half-mile race brought every spectator
to his feet The pick of the racing
world were listed in this event Law
son, owing to the ease with which he
won the second heat, was regarded as
the probable winner.
Furman, the AnCeleno, took the lead