Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-27
CHAPPLE TELLS
HOW He TRAINS
YOUNG RIDERS
ParaIyzaton Of Eyes One Of Many
PeriIs Confronting Beginners,
Says Champion Racer,
By Arthur Chapple.
Hampton MotorcycIist Of the World

TT RAINING youngsters in the
art OF flirting with death may
have less complications than
developing a youthful player for big
league service. But in the matter of
caution I fall to see how any mana
ger exercises more caution than
have been forced to use In teaching
various riders.
The most natural thing for a new
man to try to do is to open his ma
chine to its capacity, because he has
heard riders say that they can't stay
on the steep surface unless they are
travelling at least so miles an hour.
Now they probably never rode at
that rate before, and as a result,
when they attain such speed the
muscles in their eyes become mo-
mentarily paralyzed, they lose con-
troll of their machines, take a spill,
and even If they come away alive,
are rarely willing to take crank
at the speed game on the board
tracks.
Must School Nerves.
Consequently, the principal thing
In teaching an aSpirant the tricks or
the game Is to impress upon him not
To try to climb the steep wall until
he has been accustomed to riding a
motor for FIVE miles or more at the
rate of from so TO so miles an hour
without a stop.
This speed can easily be attained
by riding in the crotch" at the bot
tom of the incline. which starts on
a level and gradually runs to the
steep sides of the bowl
In this position a rider schools his
nerves and senses so he can stand
the pace sometimes taking a week
before he can feel at ease while
grinding out miles at from SIS to As
seconds.
Then 1t is comparatively easy to
have a mar cut a few seconds more
off the time for a lap and take the
even banked surface, where riding is
like a straightaway. Nothing less
than so miles an hour will hold that
portion Of the track
This Is the first f5H-s IA the de-
Velopment Of a new rider. Steadi-
ness In following a given line, and
also I'm guiding a motor under chang
ing conditions such as from the bot
tom to the top of the track and back
again, and holding a lap in any par
ticular line by movements OF the
body and not the handle bars are the
next things essential, and then the
rider is ready for spin with anoth-
err man on the track at the same
time.
Learning the Track.
A veteran is sent out and the re-
cruit mounts the surface after him.
rta ri
the newcomer catches him, and then
rides alongside, first on the bottom,
then. dropping back. he comes up on
the outside, letting the beginner take
the lead BY alternating position
several times in this manner the
newcomer becomes accustomed TO
having a motor short distance
away. and also learns how to drop
back or to cross in front of an oppo-
nent without cutting his man or
making too sharp turn, move
which might land him against the
guard rail at the top and cause
spill for both.
When a good round of this is in
dulged in, the veteran slows his mo-
tor, and sends the starter out to gain
"a lap. This Is done so that the be-
ginner may get experience in com
ing into a field and passing man
clear at great speed. The veteran
hugs the pole, on the first occasion,
but moves toward the top each time
he is passed until he is Just far
enough away to let the colt pass
on the outside. This sends him
through an opening that requires IA
steady hand. and teaches him prac-
tically all of the rudiments OF hand
ling a motor and meeting the various
Two veterans are then put on with
the beginner. one on top and an
other on the pole. and after the
youngster has been taught to watch
both men for unusual swerVes OF
their machines he is graduated as a
full fiedged recruit, and ready TO
take up the fight in the open events
Caution Necessary.
Caution is the watchword OF train
ing men in this sport, due to the Sc
robustness of accidents, and the re
suit to the nerve OF the rider II he
escapes physical injury. BY taking
gradual steps in bringing them into
contact with the mysteries of the
game | have been able to school 25
pilots in a skillful manner, where
only their personal improvements
and ability will count in the battle.
OF course some boys never get on
the steep bank at all, because trav-
cling at so miles an hour regularly is
not a thing which every aspirant for
honors can do. But In taking all the
caution first ] am able to develop
the apt pupils and also single out
the failures before they meet with any
accidents, barring always. OF course,
mechanical troubles such as broken
wheels. frames, thrown tires and so
forth which can not possibly be
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