Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-27
RACERS LIFE INTERESTING
Motorcycle Speed Boys Get Much En-
joyment from Game.
CHAPPLE HAS EXPERIENCES
Sometimes He Looked into the Very
Jaws of Death and Escaped
Them By the Narrowest
OF Margins.

NEW YORK, Dec. 2e.--Like many other
popular sports, motorcycle racing devel-
ops many interesting situations and aneo-
dotes that never reach the knowledge and
ears of the general public, says Arthur
Chapple. During my experience OF eight
years in the racing game throughout the
United states many little incidents have
occurred which would bring both tears
and laughter to those of a sentimental
nature.
The first thought OF the average spec
tator at a motorcycle race meet IL the
dangerous character of the profession.
and upon second thought one wonders
why on earth the riders earn their living
trying to end their existence. / am quail
fled to give some inside Information on
the dangers that confront a motorcycle
speed merchant. In nine cases out Of ten
n riders first smashup isn't very serious,
ana this leads him to the belief that the
risk Of fatal injury IL greatly magni-
fled.
High speed an Advantage.
Another element not apparent TO the
spectator Ia the fact that the high speed
attained In racing In to a great extent
an advantage In case OF bad fall. For
instance, the velocity at the time of the
fall will carry the rider through the air
I'm gliding motion. and. providing, of
course. that there are no obstructions. he
hardly Is able TO tell the exact moment
he strikes.
have had some very bad falls,
In which I have piled up on top of three
! other riders and their machines. but tho
only injuries received were collection
of slivers from the track and burns from
the hot motors. To the spectator II
looked as II We were all dead IN a mass
Of jumbled machinery and fire. but can
honestly tell you that We were all busy
trying 70 keep the motors from beating
us 70 tho running board of the track.
There is very little time to shut off the
motor in case OF fall. and the whirling
rear wheel Is a bad thing TO try and hang
on to.
There were several interesting Incl
dents connected with the recent S00-mile
road race at Savannah. One of them in
particular was very amusing During the
latter part OF the event. after a num-
her of serious accidents had put many OF
1.-THE riders out OF the race. II was sud
denly discovered that No q was missing,
and had not passed the timers stand
for come time. Telephone messages
around tho course failed to reveal the
whereabouts of No. e. and there were I'M
mediate rumors that nc had either hit
a tree and was, perhaps, lying at the
roadside unconscious, or had run off one
OF tho numerous curves along the Tybee
and perhaps had landed IN the river and
drowned. After n long search by couriers
on motorcycles No. % was discovered IN
one of the many colored settlements that
lined the course. eating a genuine south
ern dinner that the old colored NANNY
had cooked for him. After nearly -four
hours of constant racing at high speed
No. 2 had acquired an appetite that al
tho prize money in the race could NOT
satisfy.
Accident Out of Ordinary.
As contrast 90 the disappearance OF
No. 2 the accident to Gray sioop, who
started as No. IT, is rather out OF the
ordinary. In starting the race the rid
era, owing TO the large field, were lined
up five abreast and were sent off at in.
tervals OF one minute between each five
The writer's number was IS, and no was
therefore, placed in the same squad with
Gray sloop.
During the few moments interval. while
waiting for the starting gun, Gray
reached over ana grasped my hand and
wished me the best OF luck. After the
crack OF the starters gun 1 saw nc
more Of Gray Sloop. and many times
during the long race wondered in what
position he was riding. At the supply
pits for oil and gasoline the attendants
carefully kept the news of accidents
away from the riders. 80 It was not un-
I'll the race was over that 1 saw Gray
sloop' No. II. had given his last good
wishes to No. Is, for on the second lap
OF the race he met HIS death.