Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-06
VELODROME START
DELAYED BY STORM
Several Thousand Bike Fans
Disappointed When Opening
Meet Is Called Off.
CROWDS WATCH TRAINING

NNOW I'D WA vi iNhtlNlSu
Many enthusiastic bike fans were
disappointed yesterday when rain
caused a postponement of the races
scheduled at the Newark Velodrome
Intermittent showers between / and
o'clock soaked the homestretch, and
shortly after o'clock just after q
thousand or more racegoers had
taken their seats, while others were
fling through the gates, Peter
Prunty the announcer, informed the
crowd that the opening of the Velo-
drome had been postponed until
April 70
There was a steady fall of rain at
the time and the fans, though sadly
disappointed, accepted the inevitable.
Slowly they filed out again and
hardly had the stands been cleared
when the sun peeked through the
dull, drab Sky again. Hopeful that
the promoters would alter their de-
cision and run tho races the mob
waited in front Of the main entrance.
Fans Furnished for Racing.
Those ardent supporters OF cycling
wore sure hungry. nay, famshed for
racing. Even after they knew there
was not q chance in the world of
seeing any bike races they still stuck
tn the famous battle-ground and the
Inclosure i'm front of the track was
filed to an uncomfortable limit. Bike
racing and bike riders were dis
cussed, acquaintances renewed and
old arguments rekindled. The Kra-
nerites were there and the ClarltItes
were there and there were others, and
in goodly numbers. too, who were
singing the praises Of Walter Rutt.
That Rutt is going to be a popular
rlder here there in no doubt. and
there will probably be another fac
ton in the field to fuss a fume with
the kramerites and the Clarkites
when Kramer and Clark and Rutt
meet later in the season.
A number of the would-be speeta-
tors made suggestions for safeguard
ing against light rains which do not
last long, but play havoc with their
favorite pastime. One suggested A
canvas covering for the track which
could be removed just before the
races were to be started There is
merit to this idea. for at o'clock the
weather was fine and there were no
more showers. Had the track been
shielded up until o'clock the OPEN
ing of the season would have paased
into history. Then there was an
other man who said cycling was so
essential to his pleasure In life he
In ri "A
block of stock in winter track
project, as such n track could be
used when rain made it impossible
to race at the Nelodrome.
Hold Kramer Responsible.
While the fans were discussing
racing in front of the Velodrome,
Frank Kramer, who was at that very
time booked to be riding match
race in Bordeaux, France, was held
responsible for the rain that married
very good opening. The postpone
ments of last year were recalled. For
three successive Sundays last year
the opening meet was postponed on
account OF rain, but on the fourth
Sunday, when Kramer returned from
Europe, the sun shone it's brightest
and seemed to smile on the Yankee
champion. One fan declared that
Kramer was so much a part and
parcel of racing in this city that even
the elements revolt when an attemp,
is made to run races without him
And probably at the same time
Kramer was wondering what sort OF
day we were having In Newark
for a short time ago the champion
in a letter to the Evening Star, stated
that he hoped and prayed that there
would not be a posponement of the
opening here, as he positively did not
want to appear at the opening meet
this year. Kramer gave as his reason
he had appeared at every opening
meet in Newark, and, just for a
change, he would like to make his APP
pearance after the season was under
way.
Rutt Ob1iges Crowd
Seeing that the crowd was enjoying
the training, Manager Floyd MacFar-
land sent for Rutt, who had returned
to his home a short distance from the
track, and asked him to go on and
let the people give him the "once
ever" Smilirgly the worlds cham
pion acquiesced and shortly after APP
peared on the track in training toys.
The moment Rutt appeared he was
recognized, and ii was most tiatter-
ing reception he received. Rutt rode
six miles with Joe Fogler and Grassy
Ryan while Frank Cory, Clarence
Carman and number of other pros
were content to follow. The trio in
front set u very fast pace aad one by
one the others were dropped off. Fin
ally Ryan quit and half mile further
ON Fogler said he had enough. Rutt
went on for several miles more. The
champion appeared to be in very good
shape IA