South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-27
WALKER BIG STAR
IN MOTOR RACES
ATLOCAL TRACK
National Champ Wins Is Mile
Event-Fans Furnished
Many Thrills.

Riding a wonderful race through
out Gene Walker. Of birmingham.
Ala. clearly demonstrated 20 the
large throng OF motorcycle enthusl-
asts at Springbrook park Sunday az
ternoon that he Is a "reaI" champion
by winning the state championship
Is mile professional race IN addition
10 placing first IN the Eve mile event
and making almost record time IN
the one mile time trials.
In the longer classic. Walker took
the lead ar the start and was ne-er
pressed, finishing over six laps ahead
of Don Pope Of indianapolis. who
was compelled 10 stop several times
at the pits for repairs il was a
notable feature Of the race tl1rrt the
champ was the only one Of the SIX
entries not compelled % STOP on ao-
count Of a mishap Of some kind. The
event which was won I'm the fast time
of 17.14. also carried additional prize
money for the southerner. as he led
at both the five and ten mile marks
Have NIishaps.
Don Marks and Naldwvn Jones,
who had been picked &c press Walk
er in this event, were both the VIC
Tins of accidents to their machines.
which put them out of the race tenn
porarily several times and finally for
good. Marks. in particular, had Civ
en- a wonderful exhibition OF riding
in the early events and was climbing
up on the leader when a lost pushrod
sent him to the pits. This nailed 20
dishearten him, however. and after
obtaining another one. he resumed
the grind and was in second place.
when misfortune struck him "a IA
De Palma" and put him out for
good.
Jones, Who is the holder OF four
track records here. was greatly both
cred with motor trouble all after
noon. He was forced out OF two
races when within striking distance
Of the leader and did not enter the
second five mile race, as q new mo-
tor was being put in his machine &C
the time. A broken valve in the new
motor proved his final nemesis.
The second five mile event. the
third race of the day. was by far the
best to watch. as the winner Gene
Walker, was forced TO the limit by
Don Marks, who had snatchedt the
lead away from him several times
in the late stages Of the duel, only
to have the champ pun away again.
AT the finish only FIVE yards separat-
ed the first two, with Eddie Brinck
third. Brinck also took third in the
Is mile event. Walkers time for the
race was 5.33 and four-ffths.
Marks Easy Winner.
In the first five mile race Gene
Walker lost a carburetor during the
first lap and was forced out leaving
the race between Marks and Jones.
Jones logged Marks heels for seven
laps and then ran into mis- first mo-
tor snag and was eliminated. Marks
won in 5.33, with Brinck second and
Minnie Grille. third.
"Jiggs' Price, star Mansfield rider
and one Of the country's best side car
racers, easily won his five mile spe-
cialty. setting a new track mark Of
between him and Don Pope did not
materialize. Pope was handicapped
by a bad start and did not get going
till late in the race Chuck Smith
was second and Pope finished third
Pope was an easy winner IN the
consolation" five mile. with Dave
Miller in second place and Chuck
Smith coping third.
While Indian riders had a 'hig'
day. sweeping nearly every event.
Maldwyn Jones on a Harley-Davld-
son still holds the local mile record
Of 1.O2. Promoter Wcgner had hung
up a 500 purse to go 60 the one who
succeeded in lowering this mark. but
the best time ia the time heats was
1.04 made By Don Marks. Gene
Walker was but a fifth Of a second
slower. Both are confident that the
mark viii go July IL. when Promo--
or Wegner VIII have nearly an the
same men here I'm addition % sew
eral other national stars.