The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-28
De Power WINS
CYCLE CONTEST
MIDST THRILLS


IL WAS . te8i Up99Q I0ASt lOt INC
hundreds Of speed fans who iiocked
together and thronged round the
oval Of the East Moline st. Eloy
race track to enjoy the big pro-
gram Of motorcycle and bicycle
races sponsored by the Harley
Davidson Cycle company. 313
Twenty-four street, Rock Island.
under the management Of 8. A.
McGinnis, yesterday afternoon.
There were thrills galore during
the whole program Of four motor
cycle and two bicycle speed con-
tests, which took in the whole aft
ernoon.
AS the management judged it too
dangerous to allow more than six
motorcycles on the track In one
single race, it decided upon elimi-
nation trials for the eight speed
demons who had their names en-
tered fe- the races, and in these
trials NJ. Dolph of Cedar Rapids.
Iowa, and Jack Thompson Of Min
neapolis, Mimi, failed to qualify,
leaving the following six entrants
to compete in the races that were
about to be staged:
Gordon Hughes, Cedar Rapids,
on a Harley-Davidson; Joe De
Dover, Rock Island, on a Harley
Davidson; Minard Vain, Cedar
RaDids. on Harley-Davidson
Walt Willingford, on an Indian;
Peanut Spurgeon, Cedar Rapids.
on a Pope, and H. Dana, Clinton.
Iowa, on an Excelsior.
Spurgeons Wins Two Races.
Taking the lead from the start
and steadily increasing it, Peanut
Spurgeon, a regular dare and speed
devil, finished the first race, a FIVE
mile speed contest, in 500 min
utes, about a lap ahead Of his near
est competitor, M. Vain, who took
second money, Joe De Power quail
flying for third and last prize.
Walt Willingford, the favorite Of
the majority of the crowd, who has
won many a speed contest on the
East Moline St. Eloy track and who
made the best time in the elimina-
ton trials, was forced out Of the
race with a broken machine in the
first lap.
In TIA minutes Peanut Sturgeon
covered the six miles of the second
motorcycle race, taking the Lad
of the six entrants at the start and
increasing it steadily every lap. In
this event Minard Vain again took
second money, while Walt Willing
ford, whose machine had been re-
paired in a hurry, did not seem to
work very well, qualified for third
and last prize.
In the 1O-mile motorcycle race,
the feature event of the afternoons
program, Walt Willingford had a
chance to give his many admirers
on the grounds a fine exhibition OF
his driving skill and fast speed. He
took the lead at the start and all
fans present were very anxious tn
witness the anticipated struggle
between Walt and Peanut Spurgeon,
who had given a fine account Of
himself in the two first races, TAX
ing first prize in both events, but
the Cedar Rapids speed demon
was forced out Of the running wher
the chain of his machine broke be-
fore he had completed much more
than half of the first lap.
Willingford kept /, his lead and
was never in danger Of losing it.
until, at the first turn Of the 18th
lap, while leading the field by hall
a mile, he skidded and fell, passing
his lead to Joe De Power, who fin
ished first, covering the 10 miles
in 1890 minutes, followed by Min,
ard Vain, who drove his, machine
into second money, although in the
18th lap it had thrown OF its back
tire, which it dragged along for The
balance of the race. H. Dana tool
third and last money.
Consolation Contest.
Not wishing to see any Of the
motorcycle racers leave the track
without any remuneration for theil
hard work and earnest efforts, Mr.
McGinnis decided to offer a conso.
lation race to those of the entrants
who had failed to qualify in any Of
the races staged and the three en-.
trants of this closing event Of the
speed meeting finished the race il
the following order: Gordon
Hughes, Jack Thompson and NJ
Dolph, the winner covering the five
miles, in 7:57 minutes.
Eleven Of the best tri-city bike
racers WED for honors in a two
and a three mile speed whirl. Si1
Of the II entrants we're Davenport
boys and it is to Davenport tha
all the prize money Of both con
tests went. Russell LANCE won tn.
two-mile race, covering the dis
lance in 5:37 minutes; Lille Hast
ings qualified for second money ant
Vic Hopkins COPIED third and las
prize.
In the three-mile race, Will
eight entrants starting, Lee Cawley
who had led all the way during tn,
first race and lost out in the fina
sprint against the boys that ha,
been trailing behind his wheel, re
sorted to new and very enicien
tactics in this second speed contest
He again took the lead this time
not being content to drag his fol
lowers along behind him, but run
ming away from them from tn,
start. He finished the six laps il
1871 minutes, leading the field b,
more than quarter Of 4 lap. Re-
Ellis took second money and Lii,
Hastings took third and last prize
/ AviAtof Pays Visit,
During the races an airplane va,
sighted and soon It was eyiden