Cycling. [By Dagonet.]

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 87, 12 April 1902, Page 6 (Supplement)

Cycling. [By Dagonet.]

A serious accident happened ime day this week to a youth named Roberts near Greymouth. He left town on a bicyclb for Brunner, and whilst riding down the Omoto hill, near Kaiata, lost control or the machine and landed on his hoadi Ha received a very severe fracture of his skull and is now in a critical condition. Walter Smith, an American , amateur, who has been playing havoc with the records lately, is said to be only sixteen years old. S. E. Gordon has gone to Brisbane for a trip. Two seasons ago Gordon was the equal of any rider in Australia, but he fell off, and this season secondraters have proved too good for him. It is stated that the Victorian amateurs intend to break apart from the' League at an early date, and form another association of their own to gove/n amateur racing. Commenting on the decision pf the Victorian and New South Wales Leagues to register bookmakers for race meetings, un Irish paper says:— "We must, in a way, admire the oandor of the Australians, although we strongly disapprove of betting. In allowing perlectly open betting on cycle events they recognise an evil which apparently cannot be eradicated. The sickening hypocrisy and underhand methods practised so often in those countries are absent. The English automobile Club is againsfc motor pad racing. Two owners of motors, Messrs. Farman and Scudder, intended to race from London to Brighton for £1000 aside, but decided, on the adMco of the club, to abandon the project. The club intends to pass a motion that any member guilty of racing on the higfiway shall ue expelled. Joseph Nohon, the death of whose brcther John in America last year placed the cycle racing world in mourning, has developed iuto a phenomenon. He is but a little beyond 17, only an inch over sft in height, and weighs less than 1201 b. He first camo into prominence by breaking the five-miles amateur record, aud at tha close of the last season he held 35 world's amateur records against time, and 11 in competition. the greatest number held by v any 3ne man in modern times. Among other performances he has ridden 35 miles 1055 yards iv an hour, wffich is a world's amateur record. A thirty-mile cycle race, in which none of the riders will weigh less than 16st, has been arranged in Paris for tith May. A cablegram to an American paper from Berlin states that tho municipal authorities have succceu«d in stppressdng what they believo to bo a qenuino "American peril." They havo ordered E. E. Giftord, Of Chicago, the one-le<xged trick cyclist, engaged for the wiuter Iby a circus in Berlin, to abandon his act, on account of the danger to the performer, and the incentive it offers to others. Qifford's turn wai to >t mount a ilighe of stairs and leap, astride a bicycle, into a tank of water 80ft below. Two young Germans who sought to iniitato the net were removed to the hospital with broken heads. The New ZeaJanders, C. Burton and M. Randrup, who have booh racing in Australia this season, state that notwithstanding the prize-money they have woit between them, they are considerably out of pocket over tho trip. Burton intends to tako up his residence permanently, whilo Randrnp will probably return to New Zealand shortly. An English exchange says: — There are indications that tho cycle racing season of 1902 ' will bo a memorable ono, both in this country and on the Continent. In the provinces several new tracks have been projected, and aro in course of construction : and, although one or two old-

established meetings will be abandoned, several new sports gatherings have already been announced. Tho go-ahead Town Sports Committee have purchased the Catjord tfold vubo, and that — and nearly every oilier classic trophy slill in competition— -will be competed for during the year. Jn P;iris a new track ii being laid down on the site of the famous o.d BuiMo path. The track, which will be on a Finull seale — a little more than five laps to the mile — will, in all probability, im opened at Easter. The surface is to be of wood, a- mateiial which was given a thorough tiial iv London, and abundoncd. The building of the new truck has lured from his retirement E. E. Parlby, of Newark, and the veteran Jules Dubois. At all events, their intention of training at tho Buffalo track hai been announced. In the German Military Budget for 1902 £15,000 is provided for further experiments with motor vehicles. The Anglo-American bicycle polo players, after a long and most successful Continental tour, appeared in London. They use their front wheels iv lieu of stick* to play tho ball. The game is most exciting to witness, and the skill of the riding players is quite marvellous to behold. A contract for 200 bicycles was recently placed by the War Ollice in the hands of the Progress Cycle Company, Coventry. The machines w ere required for immediate shipment to South Africa. l'he Autocar 'of 22nd February says : — Jenetzy has unlimited faith in the speed possibilities of his petrol-electric car, and means to do astonishing things one of these days, if only he can have a little luck, but so far something has always prevented him from getting the best out of his lOOh.p. vehicle. A few days ago lie made a preliminary canter at the rate of nearly 66 miles an hour — a mere trifle. When he tried to let the car go a part of the transmission gear broke, and the trial had to bo postponed. The trial took place on Friday of last week on the road bej tween Ablis and Etampes. Jenatzy drove a vehicle of 60h.p. petrol engine, and the full power developed with the electric motor is said to ac lOOh.p. The weather was terribly cold, but the road was in excellent condition. Jenatzy took a long flying start, and the two ton vehicle simply flew over the kilom. course in 34 2-5 seconds, which is at the rate of 65 miles 900 yards an hour. After this preliminary spin, Jenatzy tried again, and passed over the line at a terrihe speed, giving an impression that the record would be hopelessly beaten, but the car had not gone far when it slowed down and stopped. The transmission gear could not stand the tremendous strain, and broke. The experience, however, clearly showed that the petrol-electric monster is the fastest thing that has evor been turned out on the road, and it may bs taken for granted that Jenatzy will not be content until he gives th& full measure of what it is capable of doing.