Cycling.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 79, 4 January 1902, Page 19

Cycling.

T\ie making, especially racing tyies, is now reduced to a fine art. The Dunlop Tyre Company state that the racing tyres used by Don Walker, and many other cracks, at the Austral meeting, only weigh ten and half ounces each. It i<! almost incredible to think that such light material can withstand the driving strain it is subjected to on racing machines, but it vs done, and, what is more to the point, they give a machine more life and speed Over fifteen thousand artistic ra^msr souvenirs were distributed by the Dunlop T\ re Company at the- Melbourne Cricket Ground on thei 14th December at the Austral Wheel Race final Cyclists who are unable to get a copy, and also inter-State wheelmen can obtain one of the6e pretty lilac and orange foldens, which, contain photographs of Don Walker, J. Megson, A. Ralston E Wilksch, and G. Sutherland, bv sending a postcard to any of the Dunlop depots • • • Says a Melbourne writer — "The final of tihe Austral Wheel Race Carnival was concluded on the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the 14th December, the weather again being perfect for outdoor sports. The estimated attendance was thirty thousand "T^xeeptional interest, oentred in the final this year, owing to the fine back division of riders who had qualified for

the final, amongst whom figured "Plugger" Bill Martin, and also to the very heav\ wageung that had taken place on tins year's event, it being estimated that clcke upon £10,000 had been laid against the riders, and of this amount £7000 had been taken by the supporters. of Martin The betting at the start was 2 to 1 Martin, 4 to 1 Walker, 6 to 1 Lewis very Little money going on any of the the other riders. Very little delay was experienced in getting the men on their marks, and shoitlv after four o'clock the men were started on their two-mile journey. From the jump Martin dashed on to Beauohamp's wheel . the back division, comprising Martin, Beauchamp, Morgan, Wilki«ch and Walker, bunching in the first half lap with D. Walker pacing. "R. Lewis and A. A. Middleton, whose positions w ere between the first *md peoond-class men, took turn a,nd turn pacing, but w ere unable to keep aw aA from the back division, who caught them in the third lap The middle section oi second-class men, were making very little impression on the front bunch ap to the third lap. Lewis then took up the pacing, and. riding in perfect style, rode clear away from Finlayson Scott, and Smith. "At a mile to go, the Westralian nder had increased the lead, and was riding as fast as the combined field. The excitement as Lewis gamely tackled lap after lap and maintained his lead, was intense, until two laps from home the race looked a gift for Lewis. "Beauchamp, recognising that unless something was done, thei leader would never be headed, dashed to the front carving Martin. Walker, A. C. Middleton, and others withihim. A errand lap and a half pacing by the Tasmanian quicklY put a different aspect on the race, for at the ring of the bell it oould be seen that Lewis' game and plucky attempt to beat the field would fail, for, despite his lead of twenty-three yards entering the last lap, the back-markers were overhauling him fast •At the scoring board, A. C. Middleton dashed past Lewis, with Martin and Walker trailing his wheel. Martin, at half a lap to go, made one of his characteristic dashes, and jumped to the front at the bottom of tihe hill, obtaining a lead of two lengths, which he maintained to the finish. A. C. Middleton filled second place, and Walker third. "Walker suffered a bump just as he was making his run one hundred and fifty yards from home, losing whatever chance he had of beating the American. He has lodged a protest against A. C Middleton. "Seldom has such cheering been heard on the Melbourne Cricket Ground as greeted Martin as he rode round the ground previous to dismounting, and there can be little doubt that it was the most popular victory associated with the Austral Wheel Race. Martin now .states that he intends retiring permanently from competition racing, and intends settling down in Melbourne. Tl •» principal winners of the meeting were • Martin. £445. Walker, £170. Macdon aid £80 and A C. Middleton, £85 " « • • Mr. TTlic Shannon has been offered the position of handicapper to the Wellineton Centre of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen, but it is doubtful if he will accept the position