SYDNEY SIX DAYS’ RACE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 60

SYDNEY SIX DAYS’ RACE.

INTERESTING NOTES OF EXPERIENCES IN SIMILAR EVENTS. The near approach of Australia’s first six days’ race makes The experiences of riders in other parts of the world of interest. ; Six days’ races have' taken place in America for about 25 years past; the first one ever held took place at Minneapolis ■ in 1866, when Albert Stehock, a German rider, won with 1008 miles. To-day the ' record, which is, of course, a teams’ one, is 2737 miles 176yds, held by Floyd M‘Farland and J. E. Moran. The promoter of the Sydney event, Mr. J D. Williams, offers a special prize of £IOO to the Australian team which succeeds in lowering this record. ( An interesting story of his experiences in : one of the last of the single-handed six days’ races has been told in Cycling by E. Hale, who won the New York singlehanded event in 1896. Hale took the lead at the sixth hour, and seldom lost it afterwards. He stuck to a plan of feeding at regular hours all• through,-and on the last day, haying a craving for a good solid meal, dismounted when 32 miles in the lead, and thoroughly enjoyed a grilled steak and chipped potatoes, washed down with a bottle of, beer. Each day lie drank a gallon of beef tea and two quarts of chicken broth), other items of food being; cold chicken, fish, rice, eggs, toast, bananas, pears, apples, celery, potatoes, chops, calves’ foot jelly, oatmeal porridge, beef, custard, prunes, tea, and milk. During the 1908 New York Six Days, when he teamed with J. Stol, Walter Rutt, I winner of two American and one Berlin ■ races, says that at one time he suffered ( with “dry knees,” a very painful trouble, caused by the exhaustion of the natural oil j in the joints. A day later a sinew in his j left foot also went “dry,” the remedy in each case being to lay hotclothes on the affected part, and massage with chloroform. Speaking of other six days’ riders, Rutt says Jimmy Moran in one day ate six big outlets, two 31b steaks, and a fowl, with tea, coffee, and ale. Rutt himself must also have been a, good trencherman, for he acknowledges having gained 81b in weight during this race. 'Speaking after the 1909 Berlin Six Days, Rutt said that for a competitor to be successful!, much depended on his manager. If a rider took a bath, the manager had to keep it as secret as possible, so that the opportunity might not bo taken by other teams to start a sprint, and so perhaps gain a lap. Rutt found that it was best to ride with his saddle-peak tilted up, and the back well secured by straps to keep it from slipping. Damp handkerchiefs wore used to cool his eyes, and in this connection probably Australian teams will find the use of boracic solution and smoked glasses of considerable benefit during the day. Rutt says it is dangerous to remove the shoes, as they are not easily got on again. A rider in this race must not think, but keep pedalling away; in particular, he must not think about going to sleep during the first two days The worst day is the fourth, in Rutt’s opinion; those Australian riders who are experienced in such races, however f consider the third day is the one of greatest strain. The question of what to drink is one which causes a lot of anxiety. Of course, towards the end many of them will undoubtedly experience a necessity for a light stimulant of some kind. Under these circumstances the experienced men and

trainers vote for a little champagne, which leaves no ill alter -effects. Tor the rent, drinking whatever one is used to regularly—tea or coffee, not too strong, etc.— will probably be found best. The teams actually nominated for the Six Days' Race in Sydney are:—Gordon Walker and. A F. Grenda. E. Sullivan and E. H. Rodgers, B. A. Priestly and 11. 11. Viokery, P. B. Henry and A. L. Crook, R. J. M'Namara and F. P. Cbrry, A. T. Goullot and P. Hehir, F. T. Keefe and S. •Senhouse, P. W. Yeend and F. J. Foxover, and D. Kirkham and A. C. Colvm. AVIATION NOTES. LONDON, December 23. The War Office has purchased a De Perdussian monoplane of the French army type. Successful experiments have been made With a number of large models of airships controlled by Hertzian waves. PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, December 19. The Federal Government has decided that an advertisement be issued for two competent aviators at a salary of £450 per annum, and travelling expenses. The Government accepts no liability for accidents. It is also calling for tenders in England for two monoplanes and two biplanes.