Page:The fastest bicycle rider in the world - 1928 - Taylor.djvu/160

 quarter in :26 3/5. Taylor rode the last quarter alone in :26 3/5 completing the mile in 1:45. The best previous time for the distance was 1:51 by Orlando Stevens, at Louisville.

“On Friday afternoon Taylor rode a quarter of a mile in the unheard of time of :22 3/5, which stunt startled the riders training at Newby Oval especially when they learned a close tab was kept on the watch while the colored marvel took his work-out.”

On the eve of my special championship match race with Owen Kimble, the strong boy from Louisville, I was at the peak of physical condition ready and anxious for the starters gun to send us on our way.

The following article is quoted from the columns of an Indianapolis newspaper the day after my race with Kimble:

“Major Taylor Champion. Takes Both Big Races From the Aggregation of Eastern Racing Talent. $500 in the coin of the realm, the National Professional Championship of 1900, and a permanent place in the estimation of the bicycle race loving public of Indianapolis is what Major Taylor has gained during his present sojourn in this city. One week ago last night he and Owen Kimble demonstrated that they were in a class by themselves, so far as sprint racing is concerned. Last night Major Taylor proved that he is the best man in this class and had he not been pocketed in the half-mile handicap he undoubtedly would have earned $100 more.

“Major Taylor was the prime favorite of the meet. When starter Allison’s pistol announced the start of the first race there were thousands of cycle enthusiasts at the track and before the fight for the third of a mile national championship was started the crowd was even larger.

“The first event of importance was the match race between Major Taylor and ‘Old Kentuck’ Owen Kimble. Pacemaker Watson was placed ten yards in advance of the two men. Hardly had the report of the revolver died away when Taylor tacked on to Watson’s rear wheel. When the gong in the official’s box announced the beginning of the final lap, the riders were tearing off speed that would make a locomotive envious.

“Around on the back stretch Watson dropped out so as to give the contestants an opportunity for the final spurt to the tape. Down the back stretch they tore, each man straining for himself. Kimble’s wheel seemed to fairly leave the track as he made the effort of his life but it was to no avail. He could not shove his front wheel past the colored boy’s handle bars. When they flashed over the tape both men were well nigh exhausted. Major Taylor won by a fraction of a wheel’s length in :39 3/5. He was cheered loud and long by the great crowd. It was a beautiful race.