Page:The fastest bicycle rider in the world - 1928 - Taylor.djvu/84



A few weeks after I had won the one-third and two-mile championship races in the same afternoon at Philadelphia, I practically repeated those performances at the Green Bay, Wis., track. On this occasion I won the one-third mile event and the one-mile national championship race. Prize money amounting to $2,500 was offered for this meet and it attracted the crack riders of the country.

A short time before the final heat of the one-mile championship race the trainer for another rider informed me that there was a plot afoot among my opponents to pocket me. I made my way to the officials and told them of this plan. They asked for a suggestion as to how they could overcome that conspiracy and I replied by ordering double pacemaking for the event. They readily agreed.

The following clipping from a Green Bay newspaper will show how my strategy allowed me to again lead the field across the tape in two finals:

“Major Taylor, the colored boy from Worcester, Mass., easily proved himself to be the king of the pedal-pushers at the local track today. By his magnificent riding he gained second place in the championship struggle for points and finished his day’s work only 14 points behind Bald, who failed to qualify, as did MacFarland and Kimble, who failed to gain recognition in their respective heats.

“In the final of the one-mile professional championship race a field of seven as good men as could be found in America today qualified, and double pacemaking was employed. The contestants caught on behind them in this order: Eddie Bald, Orlando Stevens, Major Taylor, Arthur Gardiner, Johnnie Fisher, Howard Freeman and Owen Kimble.

“There was no change of positions until the pacemakers dropped out, at the last quarter, when Taylor made a jump for the front. Fisher then made a dash past him for the lead which he immediately lost again to Taylor. Freeman watched for the rear wheel of Taylor, who finally made his jump for home winning again by two open lengths, with Freeman second, Gardiner third, Kimble fourth and Bald last.

“In the final of the one-third mile race Freeman, Gardiner, Cooper, Fisher and Taylor lined up in that order from the pole. Taylor with Fisher at his side, jumped to the lead right from the start. Cooper tried to come around them, but failed. Then Gardiner also tried but with no better success.