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MARSHALL W. TAYLORThey had a dreamB\ REASONS and PATRICKDuring the Ga\ 90s. btcvclc racing was one of America's most popular sports Almost everv big citv had a bike-racing track A major race would pull a crowd sometimes as large as 25.000The sport also had its stars Champions like Tom Cooper. Eddie Bald. Orlando Stevens and Arthur Gardiner thrilled crowds from Hackensack. N.J . to Peoria. IllDuring the hevdav of the sport, one black man fought his wav to the topMARSHALL W. «Major* Taylor became both national and world champion and one of the most formidable competitors in America Every time he rode, records toppledIn one six-week period in 1899. Taylor established sevenworld records _ . ___On a European tour in 1902. Taylor entered o, racesand won 40 of them, defeating the champions of Germany.England and FranceONE OF HIS biggest rooters was President Theodore Roosevelt who kept track of Taylor throughout his 17-year racing careerTavlor. who was born m Indianapolis. Ind . in 1878. got his first bike when he was 12 and became such an expert trick rider that a bike shop owner hired him to stage exhibitionsWhen he was 13. Tavlor won his first race - an amateur event in Indianapolis. When he was 15. he beat the one-mile amateur Indianapolis track recordINSTEAD of being cheered, he was hooted and then barred from the track because of his color.Louis D Munger. who owned the shop where Taylor worked moved to Worcester. Mass. to set up a bicycle factory and took the youth with him He made up his mmd to make Taylor a championTavlor turned professional in 1896 at the age of 18 Despite taunts, attacks and dirty tactics by his white opponents . Taylor soon emerged as the most formidable racer m America.IN' 1898. he placed first m 29 or 49 races in which he competed No one else came close to that record Taylor was entitled to recognition as national champion but formation of a new league clouded his claim to thetitleIn 1899. Tavlor raced under the colors of the Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Co. Fitchburg. Mass . and won the mile sprint world championship by a lead of one wheel in a thrilling race at Montreal He placed second in the two-mile sprint and won the half-mile championship That same year Taylor broke the record in seven events in six weeks: the quarter, third, half, two-thirds three-quarter, mile and two-mile eventsHE WAS UNDISPUTED national champion in 1899 and 1900. and unofficially in 1898Besides racing in Europe. Taylor also competed in Australia and New Zealand — but never on SundayA religious man. he always carried a catechism began each race with a silent prayer and refused to compete on the SabbathTaylor was still toppling records in 1908 but age was beginning to creep up on him He finally quit the track in 1910 at the age of 32Copyright 1970. Los Angeles Times
Newspaper Details
The Chronicle Telegram
Elyria, Ohio, US
Sun, Mar 08, 1970
Page 25
Full Page
Clipped by
Baldboris W.
USA 19 Jan 2019
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