Bicycle racing in the 1920s

By Mike Eliasohn

An online friend, Jim Miller, who lives in Burbank, Calif., and usually sends me vintage auto racing photos emailed me the top three photos of the velodrome in Newark, N.J., apparently all from the 1920s.

The photographs came from one of his grandfather's photo albums, which Jim recently received.  Photos in the albums range in vintage from 1914-38. The grandfather, Eddie Miller, apparently did not take the velodrome photos, though they may have been taken while he was living in Newark, where he met his wife.

I did some online searching and easily found the history of the Newark Velodrome on the website of Classic Cycle (classiccycleus.com) on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The website has a lot of interesting information on it, including views and descriptions of the many bikes in its museum, dating back to 1885 (but no recumbents).

The Newark board track, built in 1907, was 6 laps to the mile.

It hosted world championships in 1912 and Australian Reggie McNamara set world records for distances from 1 to 25 miles on the track in 1915, '16 and '17.

Notice the crowds in the photos.  Seating capacity was 12,500, but many races drew more than 20,000 spectators (meaning many were standing).

But the land the track was siting on became too valuable to continue to use for bicycle racing, so in 1930, it was demolished, to be replaced by an apartment building.

But there was still interest in bicycle racing, so about 10 mlles to the north, a wood velodrome was constructed in Nutley, N.J., which opened in 1933.  The track was smaller than the one in Newark – 7 laps to the mile.

In its first season, it drew an average of almost 8,500 spectators to each of its 35 races.

But interest in bicycle velodrome racing was declining and the track's last season for two-wheelers was in 1937.

Then in 1938 and 1939, the track was used for midget auto racing (small open wheel race cars). But in 60 races during those two years, three drivers were killed and controversy over the danger of racing cars on the tiny high-banked (45 degrees in the turns) track and the noise contributed to its closing.

Apparently in 1940, some final bicycle races were held. (Information is unclear whether races took place, or unsuccessful attempts were made to conduct races.)  The track was torn down in early 1942.

An internet search of "Newark velodrome historic photos" included two of the above photos that my friend had sent me that were in his grandfather's photo album and this one, too good to ignore. No helmets back in the "good old days," but notice the attire of rider of the pacing motorcycle, including a tie. No information or photo credit, but the sign at upper right does say "Newark," so it is the correct track.  (The "Eddie Madden leading" photo is the one that wasn't among the historic photos posted on the internet.)

Here's a view of the entire velodrome. As it says in the caption, the venue also hosted boxing matches. (Photo from old newark.com)

Additional sources:  www.nutleyhistoricalsociety.org

www.speedwayandroadracehistory.com

The History of America's Speedways, Past and Present, by Allan E. Brown, published 1994.

old newark.com