Fast Digs Update: The 1892 Los Angeles to Santa Monica Road Race

Picking up where the first LA to SM Road Race left off, the race's second year saw it double the number of racers competing, and being hailed as "the biggest road race ever held west of the Rocky mountains" and "a grand struggle of stamina and endurance." The race, it was declared, would be "like no event in California" exciting an "enormous amount of interest."

But first, handicaps had to be determined for thirty racers. To that end a committee of four men - J. Phil Percival, "Alphabet" Smith, John S. Thayer, and B. Benjamin - was selected though, due to pressing business, Benjamin had to back out of the job. According to the committee, the racers, their choice of bike, and their handicap (as reflected in their start time) were as follows: Starting at 8:38, M. Thomson (Eagle Bicycle), and B. V. Dugue (Wilfrana safety bicycle). 8:40, C. A. Johnson, of Pasadena (Columbia ordinary), A. D. Mattison (Columbia ordinary), and E. S. Pauly (Victor B). 8:41, W. E. Tyler (Victor B), and Phil Lyon (Victor B). 8:42, F. E. Alter (Union 2:10), S. Wicks of Monrovia (Star), and A. W. Birdsall of San Diego (Victor D). 8:43, C. A. Cowan of Riverside (Ramble), and C. S. Huff of Santa Ana (Victor B). 8:44, F. Holbrook (Union 2:10), P. Kitchen (Columbia), and N. B. Roper of Santa Ana (Victor B). 8:45, E. E. Russell (Union 2:10), and D. C. McGarvin (Humber). 8:46, T. Q. Hall (Victor D), E. Gatensbury (Columbia), W. A. Taylor of Monrovia (Star), Fay Stephenson (Union 2:10), the defending champion W. A. Tufts (Victor D.), and H. K. Simon of Redlands (Liberty). 8:47, W. M. Jenkins (Union 2:10), and H. B. Cromwell (Union 2:10). 8:48, P. L. Abel (Liberty), and S. G. Spier (Victor D). 8:50, the scratch riders, Frank Waller of Oakland (Phoenix), A. E. Hodgson (Columbia), and George Muller (Liberty).

The race started, once again, outside the Athletic Club, on Spring Street. The racers sped from the start heading south on Spring to Eighth then, in succession, to Hope, to Pico, to the "fourth cross road beyond Catholic convent," to Washington Street which they would take all the way to Third and Utah in Santa Monica via The Palms. Following the same route each year would allow for the establishment of records, as well as generate interest the following year that those records might be broken. League of American Wheelmen track rules governed the race - yes, you read that right "track rules" since road racing was still in its infancy and lacking in "rules" of its own. Never-the-less, there were some basics - for instance racers were required to follow the established route, passing checkpoints along the way; deviations would result in disqualification.

The 1892 race generated special interest from the public due to the entry of Frank Waller who had just recently established a new World 24-Hour Record on the track in Alameda, California. Waller (1859-1937) was described as "a tall and wiry young German" (he was born in Germany) with "great powers of endurance and in superb condition." In succeeding years Waller would win twice at the Washington D. C. Six Day Race (1894 and 1896), the New York City Six Day (1899), finish 2nd at the Boston Six Day (1897), and third at the 1894 Rennes-Brest-Rennes in France. Among the other favorites, according to the Los Angeles Herald reporter, were young Jenkins, who rode so well the previous year (though who, again according to the reporter, was given an unfair handicap), Hodgson, who requested a scratch position so that he could go head-to-head against Waller, the wily veteran Muller, Stephenson (another recipient of an unfair handicap), and the "red-hot" Simon.

Estimates of the number of spectators on hand for the start of the second iteration of the Great Race suggest that 2000 packed the area of Spring Street, with an additional 1000 at the finish, and an untold number out along each corner of the course.

"The greatest upset of the season" is how the finish was described, as Cromwell came in first, followed closely by Kitchen and Cowan. "Cromwell showed to be a gritty and game rider. Kitchen made a wonderful run, and little Cowan pluckily upheld the prestige of Riverside." Not to be outdone, the favorite Waller, rode the fastest race, though only by 9 2/5 seconds better than Cromwell, good enough though to win the time medal. Mattison set a new best time for ordinary bicycles.

The top ten finishers and their times: 1st, H. B. Cromwell 1.02:37.5, 2nd, P. Kitchen 1.06:25, 3rd, C. A. Cowan 1.07:47, 4th, A. D. Mattison 1.11:09, 5th S. G. Spiers 1.03:48, 6th, T. Q. Hall 1.06:03.5, 7th, f. Waller 1.02:28, 8th, W. M. Jenkins 1.05:40, 9th, E. E. Russell 1.07:42, 10th, E. Gatensbury 1.06:56. As is typical, various misfortunes befell several riders over the course of the race; Birdsall, punctured on Eighth Street and had to walk back to the start for  a new wheel, Muller broke his saddle post, Jenkins broke his seat and had to ride his pedals, Thomson broke his handlebar, and Taylor "was thrown twice by people running in his way."

1892 marked the beginning of another tradition, a formal, elegant post-race dinner (this one held at the Hotel Arcadia) enjoyed by some ninety wheelmen and friends. One other note, the Santa Fe Railroad  was commended for running the route between Los Angeles and Santa Monica in thirty-two minutes, plenty of time for spectators to see both start and finish.