The 1895 Los Angeles to Santa Monica Road Race

The committee finished their handicapping, for the big July 4th race, on the evening of 30 June, when the Los Angeles Herald reporter noted the road race "has the whole sporting element of the city agog." There was so much recognized fast talent entered that the racers starting last, the scratch and minute men, would have to "hump themselves lustily" if they hoped to finish with a top placing. [And yes, I agree, from today's perspective at least, that is a funky way to talk / write].

There were expected to be two racers starting at scratch for the 1895 race - Record holder and first place finisher on time in 1894, Emil Ulbricht, and W. W. Hamilton of Denver, "considered the finest road rider in the west."

Starting at thirty seconds would be Phil Kitchen, Herb McCrea and Bill Hatton, and at a minute would be Godfrey Schmidt, Washburn, and Will Rodriguez, who finished third in 1894.

Before the two scratch men would set off, one hundred fourteen other racers were to pedal away from the start line, with the limit men - Thomas E. Rowan Jr., John Briink, "Doc" Kennedy and Perry Howard who would "scorch the road and clear the way and "jolly" the boys as they go by - starting twelve minutes in advance.

In 1895 the organizers became a little more focused on formalizing and officiating the rules of the race which included a prohibition against "pacemaking by any other than bona fide contestants, [and] anyone making pace or accepting pace contrary to this rule will be disqualified and also debarred from competing in any race meet held by the Los Angeles Wheelmen for one year." Racers wishing to start from scratch had to submit a request within twenty-four hours of the handicaps being announced. There were six check points along the course, and any racer not passing them all would be disqualified. The course was to be patrolled by officials who would report "foul riding" or other rule infringements. Riders had to dress and receive their numbers at the Los Angeles Athletic Club gymnasium at 7:45am before reporting the the clerk at the start line, Second and Hill Streets.

Throughout the morning numerous racers failed to make their start, some were unexplained while others, instead, chose to head to San Diego for races in that city. Of the limit men only Rowan made the start from the line The race along the street so densely packed with spectators that the way was frequently impeded as each wave of racers took their mark and start.

"The crowd surged and peered and called their names as the cracks pushed along to scratch and they cheered them as, at 9 o'clock sharp, they dashed away. Emil Ubricht got the lead, closely pressed by Herb McCrea, followed by Will Hatton and Will Rodriguez - the latter three choosing to start from scratch rather than from their thirty second or minute (in the case of Rodriguez) handicap starts. As they disappeared down Olive street there was a ringing hurrah and the mass of humanity began breaking and flying to catch the 9:10 o'clock special train to be in at the finish." As in previous years every available foot of space in the seventeen or eighteen railroad coaches was filled, the overflow settling on the engine and the soot of the coal car.

As the train raced along the track to Santa Monica "an eager lookout was kept from the car windows and all points of vantage for the first glimpse of the riders flying along the road. Little dust clouds barely visible to the naked eye, under the field glass showed a roiling, perspiring rider pumping along merrily toward the Palms. Nearing Palms hill a long stretch was brought plainly into view and the hot pacing racers glimmering like steaks of light though the gauze of dust and sweeping along to their coveted goal."

The first riders to come into view up the street from the finish, packed in just as convincingly as the start, turned out to be a couple of "bloomer women" who "regaled the eyes of the eager crowd." Mere moments later a "dirty, dusty specter careered down the stretch and rolled across the tape with a triumphant smile that emphasized the pride of victory that filled his eyes." The rider was Louis Lawton an unknown racer from Duarte, who started at eight minutes and finished with a time of 50:09 2/5 seconds, smashing by nearly seven minutes the winning time of 1894. A minute later came Will Yeoman, followed by  A. L. Taber, E. T. Carter, W. W. Weir, Jake Willsford, and Will Imbler.

After those top seven finishers came the rest, in twos, threes and small clusters. By then the mood of the spectators had turned to excited disruption, "foolish, senseless" as was reported, crowding into the path of the finishing racers, being knocked down into the dust, or knocking down the weary racers, a good half dozen being thrown to the ground with little regard.

The three minute men, George B. Cox, Albert Tompkins, and R. D. Mussey provided one of the more exciting finishes, sprinting to the line as a group. A great cheer rose up as the fifty-ninth man approached the line; it was Emil Ulbricht, finishing in a time of 49:26, obliterating his record time of 57:01 set in '84. Ulbricht's was the fastest ride of the day, and with his second win earned him a diamond medal.

Claiming that the "pace from the first was too hot, that the men who held back to reserve their strength got left because the caution-less younger riders wasted their energies and ended first" - "unprecedented and unwise," the veteran Fay Stephenson, arrayed in white flannel and red sash, filed a mock protest. The race was over and it was time for the festivities of the 4th.

Beside the diamond medal, Ulbricht won a Rambler tandem for finishing with the fastest time. With the second fastest time Clyde Washburn (49:36) won a saddle horse and outfit; for third Howard Squires won a writing desk. Louis Lawton's first place finish won him a Syracuse crimson rim tandem bicycle; for 2nd, Will Yeoman won a Keating bicycle; 3rd place, A. L. Taber won a shotgun; 4th place E. T. Carter, a tennis outfit. In all twenty-seven places on prizes. Lawton won an additional special prize - for riding a Syracuse bicycle to victory (a bike he had got just the night before) he won a second Syracuse bike (with the fifth fastest time he also won a new bicycle suit). In every way, the 1895 race was a success - eighty-six of the ninety-four finishers (124 entered) rode the seventeen miles in less than an hour. Year by year the bicycles and riders continued to improve.

One controversy arose after the race, the Herald reporter stating it this way: "... Does the League of American wheelmen sanction or recognize road racing? ...if not, what excuse of the managers of this road race for charging unattached members of the L.A.W. two dollars and members of the L.A.W. only one dollar for entering?" Seems unattached riders have always been footing the bill.

Thomas E. Rowan, riding a Fowler bicycle, was one of the limit men.

At 239 lbs you could also say he was the very first racer in the clydesdale class.