The Fastest Bicycle Rider In the World, an autobiography by Marshall W. « Major » Taylor, Wormley publishing Company, Worcester, 1928
Two days after my debut on an Australian track, the same being located at Sydney, I appeared for my second program on the same course. Don Walker, the champion, and the cream of the fastest riders in that country were also entered in the various events. The handicap event was a half-mile race and there was a scratch event for the same distance in which Walker and myself were entered.
The O’Brien Plate, a popular five-mile scratch race, wound up the evening’s program.
winninghalfmilehandicapfrom5yards
Winning Half-mile Handicap from 5 Yards behind Scratch and establishing World’s Record
Concerning my second appearance on the Sydney track one of the local dailies had this to say : « The Major Taylor Carnival was continued last night and it proved to be a strong attraction. The racing was of the highest order. Major Taylor’s heat in the Half-Mile Handicap was a revelation. Starting five yards behind the tape, he flashed along at a terrific pace to victory. He was unpaced throughout the race and finished in :56 1/5, a competitive record. »In the semi-final heat Major Taylor started from the same mark as Don Walker. They were seen going at top speed and caught the field at the North Pavilion. At this point interest was momentarily taken from Taylor through an accident. There was a crash and a rider flew into the air minus a bicycle, while two others were spreadeagled on the track. Drinkwater had fallen, and Hardy shooting over the prostrate man’s machine was hurled against an overhead electric light support breaking the glass. Drinkwater was injured, but Hardy without having any bones broken suffered much pain around his loins and back. Meanwhile, Major Taylor on hearing the crash swerved in and Larry Corbett finished first, equaling the world’s record of :56 1/5 which Major Taylor had made in his first heat.
« Taylor’s showing in the final heat was wonderfully good. He and Walker caught the field together. Walker got hopelessly blocked and Taylor also looked inextricably so, but Taylor streaked through and won by inches amid thunderous applause. The time, :55 3/5, still further clipping the world’s record which was set in the first heat and tied in the semi-final by 3/5 of a second. »