Newark Velodrome

The velodrome Newark consisted 1907-1930 in the U.S. Newark, New Jersey.

Already in the 1890s possessed Newark two racing tracks. A train fell in 1904 by a fire in 1907 was the second, which was located in the district of Vailsburg, demolished and replaced by the new rail on the opposite side of the street. The wooden train was about 275 feet long, so six rounds yielded a mile. In the covered velodrome was room for about 12,000 spectators. The velodrome Newark, which at the time was sufficient highest standards, was considered most important in the United States.

1912 Track World Championships were held in Newark, where all three to be awarded gold medals went to American drivers: in a sprint the professionals at Frank Kramer, the pacemaker race to George Wiley and the sprint of the amateurs to Donald McDougall.

1915, came to the velodrome to a tragic incident: The former racing cyclist and current director of the web, Floyd MacFarland, noted that a salesman for refreshments named David Lantenberg screwed advertising posters on the boards of the web. MacFarland had forbidden this because repeatedly screws or nails were landed on the track, which was dangerous for the racers. There was a loud argument in front of around 150 witnesses. As MacFarland tried Lantenberg to wrest the screwdriver, this stung him with the tool accidentally in the back of the head. Horrified by his own act, Lantenberg MacFarland brought his car to the hospital, but where he died.

As director of the velodrome followed McFarland influential cycling manager John Chapman, who organized, inter alia, the six-day race in New York City and had a strong monopoly in the American track cycling. Up to McFarland's death, the two men had been rivals for influence in American professional track cycling. In the following years, the velodrome was the site of numerous high-class busy race with riders from North America and Europe.

1922 drove Frank Kramer, who lived near Newark, on the track his farewell race. As a result of the global economic crisis, the velodrome was unprofitable and 1930 demolished. Today there is the Vailsburg Park.