Scientific American
AUGUST 23, �902.
125
horizontally
MOTOR-PACED RACE ON
slats;
A CYCLE WHIRL.
Encouraged
by
the
exhibition
the
from
and
the
whole
was
an
ex­
success which attended
cellent object lesson in
;he presentation of the
practical mechanics.
first
cycle
whirl,
•••
in
BURNING
which cyclists competed
with
each
other
on
GUSHER
There is all
small
track
circular
OIL
IN LOUISIANA.
a
the
dif­
enough to be placed on
ference in the world be­
an
tween the burning of an
ordinary
stage,
one
it
ponents of
bicycle
world
for
racing
equally
of
would
this
much
higher
speed,
the
tion
fact
of
in
a
illustra­
burning
The
oil
rapidity
burning oil tank is lim­
whirl
samewhere
confiagra-
of the combustion of a
ited
pitch
of
gusher.
and
by
reason
that
of
the
combustion
can take place only on
the
neighborhood of 45
photo­
reproil UCtiOIlS
companying
of
circular
a
many
tions fhown in our ac­
track of the first cycle
had
reason
stupendous
a
greater
The
the
the
by
of such a sight and the
strains
considerably
risk.
over,
be
rate
structure,
incident
familiar
Of
involved
greater
an
is
graphic
motor­
popular.
course
a
rac­
that a cycle whirl
paced
tank,
which
constructed
on
oil
to
leading ex­
of the
ing
theater
occurred
the
de­
surface
of the
oil,
the
and even then it is gov­
higher speeds necessary
erned by the amount of
grees;
but
with
with
motor
cycles
was necessary to
the
pitch
from
oxygen
it
can
the
grees to 60 degrees, and
the fire.
It
the
process
that
new
track,
which
looks for all the world,
MOTOR-PACED RACE ON A CYCLE WHIRL.
many
as will be noticed from
Inclination of track only 30 degrees from the vertical.
p lete.
the
engraving,
like
a
a
circular fence, was built with the slats inclined only
intersection
30 degrees from the vertical.
Judging
In
determining
rush
surround­
ing atmosphere to feed
de­
45
that
from
in
raise
the
proper
pitc'h
of
one
of
these
track
of
from
must
the
the
haye
with
presented
frame.
less
friction
oil
has
been
thrown
of
gusher,
into the air to a
height of a hundred feet or more and at the rate of
than
one
from
the
four
the
50,000 to 150,000 gallons per
resistance
of
the
day.
atmosphere
As
it rises
causes
the
oil
the
riders were moving at full speed was most interesting.
to
force.
When the motors with the racing contestants
They
division enalHes the oxygen of the air to mingle with
are
speeding
at
a
rate
resulting
centrifugal
appeared
at
times
to
be
when
the
oil
the
was accomplished,
produced
however,
l:urning
cam­
case
speed,
the
effect
circular
to
the
would
and
The
the
hours
In
slow
takes
whirls, the elements to be t'1ken into account are the
curvature
suspect.
slats
speed that
is a
standing
out
almost
break
into
a
far-spreading
�he
of
spray,
and
this
sub­
burning mass and
the
duce
an hour around a track, the
gration shown in our engrav­
centrifugal force tcmding to
ing. This gu -118]' was struck
throw the weight to the out­
by lightning en July 15 and
side of the circle has to be
ignited.
counteracted
inclining
with
the rider and his wheel at
ness
such an angle to the inside
nights.
by
The
for
guished
steam
as
possible,
the
pull
less
eC[ui­
fire
seven
burnec!
streams
water
than
a
and
only extin­
after
and
fierce­
days
It was
gravity downward shall, as
libriate
confla­
extraordinary
of the circle that the pull of
closely
enormous
pro­
from twenty to thirty miles
of
from
dozen
no
boilers,
centri­
which had been gathered at
fugal force to the outside of
the well, were concentrated
the circle.
on the fire.
the
of
The resultant of
equilibrium
will
be
a
------- .... �---
Prof.
force acting normally to the
retically it
Bohuslav
contri but€S
Theo­
surface of the track.
number
would be possi­
the
ble to run a wheel at sev­
to
of
the
Russian
Brauner
a
recent
Journal
Physical
of
and
enty-five or a hundred miles
Chemical Society a paper on
an hour around a track of
the
the size shown in our illus­
earths in Mendeleeff's peri­
tration.
Of
track
this
in
have
to
be
dicular,
would
course,
case
almost
and
will
be
readily
stood that the
gravity
work
of
centrifugal
and
etc.,
discusses
the
cjic
track
through
the
different
would
exert
pressure
the
track
than that
wheels,
much
which
is
ex­
the
ele­
cerium,
neodymium,
the
author
position
of
these elements in the peri­
force acting normally to the
a
his
theofetical
lanthanum,
thorium,
rare
elements.
and
praseodymium,
for
resultant
of
concerning
ments
under­
the
mentioning
perimental
up
of
system
After
wheelo
be built
of exceptional strength;
it
odic
the
would
perpen­
the
have to
position
system,
and
ways
the
in
may be attempted
on
greater
them in it.
due to
of
four
which
to
it
place
With Mr. Steele,
Melbourne,
he
the
his wheel when he is travel­
group
ing on level ground.
sents a sort of node in the
In the
conclusion
comes to
the weight of· the rider and
of
so-called race which is here­
periodic
with illustrated, the woman
cerium
rider
element
invariably
event.
won
the
that
.elements
system,
and
this
repre­
between
an
unknown
which
the
has
atomic weight of 180.
All that she had to
This
do in passing her opponent
interperiodic group is a con­
was
tinuation
to
lower
run
edge
where,
of
down
of
to
the
course,
the
ries,
track,
she
pears in
in eacl' lap
first
than her oppo­
was
circle
larger
of
enth.
diameter.
ably,
in the construc­
the
track.
hl'acecl
It
with
was
iron
and securely bolted at every
as
the
the
ninth
In the twelfth seriefl
Ul'anllllll.
of
case
of
the
gold ap­
the first members are, prob­
terial
tion
such
member
in the selection of the ma­
strongly
with
series, and not of the elev­
riding on a
Great care had to be taken
aw1
the eighth se­
ends
platinum elements;
was
covering much less distance
nent who
of
which
CUPYIlguL JQ uy &cliett Bro••
raclium,
seems, in
BURNING OIL GUSHER, JENNINGS, LA.
Struck by lightning July 15; cxtingui"hed July 22 by streams of £tcam amI water from a UOllCll iJoilCIS.
© 1902 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC.
ion,
to
tention.
tborium
'1'11113
and
addition
MendeH,d'f's opin­
deserve
serious
at­