Earl Kiser
Encyclopedia
Earl Herbert Kiser was a professional American
cyclist who was known as "little Dayton Demon". He was one of the leading names in bicycling beginning in 1888. By 1903 he ventured into automobile racing and was sponsored by the Winton Automobile Company and drove their Winton Bullet.
His racing career came to a halt when he lost his leg in a racing accident on August 12, 1905 in Cleveland, Ohio
.
, and was the son of John Kiser (May 1846 – October 24, 1917), a real estate dealer, and Cynthia A. Kiser (May 1849 – April 25, 1927).
Yellow Fellow team which toured Europe and competed in the 1900 World Championship in Paris
.
His favorite track was the Manhattan Beach Track in New York City
and he won many professional races there.
Kiser competed against many of the top bicyclists of the day including Major Taylor
, Arthur Zimmerman, Tom Cooper
, Eddie Bald
and Nat Butler.
He helped establish one of the great tandem teams of bicycle racing along with his partner, A.C. Mertens. They often traveled together when they were participating in tandem races and also raced individually.
back into racing. Taylor had not been allowed to enter many races because he was African-American and had faced much discrimination.
first race which was held at the Dayton Fairgrounds Track. Kiser also met Alexander Winton of the Winton Automobile Company and soon joined Winton's racing team where he drove the "Winton Bullet." He won many races and within a few seasons became the World Champion, a title he obtained after beating Barney Oldfield's
record.
On August 26, 1904, Kiser won Detroit's fourth annual automobile meeting which began at the Grosse Point track. It was a 15 miles (24.1 km) open race and was "pronounced by automobilists as the most thrilling contest of the year on any track." Kiser's finished at 14:50:30 with Barney Oldfield
a close second.
By July 15, 1905, Kiser won a $2,500 purse in the Chicago-St. Paul automobile run in the Winton Bullet. Webb Jay, who drove the 24-horsepower Whistling Billy, a White steam racer, protested the race because Kiser did not have reversing gears on his 60-horsepower car which was a requirement in the A.A.A. Track racing rules that had just taken effect. Kiser's finishing time was 10:33 and Jay finished at 10:45. Barney Oldfield
came in second in his Peerless
Green Dragon.
, at the opening of the Cleveland Automobile Club Summer meet, Kiser lost a leg and retired from the sport. The accident occurred before the opening of the race when he was warming up. He made one circuit at moderate speed and received a "great ovation" as he passed the stand. Kiser was making his second round when at the center of the lower turn the car was seen to swerve slightly from its course and a second later it veered into a fence. Another racer behind him "hurried to the grandstand and secured physicians" who found him with a crushed leg, broken right arm, dislocated right shoulder and multiple cuts and bruises. He was removed by ambulance to Glenville Hospital where his leg was amputated above the knee. The car had destroyed more than 70 feet (21.3 m) of fence and turned partially around. The front wheels were buried up to the hub in mud. Immediately upon impact, the gasoline tank was crushed and the car became a mass of flames. Kiser was evidently struck by a post or cross piece from the fence and upon impact he was thrown 10 feet (3 m) from the car.
Earl Herbert Kiser died on January 19, 1936, at age 60 and was buried in Dayton’s Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum with his extended family, a few steps from the Wright Brothers
. His gravesite is located in Section 101, Lot 2487.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cyclist who was known as "little Dayton Demon". He was one of the leading names in bicycling beginning in 1888. By 1903 he ventured into automobile racing and was sponsored by the Winton Automobile Company and drove their Winton Bullet.
His racing career came to a halt when he lost his leg in a racing accident on August 12, 1905 in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
Early life
Kiser was born in Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, and was the son of John Kiser (May 1846 – October 24, 1917), a real estate dealer, and Cynthia A. Kiser (May 1849 – April 25, 1927).
Professional bicycle racing
He was only 5'6" tall and weighed 155 pounds; however, he was "all muscle." He held the 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) and 1 miles (1.6 km) world records and raced for the Dayton Bicycle Club and later the E. C. Stearns & CompanyE. C. Stearns & Company
E. C. Stearns & Company was a manufacturer of tools and hardware in Syracuse, New York and was organized in 1864 as George N. Stearns Company by George N. Stearns, a wagon maker. During the early years, the company was principally involved in the production of hollow iron tools and specialties,...
Yellow Fellow team which toured Europe and competed in the 1900 World Championship in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
His favorite track was the Manhattan Beach Track in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and he won many professional races there.
Kiser competed against many of the top bicyclists of the day including Major Taylor
Marshall Taylor
Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor was an American cyclist who won the world track cycling championship in 1899 after setting numerous world records and overcoming racial discrimination...
, Arthur Zimmerman, Tom Cooper
Tom Cooper (driver)
Tom Cooper was an 1890s champion bicycle racer and early auto racing driver. He is best known for his rivalry with Major Taylor as well as his later work with Henry Ford and Barney Oldfield.- Early years :...
, Eddie Bald
Eddie Bald
Edward Carl Bald, or Eddie Bald, was an American racing automobile driver who was retroactively awarded the 1907 National Championship in 1951 and was a champion bicycle racer in the 1890s with the nickname "The Cannon."...
and Nat Butler.
He helped establish one of the great tandem teams of bicycle racing along with his partner, A.C. Mertens. They often traveled together when they were participating in tandem races and also raced individually.
Formation of racing union
Kiser was among the men who formed the American Racing Cyclist Union. One of the first issues the union tackled was petitioning to allow Major TaylorMarshall Taylor
Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor was an American cyclist who won the world track cycling championship in 1899 after setting numerous world records and overcoming racial discrimination...
back into racing. Taylor had not been allowed to enter many races because he was African-American and had faced much discrimination.
Automobile racing
Kiser became interested in automobile racing through an old friend, Carl Fisher, who promoted Barney Oldfield’sBarney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
first race which was held at the Dayton Fairgrounds Track. Kiser also met Alexander Winton of the Winton Automobile Company and soon joined Winton's racing team where he drove the "Winton Bullet." He won many races and within a few seasons became the World Champion, a title he obtained after beating Barney Oldfield's
Barney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
record.
On August 26, 1904, Kiser won Detroit's fourth annual automobile meeting which began at the Grosse Point track. It was a 15 miles (24.1 km) open race and was "pronounced by automobilists as the most thrilling contest of the year on any track." Kiser's finished at 14:50:30 with Barney Oldfield
Barney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
a close second.
By July 15, 1905, Kiser won a $2,500 purse in the Chicago-St. Paul automobile run in the Winton Bullet. Webb Jay, who drove the 24-horsepower Whistling Billy, a White steam racer, protested the race because Kiser did not have reversing gears on his 60-horsepower car which was a requirement in the A.A.A. Track racing rules that had just taken effect. Kiser's finishing time was 10:33 and Jay finished at 10:45. Barney Oldfield
Barney Oldfield
Berna Eli "Barney" Oldfield was an automobile racer and pioneer. He was born on a farm on the outskirts of Wauseon, Ohio. He was the first man to drive a car at 60 miles per hour on an oval...
came in second in his Peerless
Peerless
Peerless was a United States automobile produced by the Peerless Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio from 1900 to 1931. The company was known for building high-quality, precision luxury automobiles. Peerless' factory was located at 9400 Quincy Avenue in Cleveland...
Green Dragon.
Racing accident
On August 12, 1905, in an unfortunate racing accident in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, at the opening of the Cleveland Automobile Club Summer meet, Kiser lost a leg and retired from the sport. The accident occurred before the opening of the race when he was warming up. He made one circuit at moderate speed and received a "great ovation" as he passed the stand. Kiser was making his second round when at the center of the lower turn the car was seen to swerve slightly from its course and a second later it veered into a fence. Another racer behind him "hurried to the grandstand and secured physicians" who found him with a crushed leg, broken right arm, dislocated right shoulder and multiple cuts and bruises. He was removed by ambulance to Glenville Hospital where his leg was amputated above the knee. The car had destroyed more than 70 feet (21.3 m) of fence and turned partially around. The front wheels were buried up to the hub in mud. Immediately upon impact, the gasoline tank was crushed and the car became a mass of flames. Kiser was evidently struck by a post or cross piece from the fence and upon impact he was thrown 10 feet (3 m) from the car.
Later years
After his retirement, he became involved in real estate with Carl Fisher.Earl Herbert Kiser died on January 19, 1936, at age 60 and was buried in Dayton’s Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum with his extended family, a few steps from the Wright Brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
. His gravesite is located in Section 101, Lot 2487.