Newark Velodrome

Newark Velodrome

Location	South Orange Avenue Newark, New Jersey
Coordinates	40°44′42.89″N 74°13′3.10″W
Capacity	12,500
Surface	Wood (Track) Grass (Infield)
Construction
Opened	1911
Demolished	1930
Tenants
Various cycling events (1911–1930) Newark Tornadoes (NFL) (1930)

The Newark Velodrome, also known as the Vailsburg Velodrome, was a wooden bicycle track in the Vailsburg neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey, located first on the south side of South Orange Avenue and Munn Avenue and later relocated across the street to the north side of South Orange Avenue.^[1] It opened in 1911 as the 2nd velodrome replacing the original velodrome that was built back in 1897^[2] and measured six laps to the mile, or 293 yards per lap. It replaced another 1/6-mile wooden velodrome that was located to the south,^[3] in the northwest corner of the current Vailsburg Park. That velodrome opened on May 10, 1908, and replaced a 1/4-mile wooden velodrome^[3] that had opened in 1897^[4] on the same site.

The Newark Tornadoes of the National Football League also played several "home" games on the track's grassy infield during the 1930 season, while the other "home" games were played at Newark Schools Stadium.

Football

The Tornadoes played two NFL games at the Velodrome in 1930, both defeats for Newark. On October 19, the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Tornadoes, 14–0; a week later on October 26, the Staten Island Stapletons downed Newark, 6–0.

Cycling

The 1912 UCI Track Cycling World Championships were held in Newark. The event was sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body for the cycling sport. The 1912 event was estimated to draw 20,000 fans, even though the seating capacity of the venue was just 12,500. Frank Louis Kramer won a gold medal in the professional men's sprint at the venue that year.^[5] Australian cyclist, Reggie McNamara set five world records from one to 25 miles at the velodrome in 1915, 1916, and 1917.

Demolished

The Newark Velodrome closed in 1930 after its lease expired and was demolished on December 4, 1930.^[6]

See also

• New York Velodrome

Preceded by Newark Schools Stadium

Home of the Orange A.C.- Orange/Newark Tornadoes 1930

Succeeded by Knights of Columbus Stadium

References

1. Robinson, Elisha (1926), Volume 2 Plate 29 City of Newark part of Ward 13 Vailsburg Section, Robinson's atlas of the city of Newark, New Jersey in three volumes: compiled from official records, private plans, and actual surveys by and under the supervision of E. Robinson, J. M. Lathrop and Thomas Flynn
2. Duffy, E.P. (Apr 4, 1911). "New Ball Park and Bike Track Credit to City". Newark Evening Star and Newark Advertiser. Newark, New Jersey, USA. p. 13.
3. Sanborn Map Company (1909), "Sheet 50", Newark New Jersey volume 5, New York, New York, USA: Sanborn Map Company
4. "Cyclers Column". The Daily Times. New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. Jun 6, 1897. p. 5.
5. "Champion Captures Feature Event from Grenda and Perchicot at Newark Velodrome". New York Times. September 23, 1912. Retrieved 3 October 2010. The one-mile double century race, which was won by Frank L. Kramer, was the feature event of the bicycle races yesterday at the Newark Velodrome. After fifteen elimination heats and three semi-finals, Kramer, Alfred Grenda of Australia, and A. Perchicot of France were left to fight out the final, and the contest furnished all that the cycle fans could wish for in the way of spectacular riding.
6. Nye, Peter (2020). Hearts of lions: the history of American bicycle racing (2 ed.). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-4962-1931-2.

External links

• Newark: Cradle of Cycling in the Sport's Golden Age
• Deep Dive: Newark New Jersey’s Incredible Velodrome and Motordrome Racing Venues by Mr. Local History Project
• US Bicycling Hall of Fame Inductees -2004
• 1930 NFL season summary^{[permanent dead link‍]}