Charles Murphy (cyclist)

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Charles Murphy (1896)
Record run on June 30, 1899
Charles Murphy as a flying policeman (1914)

Charles Minthorn Murphy , called Mile-a-Minute Murphy , (born October 1870 in New York ; † February 16, 1950 ibid) was an American cyclist and record-breaking cyclist.

Record drive and cycling

Charles Murphy worked as a salesman in a bicycle shop until he became a cyclist himself. In 1891 he won the US championship in tandem races and won other championship titles. In 1895 he held seven world records and 17 national records. His main goal, however, was to set a new speed record behind a locomotive as a " pacemaker ". For ten years he tried to get various railroad companies excited about his idea, until the " Long Island Rail Road " finally agreed in 1899 : On June 30 of this year he undertook his spectacular record run behind a locomotive with a trailer and drove a mile in 57.80 seconds (100.24 km / h). For Murphy's record attempt, the track between Farmingdale and Babylon was laid out with hardwood boards and a panel was attached to the rear of the trailer to protect the driver. The record lasted until 1924, when the Frenchman Gustave Ganay undercut it behind a racing car in a record attempt in Daytona Beach . Murphy was the first cyclist to stay under a minute over the mile, which earned him the nickname "Mile-a-Minute Murphy".

Then Charles Murphy appeared in the circus or in variety shows and drove on an exercise bike against a dummy locomotive.

Policeman in New York

After his cycling career ended in 1900, Murphy became a New York police officer. He has received numerous public praise and awards. He was the first cop in the world to pilot an airplane on duty and the first New York motorcycle cop. In 1914 he had a motorcycle accident after which he was temporarily paralyzed on one side. After two more accidents on duty, he had to quit in 1917.

In 1948 Charles Murphy had one leg amputated due to gangrene ; In 1950 he died of complications from diabetes .

Honors

In 1991 Murphy was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Andreas Pooch: The science of fast cycling. Part 2, Liegerad-Daten-Verlag, Windeck 2008, ISBN 978-3-9806385-5-5 , p. 10ff.

literature

  • Walter Lemke, Wolfgang Gronen : History of cycling, the bicycle. Doepgen, Eupen 1978, pp. 133 and 173.
  • Peter Nye: Hearts of Lions. The History of American Bicycle Racing. Norton, New York NY et al. 1988, ISBN 0-393-02543-8 , pp. 29ff.

Web links

Commons : Charles Murphy  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Murphy, Charles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Murphy, Charles Minthorn (full name); Mile-a-Minute Murphy (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American cyclist
DATE OF BIRTH October 1870
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH February 16, 1950
Place of death New York City