“Say, we’re forgetting all about the race. Here it is Tuesday. The day after to-morrow we’ll have to make a try for that touring car, and we ought to be practicing.”
“Yes, and our wheels need overhauling,” suggested Jerry. “I’m going to put in new batteries. Don’t want to run any risk of the motor missing explosions when we’re on the track, you know.”
This was voted a wise precaution, and the motor boys separated, to go home after their cycles, agreeing to meet in the afternoon on the track for practice runs.
Through a good part of the afternoon they went around and around at moderate speed, testing their motors thoroughly and practicing the turns. Others were doing the same, and no especial attention was drawn to our three heroes.
Along about five o’clock, most of the other prospective contestants having gone off, Jerry suggested it would be a good time to give the three motors a friendly trial. Accordingly a flying start was made from the judges’ stand, and each of the three boys soon had his cycle going at almost top speed.
At first there seemed to be little to choose from among them. They hung well together at the start, and then Ned began to forge ahead a little. He had acquired more momentum than the others, perhaps, or the difference that exists in two motors made exactly the same, gave his wheel one or two more revolutions a minute than Jerry’s or Bob’s.
“Are you on full speed?” asked Jerry at length.
“No,” replied Ned and Bob.
“Turn on all the power you can,” was the suggestion. “Let’s see what we really can do on the track.”
The muffled explosions at once became more rapid. The wheels whizzed around the track faster and faster, and Jerry and Bob began to creep up on Ned, who was leading. Then they passed him, and he was half a length behind. Again Jerry forged in front of Bob, and it seemed that the prize motor was going to prove the fastest.