Cool track photo thread

[siennatrack]

Thanks for the info, I will try again after I have completed 10 posts. I was looking through some old pictures of sprinters in the late 1950's and 60's and came across a report of the 1962 world championships in Milan where the reporter was saying how Ron Baensch, the great Australian sprinter was the fastest bloke in the amateur competition, though he did not win it. As often happened when Ron raced against any Italian rider, there was fireworks and the occasional punch up, at the '62 worlds Ron met the Italian Petenella in the quarter finals. Ron lost 5 spokes from his front wheel and a protest in race one, he won race two and lost the decision in a photo finnish and a protest in race three. So pretty normal stuff for Ron.
All this reminded me of a story that the English sprinter told me 40 or so years ago, concerning Ron Baensch, I really admire Ron Baensch, this is in no way judgmental of him, just what I was told.
This English sprinter was at a later Worlds when Ron was riding as a pro, Ron was warming up on the rollers and shall we say representatives of the Italian camp approached Ron and had an earnest conversation with him, Ron shook his head and the delegation left. They returned a couple of times, with the same result, Ron shaking his head. The Englishman said the last time they approached Ron, he nodded and they left. When queried, " what was that all about then Ron? ". Baensch replied that they had wanted him to lose the race but weren't offering enough money, eventually they met his price.
Only Ron Baensch knows if this is true or not. I firmly believe that Ron was the fastest sprinter in the world at his peak and no one, not even Maspes, could beat him in a fair race. The Italians had to use all of their finalists to rough him up in the rounds preceding the final in order to get an Italian win.

Ron still rides his bike on a weekly basis he is now in his seventies and looks great on a bike even now .I remember as a kid watching him race at our local track
once ,it was a big carnival and some how he rode with the Italian Cardi in the madison, at one point in the race Cardi missed a change while chatting to the local girls, great laugh but Ron didn't see it that way and he simply rolled around the bottom and got off the bike no money for the Italian that race.There is some great footage of Anthony [weapon] Pedan racing the 99 or 2000? oceanic keirin titles when Ron was overseeing a lot of his training ,Garry Sutton is calling the race and talks about weapon being rough and playing to the crowds like there was something wrong with a good showman but i could see Ron,s influence in Anthony that night and it was the best race of the night .Showmen like Ron are whats lacking in track cycling these days they were the riders that put bums on seats.

[siennatrack]

Thanks for the info, I will try again after I have completed 10 posts. I was looking through some old pictures of sprinters in the late 1950's and 60's and came across a report of the 1962 world championships in Milan where the reporter was saying how Ron Baensch, the great Australian sprinter was the fastest bloke in the amateur competition, though he did not win it. As often happened when Ron raced against any Italian rider, there was fireworks and the occasional punch up, at the '62 worlds Ron met the Italian Petenella in the quarter finals. Ron lost 5 spokes from his front wheel and a protest in race one, he won race two and lost the decision in a photo finnish and a protest in race three. So pretty normal stuff for Ron.
All this reminded me of a story that the English sprinter told me 40 or so years ago, concerning Ron Baensch, I really admire Ron Baensch, this is in no way judgmental of him, just what I was told.
This English sprinter was at a later Worlds when Ron was riding as a pro, Ron was warming up on the rollers and shall we say representatives of the Italian camp approached Ron and had an earnest conversation with him, Ron shook his head and the delegation left. They returned a couple of times, with the same result, Ron shaking his head. The Englishman said the last time they approached Ron, he nodded and they left. When queried, " what was that all about then Ron? ". Baensch replied that they had wanted him to lose the race but weren't offering enough money, eventually they met his price.
Only Ron Baensch knows if this is true or not. I firmly believe that Ron was the fastest sprinter in the world at his peak and no one, not even Maspes, could beat him in a fair race. The Italians had to use all of their finalists to rough him up in the rounds preceding the final in order to get an Italian win.

Ron still rides his bike on a weekly basis he is now in his seventies and looks great on a bike even now .I remember as a kid watching him race at our local track
once ,it was a big carnival and some how he rode with the Italian Cardi in the madison, at one point in the race Cardi missed a change while chatting to the local girls, great laugh but Ron didn't see it that way and he simply rolled around the bottom and got off the bike no money for the Italian that race.There is some great footage of Anthony [weapon] Pedan racing the 99 or 2000? oceanic keirin titles when Ron was overseeing a lot of his training ,Garry Sutton is calling the race and talks about weapon being rough and playing to the crowds like there was something wrong with a good showman but i could see Ron,s influence in Anthony that night and it was the best race of the night .Showmen like Ron are whats lacking in track cycling these days they were the riders that put bums on seats.

[Derny Driver]

All this reminded me of a story that the English sprinter told me 40 or so years ago, concerning Ron Baensch, I really admire Ron Baensch, this is in no way judgmental of him, just what I was told.
This English sprinter was at a later Worlds when Ron was riding as a pro, Ron was warming up on the rollers and shall we say representatives of the Italian camp approached Ron and had an earnest conversation with him, Ron shook his head and the delegation left. They returned a couple of times, with the same result, Ron shaking his head. The Englishman said the last time they approached Ron, he nodded and they left. When queried, " what was that all about then Ron? ". Baensch replied that they had wanted him to lose the race but weren't offering enough money, eventually they met his price.
Only Ron Baensch knows if this is true or not. ..

It would be correct. My uncle who was a Pro track rider has similar stories. Sometimes, it was more important to put food on the table for your family and pay your bills, than to win a trophy or ribbon.
Six day promoters needed to get bums on seats, and often that involved keeping local riders and teams on the leaderboard for a few nights. You want the race contract, you do what the promoter wants. As Rudi Altig said once, "We are not sportsmen, we are professionals".
Ron Baensch was a legend of the sport and is still highly regarded in Europe. He was one of the greatest sprinters ever.

[brentono]

Photos ... gotta luv B&W

[cotterpin]

Thanks Brentono, Great shot of Merckx.

Also, thanks to jonsgym, siennatrack and Derny Driver, it was good reading about Ron Baensch.
I had heard some of those stories in the 60's at Hawthorn A C C, when I was a wide eyed juvenile,
Ron's name was a big deal, having once been a member at Hawthorn and he was still riding at the time.
Ron's younger brother Geoff was also racing at the time and his father would often attend
race meetings as a spectator/official.
I met Kevin Baensch at Blackburn A C C in the early 80's when he made a come back.
I've never met Ron but I'm sure he is a great person, just like the rest of his family.
Peter

[brentono]

Here's a photo off a blog, N.S.W. local on a BLACKBIRD (before my time)... any ideas?

[brentono]

Thx Peter, here's a not so great shot of Merckx (fall) in 1969 at Blois,
where the pacer was killed instantly (spoken about earlier)

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Here's a photo off a blog, N.S.W. local on a BLACKBIRD (before my time)... any ideas?

Could be Ron Cazey or Don Blackman?

The 'Blackbird' is a rare example of a 'named' racing bicycle. It was usual for cycling 'stars' to have their name painted on the frame. Such named racing bicycles are now sort after by collectors. Ron Cazey, the owner of the 'Blackbird' and whose name appears on the bicycle's top tube, was a member of the Ashfield and District bicycle club and was proficient enough to be classified as a 'professional' racer. He raced in the prestigious Goulburn to Sydney road race several times in the 1930s as well as participating in track events. It was said that he missed out on a position with the 1938 Australian Empire Games cycling team by 'half a wheel' in a 117 mile road race.

The 'Blackbird' bicycle was manufactured by Ashfield bicycle shop owner Don Blackman, a champion bicycle rider in his own right and now considered one of the 'elite' cycle racers of New South Wales. Cazey has not, so far, been classified as an 'elite' rider as the voluntary work of collecting data on the participants in bicycle racing over the past century is ongoing. Further reseach will provide data to place Ron Cazey in his position as a 'professional' rider.

Bicycle racing in the 1930s in Australia was more popular and newsworthy than today. Long distance events and track racing were more commonplace and publicly supported. The sports-minded public was eager to read of the exploits of the bicycle racers and thus, articles on the races appeared in the front section of some newspapers.

As the 'Blackbird' was owned by Ron Cazey from new it is well provenanced and supported by the other objects in the acquisition; the practice rollers, shoes, suitcase and its contents of awards, photographs, ephemera and riding numbers.
Production notes
Don Blackman was a racing cyclist who apparently began manufacturing bicycles under the 'Blackbird' name at his home before moving production to his bicycle shop at 186 Liverpool Road (Hume Highway) Ashfield.
History notes
Ronald (Ron) Leo Cazey was born at Lidcombe, NSW, in 1917 and as a young man was a keen cyclist competing in both road and track events with considerable success. He won a number of awards in the late 1930s, during the halcyon days of cycle racing, and apparently missed out on selection in the of the 1938 Empire Games team by half a bike wheel length after a 117 mile road race. He was also a regular competitor in the famous gruelling Goulburn to Sydney road race along the old Hume Highway. Cazey was a tall man, and a strong and aggressive rider.

Cazey worked in the bush during the pre-War years then joined the 1st Cavalry Division Remount Depot at Holsworthy when the War commenced. He later returned to his trade as a builder and always owned a series of utes. At Thomas Street, Ashfield, he owned and operated a hardware and timber company called N & R Hardware, (the initials of Ron and Noreen his wife whom he had married in 1958). During the early 1960s Cazey was State President of the Master Builders Association and helped establish a chair of Building Science at the University of New South Wales. He was also an active Rotarian and successfully stood for the position of Alderman on Ashfield Council. Also about this time he bought a property in the Megalong Valley and became a 'Pitt Street farmer'.

During the drought of 1969 he agisted stock on Araluen, near Mullion Creek, Orange, and subsequently sold the Megalong Valley property and moved his family from Sydney to Mullion Creek. He enjoyed farming sheep and immersed himself in the local community holding some authority in the local rural fire brigade. He stayed on the land until his 80s when ill health forced him into a house at Orange in 1999. Ron Cazey died in 2006.

Read more: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collect ... z2bYi5qZjL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Or it could be someone on this list:

[brentono]

Thx BFV have viewed the info, about this circa 1933 Track photo, which is a very good
photography shot especially for this period, so good, thought someone here may recognise.
Cheers

[Derny Driver]

Or it could be someone on this list:

Well its not my dad (Lindsay Arnold) or my uncle (Alfred Arnold). Its not Ian Leary or Harold Johnson either.
I'll show the photo to my dad, he will know.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

I love this thread. It's like an episode of CSI, or a Sherlock Holmes story.

[Derny Driver]

Ok, I was at my dad's tonight and showed him the photo. Its not any of the names on bfv's program. Its also not Ron Cazey or Don Blackman. My dad thinks it is probably Arthur Windon, a fairly famous rider who rode around 1939-42. My dad started in 1944 so he didn't know him but had heard of him. Windon rode a lot of sixes and other track races.

A quick search on Trove brings up lots of results. It appears Windon was a track specialist who rode teams races and six day events all over Australia and New Zealand. This photo appears to be taken on the Sydney Sports Arena, possibly as a promotion or during a race. Id be pretty certain that its Windon. It doesn't seem to be anyone from my dad's era, 1944-1960.

Just a note about the Blackbird bike and Don Blackman. I have a similar photo of my uncle Reg Arnold on his Blackbird. Its one of my favourite photos, for the story behind it. My dad and his brothers and sister lost their father when they were very young. My dad was 6. They were sent to live in boarding school in Sydney, their Mum had to stay at Murwillimbah. My dad and two of his brothers got jobs after they left school and bought a house and brought their mum down to live with them. The house was near Blackman's shop. They met Blackman when they started cycling and this kind hearted bloke took them in, gave them cheap bikes, and was really a mentor and father figure. They used to hang out at his shop every afternoon. My uncle went on to become a dual world champion and a household name in Europe, he met Kings and Popes and every famous star of stage and screen. He met boxers who were the champion of the world and all the greatest cyclists like Coppi, Bobet etc. When I interviewed my uncle with a view to writing his biography, I asked him who was the greatest person he ever met. He replied without hesitation "Ive never met anyone I can put in the same category as Don Blackman"
My dad says the same. Blacko supported them right throughout their cycling careers and beyond, he was ...well, just a great human being.

bfv - mate could I have a high quality scan of that program with my dad's name on it? Obviously anything with my dad's name, his brother's name, and Don Blackman's name on it is of sentimental value to my family. I'll find a way to return the favour to you. My email is arnoldcycling (AT) gmail.com Cheers, DD

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Hey DD, not my program, but I know who owns it, and tons and tons of stuff like it. I'll send you the details and you can get in contact with them. They will probably be over the moon to talk to you and your Dad.

[Derny Driver]

Hey DD, not my program, but I know who owns it, and tons and tons of stuff like it. I'll send you the details and you can get in contact with them. They will probably be over the moon to talk to you and your Dad.

Cheers mate, thanks

[brentono]

Performance Enhancing Substances taken during 6-Day

[Derny Driver]

Sercu with Mr Paris-Roubaix, roger De Vlaeminck!

[brentono]

Sercu with Mr Paris-Roubaix, roger De Vlaeminck!

Prize to Mr.DD ... you think circa 1971?

[brentono]

Here's one for Gary

[bigfriendlyvegan]

Sercu with Mr Paris-Roubaix, roger De Vlaeminck!

Prize to Mr.DD ... you think circa 1971?

Nah, that's Wiggo and Mr. Bean.

[brentono]

Nah, this is Wiggo AS Mr. Bean.

[Derny Driver]

Sercu with Mr Paris-Roubaix, roger De Vlaeminck!

Prize to Mr.DD ... you think circa 1971?

Most definitely 1971. De Vlaeminck only rode with Sercu a handful of times, Brussells, Gent and Antwerp 1971 and Antwerp and Gent 1982. He was riding for Mars Flandria in 1971.
I don't recognise the cabin so Im not sure which race. They won at Gent, were 2nd at Brussells and abandoned Antwerp.
Sercu- DeVlaeminck also won the Belgian national madison championship title in 1972.
The jerseys have me a bit confused. In a Six they wore matching jerseys with numbers on them. They are wearing their spomsors jerseys. Im also not sure why De Vlaeminck is wearing the Belgian champions jersey on the track since he never won a national title until the madison in 1972.
Anyway, fantastic photo of two absolute freaks of the sport.

[foo on patrol]

Here's one for Gary

I was there when that one happened Brenton, Moree Track Easter Carnival.

Foo

[brentono]

Nice one Foo

And for DD ... and a great Team for the 6-Day... this is a great early historic shot.

[Derny Driver]

Thankyou Brent. BEAUTIFUL photo on many counts.
Quick story about Sercu and Merckx ... In researching my book many years ago I got into contact with some big name dudes in Belgium, including a Danish guy who is in charge of the UIV which organises all the track racing. He answered a few of my questions and also gave me Sercu's email address. Anyway, I emailed Patrick about a couple of things and it turns out he is a big fan of my uncle ...long story short, I got invited to the Gent Sixday in 2005 as a special guest of the organisers. Sercu is the organiser of the six day circuit. Anyway, I got to meet him, shake his hand and got an autograph and a chat for about an hour during the running of the Six. I also got introduced to some of the old time riders like Norbert Seeuws who were there watching the race. I also met Brett Horton, of the Horton Collection fame. Anyway it was the last night of the Six and Merckx and Rik Van Looy are introduced to the crowd and do a presentation of flowers to some riders, then are escorted to sit in the front row on the finish line, just a few rows in front of me. The crowd of 10,000 who were standing up sat down and I then stood up, much to the wifes horror, and walked down a couple of rows and had a long chat with Van Looy, who introduced me to Merckx. When I went back to my seat all the Belgies were staring at me, wondering what was said.
My uncle rode many races with Van Looy including the Gent Six of 1958 which they won. Van Looy remembered my uncle and regaled me with a few anecdotes and asked me to say gidday to my uncle for him.
So in a matter of days I met Sercu, Van Looy and Merckx ...it was a while ago but I will never forget it. Merckx is the undisputed greatest road rider ever and Sercu, without any question, the greatest track cyclist of all time.