Some of my Idols since 1948

No 1. Reg Harris

Reginald Hargreaves was born in March 1920 in a village called Birtle in Lancashire About 6 miles from my home town Salford. When he was 7 years old his father died and some time later after his mother re-married he added his step fathers name Harris. His track bikes carried his initials RHH but he was known as Reg Harris. He retired from competition in 1957 and a few years later bought the track at Fallowfield in South Manchester to save it from demolition.

In 1971 at the age of 51 Reg made a come back to Track Racing and competed in the British Professional Sprint Championships at the Track in Birmingham. He was beaten in the semi-final by the current World Champion Gordie Johnson but won the Bronze medal in a ride off.

Three years later in the summer of 1974 at the age of 54 he tried again and this time, at the Leicester track he beat the best of the British riders and won the British Professional Sprint Championship. He defended his Title the following year and reached and the Final where he was beaten so ended up with the Silver Medal.

No 1(also) Fausto Coppi

It was in 1949 at school during a Lower 5S French lesson our teacher Gus Foran brought in a copy of 'Miroir Sprint' it was a life changing experience for me. Fausto Coppi had won the Tour de France.