Re: [CR] Start The Ball Rolling USA Track Stars

(Example: Racing:Wayne Stetina)

From: "jerrymoos" <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: "Mick Butler" <pariscyclesuk@hotmail.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <BAY16-F72jVLYo3gZ8g000050cb@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Start The Ball Rolling USA Track Stars
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 18:46:30 -0500


Most of these guys are probably unknown to most US members, certainly to me. We came into cycling with road riding in the 60's and 70's and our heros were Merckx, Maertens, Gimondi and Ocana, maybe Howard and the Stetinas on the more local scene. The first really great American rider we knew about was Lemond. The exploits of Major Taylor have now been fairly widely publicized, but most other pre-1950 riders are little known as there are few good books easily available about these riders. I'd like to see a new or reissued book about American cycling in the first half of the 20th century. It could be as educational as The Dancing Chain.

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Houston, TX


----- Original Message -----
From: Mick Butler
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 4:39 PM
Subject: [CR] Start The Ball Rolling USA Track Stars



> Hope this will gee someone up to write something on your wonderful trackmen.
> Cecil Yates. The Rabbit was his nickname. He was born on the 8th. May 1913
> in Thuber, Texas. Didn't get his name because he looked like a rabbit. Cecil
> got his name due to his style of sprinting. On your small indoor American
> tracks, his sprints were a series of short rapide bursts, reminding the
> paying punter of the way a rabbit runs through a field. This rider was
> equally popular with spectators and track promoters. Kept the paying punters
> spellbound. There were a lot faster riders than Yates, but they didn't shine
> as much. He had crowd appeal in spades. The most important thing for a Six
> Day rider. Cecil Yates was a great entainer and he had no difficulty in
> getting stars , such as Torchy Peden, Gus Kilian and Heinz Voppel on his
> side. If the Second World War had not intervened his list of victories would
> have been a lot longer.
> 1934 With Eddy Testa Vancouver
> 1935 " " Gerard Vermeersch Detroit
> 1935 " " Jack Gabell Louisville
> 1936 " " Freddy Zach Des Moines
> 1936 " " Henry O'Brien San Francisco
> 1937 " " George Dempsey Oakland
> 1937 " " Jerry Rodman San Francisco
> 1939 " " New York Cesare Moretti Jnr.
> 1940 " " Montreal Angel Debacco
> 1940 " " Buffalo Heinz Voppel
> 1940 " " Chicago Torch Peden
> 1942 " " Jules Audy Milwaukee
> 1943 " " Chicago Doug Peden
> 1948 " " Charlie Bergna Winnipeg
> 1949 " " Cleeveland Charlie Bergna
>
> Come on chaps wave the flag never mind about Saronni how about your
> wonderfull lads!
>
>
> Best wishes and be lucky. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.