The subject of Reg Harris - the great British sprinter - reminds me of talking about him with the Manchester framebuilder Johnny Berry in the summer of 1974. I wish I had a tape recording of the conversation since my memory was never very great and 30 years hasn't improved it any. What I think I remember Johnny saying was that he made some of Reg's track frames. I think some of the Manchester area cycling enthusiasts have tried to verify this but not completely successfully. In other words, they too have heard these stories but don't have proof. Does anyone know if this is true (that Johnny Berry built some track frames for Reg? Or better yet, any he won some championships on?), I also remember Johnny telling me that he built a frame for Audrey McElmurry (spelling?). She was the American girl that won the world road championships in 1969. Does anyone know where she is now? I would like to ask her myself.
Johnny died in the winter of 1974. He was, in my opinion as I have often said, the best of the British - or for that matter - any framebuilders. You can form your own opinion by checking out a special frame he made in 1953. There is a couple of pictures of it in my section of American framebuilders on the classic Rendezvous site. I will see if there is room to bring it to the Cirque. I retired his regulators and torch a few years ago but still use his vise and alignment table every day.
Back to the subject of Reg's British triumphs. I also seem to remember that he tried for the championship the next year when he was 55 and lost in the finals. In some magazine interview, he said the second year back wasn't as much fun because he actually had to train hard and was concerned about the result. I was surprised to hear he died when he was 72 or something. It didn't seem like enough time between his championship and his death.
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan