Hi all, Sorry I didn't realize it was that difficult, would you believe there were no answers from the British contingent shame on you. Congratulations to Paul Patzkowsky, Peter Tutty and Mike Fabian for getting very close. None of you spotted David Duffield. 1.Ray Booty (famous on solos) is the one with glasses and who hails from Nottingham and is best known for his record breaking at 100 miles and 12 hours plus his three British Best All-Rounder title wins. Ray was a fantastic all-rounder and not just a time trialer. He was winner of the Manx international in 1954 and then went on to take the Commonwealth Games road race gold in Cardiff in 1958 when he finished over a minute clear of his nearest rival. This race was ridden in very heavy rain, no joke for a rider he had to wear glasses plus he had a double bike change in the last 21 miles. But he is best remembered for his times against the clock at 100 miles which made him a star. When Ray entered the record books the R.T.T.C 100 mile comp record stood at 4-6-52 and was set by Vic Gibbons in 1953. Ray reduced it to 4-04-30 bringing the first 25mph 100 mile that closer. The National championship 100 of 1956 saw Ray lower it to 4-01-52 bringing the four hour barrier tantalizing closer. Just a few weeks later Booty smashed the barrier with a 3-58-28 in the classic Bath road 100 to win a gold medal from "Cycling" and put the record safe for the next six years. Now this might seem slow by todays standards but remember this record was set by a rider whose first choice gear was 84" fixed, although he occasionally geared up to 86"! Shortly after he smashed the out and back 100 he smashed the R.R.S straight out 100. Ray rode a Raleigh with a 3 speed Sturmey with ratios of 85-91-97. This ride started in north London and headed for Norwich, ray's time was 3-28-40 and this record stood for 34 years until Ian Cammish lowered it as a pro backed bid in 1990. Ray Booty was probably the last of the true clubman champions whose cycling love included touring, racing and record breaking.
2. David P.Duffield (likes a nag) yes the infamous Eurosport TV commentator. Dave was no mean cyclists. There were many unconventional things about David Duffield. For example, he must have been one of the few racing men who never did weekday training at all, his cycling being confined to weekends. But strangest of all was his decision to attack the End to End tricycle record " the wrong way round," that is, by starting from John o' Groats instead of Land's End. That he triumphed, in spite of the criticisms of riders and followers with much more End to End experience, didn't surprise his friends, for, in their opinion, "Dave could get away with anything!" Without question, David Duffield was one of the great characters of the cycling world. Cheerful and outspoken and a tricycling giant in achievements and stature. He is 6' 3" in height. However, David Duffield warrants a place in this gallery of tricyclist and cyclists because of his feats on the road. It was Mike Earp of the Evesham and District Wheelers who first introduced David to cycling, while the two were doing their National Service. On being demobbed in March, 1952, David joined the Beacon Roads C.C., and 12 days later rode his first time trial, a medium gear 25 in which he clocked an encouraging 1-9-21. By the end of the year he was down to 1-2-7 for a 25, his best 50 was 2-8-55, and he was 12 minutes inside "evens" for the hundred. Despite a change of job and irregular training, David managed to knock 16 minutes off his 100 time, and covered 241 miles in a 12 hour event the following year. Dave was always an eccentric and he soon took up tricycling. In 1954 he rode a 25, two 50s and a 100 on a " barrow," in the latter event achieving the distinction of finishing second to John Arnold and pushing Albert Crimes down into third place. Attracted to Road Records, he attempted, in one ride, the Midland R.R.A. 50 and Midland and National 100 records; but an error in course measurement resulted in his claim being rejected. But he had shown himself to have the ideal temperament for the job, and success in this sphere eventually came his way. His triple record attempt in September 1955, on the Birmingham to Bristol and back and 12 hour' Midland records (he had scheduled', for the National 12 as well). Riding' a " conversion " set, his offside rear fork end fractured after 30 miles" and he completed the ride on a machine literally strapped together. The Midland records were beaten easily, but what a struggle he had over the closing miles of the National 12! He slowed considerably, he was drenched by rain in a thunderstorm at Warwick, and he crawled up the little rise into Knowle, the well known Duffield spirit was very low indeed. But David was not finished by a long way, and, after crawling into Solihull and turning off down the winding lanes through Catherine de Barnes, the speed rapidly rose - 17.s, 18s and then " evens." But time was running out. The record was held the by S. W. Parker with 230 miles, and to become the new holder David had to beat it by at least 440 yards. His last effort sprint paid off, for when calculations were finished it was found he had ridden 230.4 miles. In 1956 it was his 1,000 miles that hit the headlines. Equipped with a specially built 26in. frame, with reinforced rear stays, 7in. cranks and eight gears, he overcame the delay caused by a broken front hub axle, stomach trouble, a bad attack of hic coughs and extreme cold during the hours of darkness, to knock 18 hours off the previous record with a time of 3 days 12 hours 15 minutes. Next came the " Unconventional " John o' Groats to Land's End record. Again he had mechanical trouble early on, and again he had to fight stomach trouble and cold, but battled courageously on to clock 2 days 20 hours 9 minutes, or 41' hours inside record. As is often the case on those ultra-long records, the helpers were more tired than the rider. And so David drove the first 50 .miles of the journey back to the Midlands while his helpers slept. I have only outlined the highlights of Duffield's racing career, but the great thing is that, win or lose, he enjoyed the sport and was always willing to help others.
3. Albert Crimes Crewe Wheelers CC holder of 1000 mile tricycle record 2 days 21 hours 37 minutes and End to End in 1957 in 2 days 12 hours 37 minutes. He also rode the tandem tricycle with John F.Arnold and they held th 50,100,1000 miles, 12 & 24 hour, Liverpool-London, Liverpool-Edinburgh and End to End records.
Finally there are some wondeful photographs taken at the Douglas Bay
Hotel on the Isle of Man in 1961. Back then the Manx Premier Road Race
attracted all the top continental professionals and there was always a
photo shoot of these riders but the sight of David Duffields huge
tricycle stirred their interest. The photos are of Tom Simpson, Andre
Darrigade, Andre le Dissez and Camille le Menn all having a go on the
trike.
They were amazed when Rene de Latour told them about the time for the
End to End record on a bicycle and were dumbfounded when told that Dave
Duffield only took nine hours longer on the trike! They could not
believe it on a machine they could hardly ride!
Mick Butler Hunts. UK.
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Michael Francis Butler
michaelbutler@fastmail.fm