Old Photo

The rider is R.G. Thompson of the Archer R.C., riding the West London CA 25 on 20th September 1942. I have the result sheet in front of me, but unfortunately I cannot upload it. Thompson's time was 1.6.36, which gave him 6th place out of 57 finishers (there were 104 entries). The winner was Arthur Overton of the Kingston RCC in 1.3.58.
The times may seem slow by modern standards, and if I had to pick one factor which slowed these ancient racing men it would be the 'inconspicuous' clothing then demanded by the RTTC. That jacket alone must have added a few minutes to his time compared with a modern skin suit.

I have posted this as a new thread because I thought it interesting and unusual to have a picture and a result sheet to go with it.
I know nothing else about Mr. Thompson.

It appears that there was a lively racing scene at this time, a fact not often mentioned in all the enormous media coverage of the war.

I'm hoping to be able to scan a small archive of photos like this. Please let me know if they would be of interest.

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Those drainpipes are fresh, where'd he cop 'em? Hipster.

Defiantly of interest. You should write a little book or blog with some of these stories and photos you get off people.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/riders.html

here is a nice page where they look at pre and post war riders.
nice pic, you can feel the crispness in the air. thanks.

http://www.londonfgss.com/attachments/6742d1236618710-ccf07032009_00000.jpg

that's some serious steep hill!

props on him for getting up that in the saddle

that's some serious steep hill!

props on him for getting up that in the saddle

props?? dont be silly,, its clear he's riding a really low gear, he must be.

Keith's bicycle track https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Public_Domain_Images_from_the_New_York_Times#/media/File:Keith%27s_Bicycle_Track,_1901-1902.JPG

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