• Lots of bollocks about Godwin being paced by a pro team (there weren't such things back then) or drafting lorries (limited to 20mph back then) for the summer.

    The truth (according to Dave Barter who wrote The Year and researched it greatly) was that he was actively paced for the high mileage 5 months by his coach Charley Davey. This "active pacing" was being shouted at by Davey from a car, not drafting the car, just being shouted at.

    On yacf Dave Barter (Citizenfish) writes about the theory he drafted lorries:-

    "
    His coach Charley Davey was a tough wizened record breaker who had taken the 24hr record and many other nails events. He would have taken no nonsense from Godwin and the record shows he harried him on during his five months of active pacing. Godwin's 348 day was witnessed by Cycling magazine, no mention of lorries, and clear indication in his splits that he rode fast then recovered, repeat.

    Neat theory, little evidence that he used it during the Davey months. However, afterwards when the pacing was stopped I suspect he would have welcomed any lorry tows available.
    "

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