An absolutely amazing find... a treasure trove of pics!

So, on a recent visit to my parents house, my Dad produced some folders he'd found at my grandparents house, that he'd previously forgotten about. Inside was picture after picture of cycling gold, all taken by my dad in or around the 70s, including track and road. After bugging him to get scans of them for a while he finally just sent me a CD with 5 track racing images, so i thought i'd share them, along with the blurb he lovingly included for each image. Absolute gold dust.

To start, here's the general blurb my dad gave me surrounding the pics:

[INDENT]The National Track Championships used to be spread across the season at different events around the country until an organiser called Benny Foster (a sometime paraffin salesman from Telford) brought them all together into a 7-10 day championship at the Saffron Lane track in Leicester in the 1970s. The intention was to recreate the atmosphere and conditions that riders would encounter at the major international championships such as the World Championships, the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.

The original mastic asphalt surface (used for the 1970 World Championships) was replaced with wood for the 1978 season and was then used for the 1982 World Championships. The resurfacing also involved slight changes to the geometry to reduce some of the alignment problems but the length remained unchanged at 333 metres.

Living as we did in Leicester at that time I spent an ever-increasing amount of time at the Saffron Lane track photographing the events and riders. Being a member of a local club (Ratae RC) and a familiar face I was eventually invited to be the Official Photographer for the Championships in 1978 which was also the Centerary of the British Cycling Federation (the Governing Body).

[/INDENT]
Tony Doyle:
Leicester 1978, 4000 meter Pursuit during the National Championships riding for the Surrey club, Clarence Wheelers. One of our best known riders during the 1970s and 80s. Twice World Professional Pursuit Champion, 4 times World Silver medallist, 4 times European Track Champion and the UK’s most successful 6 day rider ever. He has won 24 six-day races in his amazing career. Was awarded the MBE for his services to cycling. (Yashica 635 TLR, Ilford HP5).

Trevor Bull:
Leicester 1978, invitation televised professional Keirin-type event during the National Championships. From the West Midlands and for many years (as here) a professional for Carlton Cycles. An international rider he gained a bronze medal in the 1966 Commonwealth Games. (Canon FTbn, Canon 50mm, Ilford HP5).

34th Nomads:
Leicester 1977, 4000 metres Team Pursuit, during the National Championships. This is a well-drilled South London team sponsored at that time by plumbers' merchants CP Hart (now a Designer Bathroom emporium). The second rider in line is the stylish Ron Keeble (Olympic and World Championship rider); the fourth may be (from his attitude) Glen Mitchell (again a World, Olympic and Commonwealth Games international, gaining a team pursuit bronze in the 1978 Commonwealth Games). (Canon FTbn, Canon 135mm, Ilford HP5). This picture also brought in a substantial cheque from The Observer newspaper in a photographic competition held around that time.

Trevor Gadd (L) and Steve Cronshaw (R):
Leicester 1977, Tandem record attempt during the National Championships. Members of the Nottingham based VC Europa (effectively sponsored by Raleigh). This formidable pair are in their National Champion jerseys having won the Tandem Sprint event and are going for a record attempt (probably timed, as all Sprint events are, over the last 200 metres); can't remember the outcome but they probably did it. Trevor Gadd gained silvers in the 1978 Commonwealth Games Tandem (partnered by Land Speed Record holder Dave le Grys) and solo Sprint events. Steve Cronshaw is still racing and is a past World Masters Champion. (Canon FTbn, Canon 135mm, Ilford HP5). This picture made for a great caption competition in the office.

Ian Hallam (L) and Paul Medhurst (R):
Leicester 1978, final match in the Professional Sprint during the National Championships. Ian Hallam, a dentist, (Nottingham based Beeston RC but here sponsored by KP Nuts) just beating Paul Medhurst (ex New Zealand Commonwealth Games bronze tandem sprint medallist but here riding for Nottingham based Raleigh/VC DEuropa) in the last of the three matches for the Championship. Medhurst, after throwing himself at the line in typical Antipodean sprinter style, did in fact come off onto the new wooden track resulting in a 6 inch splinter in his back. Ian Hallam has a most varied international record gaining medals and titles in the World, Olympic and Commonwealth Games in events as varied as the 1000 metre Time Trial, 4000 metre Pursuit and Scratch Race as well as being a notable stage race rider. Was awarded the MBE for his services to cycling. (Canon FTbn, Canon 135mm, Ilford HP5).

I hope everyone enjoys seeing these as much as i did!

Great find.

awesome pictures! i have a geoff butler track bike. might start ridin it as my fixie.

great pics, even better with the background to each one.

great pics, even better with the background to each one.

Cheers! Yeah, he said it took him a while to remember all the details, but it was definitely worth it.

Brilliant pics. Is that a Ron Cooper in the third pic, being ridden by Finchy from the Office?

thanks !

the legs on the guys 2nd from last are huge! and u can see the muscle fibres if u look closely :O

Wow, priceless!

yeah wonderful stuff man

wow that reads as really sarcastic

Thanks :)

amazing pics!

Amazing. So do you reckon most of those bikes are kept in sheds – gently rotting away. It hardly bares thinking about.

Quality post, Alex. Nice one.

Nice one, my observation is that in the 4th photo Paul Medhurst bears a very striking resemblance to one Howard Moon....

Fantastic photos. With camera tech details too! Brilliant. Tell your old man he's a legend.

amazing snaps!
poor Steve Cronshaw...
(he looks strangely ecstatic though)

nice pics!
Ilfrord HP5 = the last time I was a semi keen pohtographer...

mint.

Fantastic bit of history, big up your dad!

Ian Hallam was MY dentist=true.

i used to know tony doyle when i worked in a bike shop in surrey...insanely intelligent man! Freak'n huge aswell. Used to go through parts like cheese!

The day I got back into rack cycling in my mid 20s I toook the bike I bought from the Notting Hill Music exchange (still my race bike) to Herne Hill for the first time on a weekday, paid my £3.50 and borrowed a helmet, it was the first time I'd been on a track for years, the only other person training that day was behind a derny, when he'd finished and pulled of his helmet I couldn't believe my eyes.....Tony Doyle!...it was his last season I believe.

I'm thinking exactly the same thing as everyone else - great shots - but thought I just had to post to say that Geoffrey Butler in the first shot is PURE, GRADE-A, 100% SSSSSSSSSSEX!

superb pictures
loving the 70's look

70's ride anyone