Langstraat,
Thanks for your words. I write sometimes about those times, not to brag but just for the record, as when I'm gone it's gone.
Salford Park was just about the worst track to ride on, bumpy, shallow bankings and very open, but it was all we had. If we had had a good track we would have brought many a world record to Brummie riders. It was never built for the likes of us, as at record speed you hit the banking on the inside with your pedal. I have seldom known fear on a bike, but I was very careful at Salford and never fell off there. I didn't fancy being torn to bits by Salfords rough tarmac.
I am very pleased to hear that you found encouragement in my deeds, you're not the only one to have said that to me, in fact that is my greatest joy in life, giving others something to aim at. Sometimes it was a bit too much, as I often inspired lesser mortals into thinking they could beat the world, I then had even more work bringing them back down to earth!
My greatest achievement was picking Mick Bennett, at the age of 14, off the streets of Brum, I was only 18 myself. He later won two bronze Olympic medals and was world team pursuit champion. Mick brought the Tour of Britain back this year and was responsible for bringing the Tour de France to London this year. Mick, a real Brummie, pleases me no end and I feel that through him I still live on in Britain. It took Mick a long time to acknowledge me though, in 'Cycling Weekly' September 6th, 2007, he at last told the world that I had brought him into the cycling game.
Any problems between Hugh Porter and myself was all his doing as he called me a cheat and wouldn't shake my hand when I put him 7 minutes down in the Beacon Mountain T.T. in, 1963!
http://www.beaconrcc.org.uk/open_races/lmtt/archive/gpw1963_article.html I had just come from the junior ranks and was only just 19 years old. I buried the hatchet with him at the opening of the New track at Newport in Wales, British Cycling had invited me to the opening and asked me to dish out all the prizes to all the National champions, together with Nicole Cooke. This was the first time ever and the last that BC showed me any recognition!
You talk about Hugh Porters thighs, but did you ever get a look at his wife's, Anita Lonsborough, (Olympic gold swimmer) thighs?
Thanks for the star on Broad Street, I hope that not too many dogs get walked down there!