My grandfather was a cyclist.
#26
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Great inspiring, and entertaining post.
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In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
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Post of the year.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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Precious history and heritage. Thank you for sharing this with us!
#29
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And no one even mentions his name is "Bob Challenger"?
Your grandfather seems like he was a heck of a guy.
Check out all the service stripes on his left sleeve.
Your grandfather seems like he was a heck of a guy.
Check out all the service stripes on his left sleeve.
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#30
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Here's a 1936 Wastyn Special on display at Oscar Wastyn Cycles in Chicago.
Here's Oscar Wastyn Senior's 1968 obituary. Cycling lost a great asset to the sport far too soon; he was only 58.
Here's Oscar Wastyn Senior's 1968 obituary. Cycling lost a great asset to the sport far too soon; he was only 58.
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I know Ted rode for the Edison Park Wheelmen. Same time same place, must of known each other. If the op pms me, I can send along Ted's email. Great guy. He sent me pictures of the jersey back in the day as I used to live in Edison Park.
This is the 1-mile course Ted told me they raced back in the day, Norwood Park 1 mile loop - A bike ride in Chicago, IL
Technically in Norwood Park but that borders Edison Park.
#32
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The obit in post 30 reminded me-- I was looking through the names scribbled in the photo album, and the gentleman on the left in post #2 photo #2 is Oscar Wastyn.
As to Ted Ernst, I would only have to assume they knew one another-- I found these pasted in further back in the album. Check out riders 60 and 64:
As to Ted Ernst, I would only have to assume they knew one another-- I found these pasted in further back in the album. Check out riders 60 and 64:
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Way flippin' cool. Thanks for sharing.
#35
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Couldn't find a Hank Sima listed in the program, but there are a few more programs scattered through the album I'll give 'em a look. But during that sift through the album (which is actually one of those huge artists books, like 17" x 15" and 200+ pages thick) I found a couple of gems:
And this one, from 1945-- the woman in third from the left, the shorter one in the diamond-pattern top, that's my grandmother... and she was 5'8". So those are some solidly built ladies.
And this one, from 1945-- the woman in third from the left, the shorter one in the diamond-pattern top, that's my grandmother... and she was 5'8". So those are some solidly built ladies.
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Yep - great post on many levels!!!! Thanks!
My 92 yo dad who grew up in Chicago, still talks about seeing Torchy Peden in 6-day races during the 1930's.
The location of this photo caught my eye - it was taken in the Wilmette Marina. You can see the Bihai temple in the background. I rode over that same bridge just this evening.
My 92 yo dad who grew up in Chicago, still talks about seeing Torchy Peden in 6-day races during the 1930's.
The location of this photo caught my eye - it was taken in the Wilmette Marina. You can see the Bihai temple in the background. I rode over that same bridge just this evening.
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What a guy and an incredible story. Thanks for sharing, and for the pics.
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This has to be one of the most inspirational posts on this forum. Thank you for sharing this story about a great man.
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Agree with the others; this is one of the best posts I have read in a long time. Thank you for sharing.
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Terrific post and thread.
Ted indicated in an email exchange that Bob Challenger was more from his father's generation. In fact, that he and Ted's dad were in the same club. Ted didn't start racing professionally until the mid- to late-40s.
Ted indicated in an email exchange that Bob Challenger was more from his father's generation. In fact, that he and Ted's dad were in the same club. Ted didn't start racing professionally until the mid- to late-40s.
#48
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Really neat story and pics. Truly a great post
#49
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DrIsotope is my new favorite Super Hero. The thread that keeps on giving. 200+ pages! How about a pic of that album if you please?
In the threesome shot above, the rider in the middle (grandfather?) has some seriously cockeyed bars. Any chance that was done to counterbalance the left hand bank, or just a topsy lad?
In the threesome shot above, the rider in the middle (grandfather?) has some seriously cockeyed bars. Any chance that was done to counterbalance the left hand bank, or just a topsy lad?