Help Identifying Track Frame
 

Hi all,

I bought a used track frame a few weeks ago and ever since i've been searching the deepest corners of the internet trying to find out just who made it. Hopefully someone here will have some ideas or leads. I was told by someone that they almost certainly knew it was a Brian Rourke, but I emailed Brian and he said he didn't make it and he didn't know who did.

Here are some pictures:

http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s303/jackjutson/

I suppose the unique feature is the wrap over seat stay, but I've seen this feature on a few different makers (mostly British).

The guy who sold it to me said he didn't know the maker and the original owner resprayed it that lovely colour you see in the pictures. The paint job is actually professionally done, if you can believe it. He also added his own lettering to spell GUMBY. The original badge was lost somewhere along the way and all that's left of it is a small glue patch and some holes. I've tried to contact all the J. Warnock's living in my province, but none of them are the John Warnock I seek. So that's kind of a dead end.

This is the ad from the original owner. Note that I have changed some of the parts over since I got it.

"Late 70's era track bike, 531 Reynolds tubing, 23" frame, Campagnolo crankset and seatpost, Sugino chainring, Cinelli bars, Tioga stem, Girard Regal Saddle, Maillard Normandy hubs, Kyokuto Pro Ace pedals. This bike won many races at the old China Creek Velodrome ridden by local ace, John Warnock."

Now when I got in touch with the guy who sold it to the guy who sold it to me, he said that a frame builder in Maple Ridge (BC, Canada) built the frame. His name was Tony Hore, though i'm not sure of the spelling. Has anyone heard of anyone by this name? Could it be a one off build? Perhaps Tony is just an importer?

And the final puzzle piece I have is the serial number, which is stamped on the bottom side of the bottom bracket: 93680

Hopefully this is enough information to figure something out.

Ultimately, I would like to find the maker, buy a decal set and respray it the original colour.

Thanks for reading! This means a lot to me.

Jack
Vancouver, BC
Canada

Hey Jack,
Working on the info you've been given I'd start by trying to track down any old school late 70's / early 80's roadies or trackies in van... maybe ask around at the velodrome any old school riders, or hit up ace at ace cycles as he's been around forever. See if anyone can confirm the name of the builder you've been given then I guess going off of that try and see if you have any way of tracking down his location, and with your fingers crossed maybe you'll find him and keep your hopes high that after 30 years he's still held onto decals for what may have been a very very small operation, or as you say just a one-off. Perhaps try contacting the previous owner and see if he has photo's of the bike in its present state from which you could attempt to recreate the original decals. Good luck.
Nick

I'll be at the velodrome tomorrow night. maybe someone will recognize the god awful paint job.

The bike looks very similar to the bike I fixed up for my friends daughter as a fixed gear. This a Carlton which was part of the Raleigh group. Not sure if it was bought before or after Raleigh bought Carlton. Roger

Tony Hoar is still around, I believe on one of the Gulf Islands. He was one of the founders of Canadian Bicycle Specialties and the bikes were badged CBS.

Tony's real claim to fame is that he was the first British rider to complete the Tour de France albeit as Lanterne Rouge.

Thanks VJP.

You wouldn't believe how many people i've asked about Tony Hoar. I just fired off an email to him.

If he made my frame, I will be very happy.

track
 

yep vip is right on! Tony Hoar lives on Vancouver Island in the Mill Bay/Shawnigan area. He has a company called Tony's Trailers and makes specialty trailers for bikes.I live across Saanich Inlet from where he lives. Here is a link to his web site: http://www.tonystrailers.com/

It's a beautifully made frame. Very light, tight geometry - i'm excited to hear back from Tony and hear the story behind it. I'm honored to have a bike made by someone local with such a great history. First Brit to race the tour!

Actually the first Brit to race the tour was Charlie Holland in 1937. Tony was the second Brit to finish the tour and that was in 1955. He was the 'lanterne rouge' and fellow Brit Brian Robinson was 29th therefore the first Brit to finish a Tour.

So I guess that makes him the first Brit to come last. Still an achievement if you ask me.

I just heard back from Tony. He said there is a lot about that bike that he doesn't recognize and thinks he would since they only made a few track frames. He told me that maybe Koichi Seki, who lives in Vancouver now but Tony hasn't spoken to in a long time, probably made it. Does anyone know of Koichi (or Koichiro) Seki? Did he work along side Tony?

Jack

definetly a huge achievment!! there were 130 riders started that race. It begain in Le Havre and only 2 of the 10 british riders finished the race. 61 other top professional riders failed and the next day Hoar and others raced in a criterium. (Most of this information comes from a very good book called 'One more kilometre and we are in the Showers by Tim Hilton, a Brit, first published in 2005. A great history of British cycling)

Do you know of any online information about the Canadian Bicycle Specialties company?

You should check out here and here. Founded by Mike Barry in Toronto. Sadly the shop closed in the end of 2007. Definitely a major character in Canadian cycling history.

Here's an interview of Mike Barry with Grant Peterson. Mr. Barry founded the randonneur club of Ontario.

PS. Nice bike by the way :)

There doesn't seem to be any mention of Tony Hoar on any of those sites. Why did Tony badge his bikes with CBS?

That's a great read. Thanks!