Hertz Van Rental Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Paisley Express 6th Oct 1983 John Wins Hill Climb Paisley man John Fitzpatrick won the Johnstone Wheelers Hill Climb Championship recently when he completed a 630yd climb in 1min 26.41secs, four seconds ahead of his nearest rival. John, who lives in Foxbar, has been the runner up for the past three years to former champion Ian Neilson who could not defend his title because he has moved to Birmingham to live. The club president, 22 year old John, was delighted with the win and the presentation which followed later. Runner up in a time on 1min 30.88 secs was Stewart Addie. For the first time ever, a schoolboys event was held and this was won by Graeme Herd in 1min 56.5secs, followed in second place by Gordon Goldie with a time of 1min 57.45secs. Sponsored by Dooleys Cycles, the club meets every Tuesday and Friday at the clubrooms in Miller Street, Johnstone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2023 Subscriptions martin Posted September 29, 2011 2023 Subscriptions Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Which hill was that on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertz Van Rental Posted September 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Bowfield hill at Howwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 I remember both Stewart Addie & Mr Goldie. Stewart was a good road man in the late 80s/early 90s and Goldie went on to grow a moustache. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertz Van Rental Posted September 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 What happened to your low pro with the 26" front wheel George? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Ah Gordon, the memories. My pearl white cougar 653 low profile with chrome forks. A thing of beauty. Too beautiful to ride at any great speed. It is still in my loft. Too beautiful to chuck out. Speaking of times gone by, whatever happened to the erskine cc? They were still on the go when I chucked it in 96. Oh & have u still got the tash or did u return it to the freddie mercury museum when the lease was up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mark Whitehead Posted September 30, 2011 Members Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 That’s a great report Gordon. Some ride by you to be only 1 second behind Herd. Stewart Addie was a demon sprinter – even up hill! Do you really keep a scrapbook with old reports? There’s an archive section on here where reports like this would be well appreciated -> viewforum.php?f=15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2023 Subscriptions Ramsay Posted September 30, 2011 2023 Subscriptions Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 The article is great. I assume this is actually the Elliston hill, not the actual Bowfield main road. Is this the course record then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertz Van Rental Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 It is Elliston Hill. Course record was held jointly by Graeme "Grambo" Herd and Iain "Dud" Campbell. I think it's a 1:23 or 1:24? That would have been about 1988 or 1989? The start line has been the scene of many pulled wheels, crunched gears, a snapped chain or two and even Graham "The Nazi" Reid snapping a crank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KennyS Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Great article, Gordon You even managed to draw a response from MvH! The club record of 1min 22secs was set in 1988 and is still held by Graeme Herd Ramsay's 1:32 last year would be the closest anyone's been to it in a number of years Kenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Committee Alan McLean Posted September 30, 2011 Committee Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Omg, 82secs. I have often wondered if it is definitely the same start/finish? If so then that is awesome. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertz Van Rental Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Kenny - Graeme's ride was hand timed to 1/100th of a second, meaning that he slightly edged Iain. As both were experienced trackies, they knew that accurate hand timing to 1/100th of a second wasn't possible - and still isn't! They shared the trophy at the presentation (organised by me at the Lynnhurst I think?). Does the black book of confined events from that era still exist? Other press cuttings - I have a few, but only the ones with my name on them. Re the 1983 hill climb - I had a septic toe at the time and couldn't get my cycling shoe on, so had to ride with trainers and only toe straps, no toe clips as they were hitting my foot. The championship hill climb also ended the racing season and a "fun day" was held at the clubrooms afterwards. Other events in the afternoon included; the longest freewheel contest (start at the corner of John lang St / Miller St - Nicky Calder won and came down the slope, into the footy park and way down the bottom of the lane before falling off), speed judging (TT over the shoogly bridge, out to merchiston roundabout and back riding as close to your given speed as possible - I was third at 7.5mph. A really old bloke won it and arrived back only 2 seconds away from his time for 9mph), the welly wheech (who can throw welly the furthest into the football park whilst riding a bike past the gates) The day was rounded up with a polo match on road bikes, and everyone boggin! John Fitzpatrick and Mick Boyle were the chief photographers long before I spent many years filling the till of Klick Photopoint in Moss Street. They must have a few things in their archives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertz Van Rental Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Ah Gordon, the memories. My pearl white cougar 653 low profile with chrome forks. A thing of beauty. Too beautiful to ride at any great speed. It is still in my loft. Too beautiful to chuck out. Speaking of times gone by, whatever happened to the erskine cc? They were still on the go when I chucked it in 96. Oh & have u still got the tash or did u return it to the freddie mercury museum when the lease was up? George - have a look here, you may find a buyer for the frame? http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewfo ... 91e7cf8ccf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kenny MacDonald Posted October 1, 2011 Members Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 The hill climb in the olden days ( before Gordons time) was alaways done in conjunction with Lomond roads then Regent cycling club. Where it would be a inter club event. There was a schoolboy/ junior section going to the top and a kids event which stopped where the Jets currently stop. The habble for the 30 sign on way back to clubrooms could be 40 - 50 strong and I remember track specialist Phil Seirs fighting it out with road sprinter Drew Robertson on a few occassions. As quite a few guys rode the hill on fixed they would bring a cog to allow them to take part in gallop on way back. The sports day events Gordon mentioned were keenly contested with Charlie macdonald of Regent and Joe Mcginty demonstrating track stands lasting over half an hour one day before event was abandonded. The original freewhweel was over shoogly bridge but the fence proved too inviting for some and riders were ending up in Linwood When it was changed to through park I recall completing a full lap of circuit and making it back halfway up the lane by using a front wheel swinging method. We also had egg and spoon races ( spoon in mouth) and an obstacle race with a Le mans running start. The speed judging was a serious event ( remember this was days before computers) with everyone trying to calculate times . Riders would pass each other shouting what speed you got ??? and always somebody would pass you with a speed slower than your own In Regent days we finished off with a football match where some played in cycling shoes ????? and these were deadly serious events also. My funniest memory is the legendary Hughie Donald playing wearing a columbo style raincoat left over from a jumble sale in clubrooms .We ran event as an open event a few times and it went right to top of the climb. We even ran it for a few years as a stage event with hill climb in morning and a cyclo cross in afternoon t clubrooms before the new housing was built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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