Back in the early 1980's I was working in a local bike shop when a very strange character dropped in. I'm guessing he was 50ish, had a shaved head, and lots of tattoos (back when tattoos still had some shock value!). What was really interesting was the all Campy track bike he was riding! I can assure you a track bike in Memphis was a very rare breed then and now.
Turns out he ran a little photo booth with the carnival that was passing through town. He needed a minor repair so we let him use a work stand and some tools. Said he had done some racing back in his youth and loved riding fixed gear. He came by the shop the next couple of years when the carnival was in town and he always had an all Campy fixed gear bike. This guy was a die hard Campy fan and seemed to have quite a few bikes. Some had front brakes and he would cut the rear levers down short to use as a hand rest. Anyway, his name was Jim Ireland and I always wonder what happened to the guy. Anyone else ever cross paths with this fixed gear Carny?
Jim Cole
Memphis, TN