Re: [CR] Ernst/Campbell at 1952 Chicago 9-Night Derby

(Example: Framebuilders:Dario Pegoretti)

From: "ternst" <ternst1@cox.net>
To: "Ben Kamenjas" <bici_pimp@mac.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <MONKEYFOODGz7KBoLjz00000422@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org> <3e6837bcc66f3b8d4db423fd19641861@mac.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Ernst/Campbell at 1952 Chicago 9-Night Derby
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2006 22:04:58 -0800
reply-type=response

Well! Buddy Campbell's tires have a few tape wrap arounds to give extra support to rolling off worries. Don't think it really helped that much but who knows? Sometimes guys would do that if they were concerned that when blowout or puncture occurred the tire would stay on rim and not get wrapped up in frame/fork. Ted never did that, tires were glued well and I didn't worry about it I guess. Gear ratio was 26x8, or 52x16 we called it 92inch gear by the old 28 " math going back to turn of century. (only 50 years then.) Now it's 88" by 27"/700 type figuring. I'm riding a prewar German Diamant chainwheel on a German Patria WKC , bicycle made in Solingen which is in heart or the industrial steel belt. City is much more known for its cutlery and similar product, razors etc. We imported the bikes in limited quantity, the WKC factory sponsored a pro team at the time and was very successful in those first 10 years after the war. The track frames were brazed fittings, many of the road frames were fillet brazed. I think those were Scheerens wood filled alloy rims, the flash shadow makes it look darker. Buddy was riding a Wastyn/ Paramount Gys rode any way they liked, with or without taped bars. He only has one glove for stopping and probably liked the feel of smooth steel. Plugs were mandatory, so bar edge wouldn't gouge the rider in a spill. The stem was what many of you refer to as death type french alloy stems, good enough for us, never broke one! Never even knew girls existed, we were as pure as the driven snow. < I have this timeline bridge for sale> Yeah the boards were much cheaper to put up like that and they did cup somewhat so it was a little rumply-bump. We got used to it and it did make for a rumbling sound when the thundering herd spun and jammed by, but that added a dimension of sound that enhanced the action. we adjusted our tire pressure to compensate a little. The Delhi, Chicago Shewbridge, the other Derby cities had the same construction, about 3-5" wide boards, easier to put up and tear down and could be built to move and reuse. Hope this answers your Q's, and gives you a better feeling for what it was like


----- Original Message -----
From: Ben Kamenjas
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 9:06 PM
Subject: Re: [CR] Ernst/Campbell at 1952 Chicago 9-Night Derby



> Aldo's Pic of the Day (grazie mille!!!!!) shows
>
>
>> Ted Ernst & Jimmy "Buddie" Campbell
>>
>> http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/album17/
>> 1952_Chicago_9_Nite_Derby_Ernst
>> _Campbell
>>
>> Action shot from the 1952 Chicago 9-Night Derby (2-1/2 hrs per night).
>> Jimmy "Buddie" Campbell is seen here pushing our own Ted Ernst into jam.
>>
>>
>
> So Ted ....... looking fast my good sir.
>
> some questions :-
>
> What's the tape around your partner Buddie's rim/tires??
>
> That's a good size chainring you seem to be using for such
> distance/duration. Any idea what gear size you were riding? Why does your
> partner seem to have bar plugs and no bar tape?
>
> What is that frame you are riding? Looks neat. Also the rear rim seems to
> have a raised centre .... like steel Kendricks (sp?), but surely by then
> alloy rims was de rigeur? Or is them's wood? Also what stem is that you
> were using? Open ended at the front from what I can make but lugged as
> well.
>
> Lastly, excuse me saying this Ted but you is handsome ... chicks must
> have been all over you. I see your partner couldn't resist either.
>
> Much appreciated. Great picture and I admire that you were there and
> racing. That makes you the second coolest person on the CR list. Pergo is
> 1st of course, not just because he has a chrome Cinelli pista in my size,
> but he is just the coolest cat I'm likely to ever meet (he even told me
> so).
>
> Bravo !!!!!

>

> ciao,

>

> Ben Kamenjas

> Bondi, Oz