Ray said:
"I think it unlikely that Reg Harris would have taken drugs as he had no need. Almost all his races were match sprints against his mates such as Van Vliet. It seems inconceivable to me that the results weren't arranged so no need to enhance the performance. I would even suggest that the Pro Worlds was sorted beforehand. Van Vliet won in 1938 and in 1953 fifteen years later! Athletic prowess? I don't think so, more like Buggins's turn. Incidentally I believe that caffeine has now been removed from the list of banned substances." Ray green, Brighton, England
Sorted beforehand? - I don't think so. Reg won the World Championship in 1949, 50 and 51 in a 2 up format and was virtually unbeatable in this format, so the ruling body mandated a 3 up format for 1952 to try to put a stop to Harris ruling the sport - how else do you explain Oscar Plattner winning in 1953, they all ganged up on Reg in an "anyone but Harris" coalition. When it was realized that the 3 up format sucked and had rubbish champions like Plattner, they went back to 2 up format in 1954, and guess what, Harris won again!
You have to talk to the people who were "in the kitchen" at the time to know what was going on with match sprinting during Harris' career, people like Norman Grattage who is still around and knows more about Reg's career than anyone.
Reg, as the World Champion, could dictate what, who and where everyone rode, and he made sure that they rode at Fallowfield, this apparently did not sit well with his fellow pros and hence the change in format to 3 up to put him in his place. Pro sprinting was never like pro wrestling, a total fix, I am sure that Reg would never throw a race. We forget that match sprinting was the pinnacle of the sport in the 50's and earlier, winning was your bread and butter, arranged matches? No way.
Brian (ex Manchester Wheeler) Booth Toronto, Canada
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