Preston Cycling Club History in Reservoir, Victoria, Australia | Community organisation

Preston Cycling Club History

Locality: Reservoir, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 412 348 848

Address: TW Andrews Reserve Reservoir, VIC, Australia

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25.01.2022 Steven Smith sent these photos of his father and uncle, Alan and John Smith. Does anyone remember them as Preston riders.

23.01.2022 At one time, pre-1920s before Preston was a stand alone club, Preston and Northcote were one club. Somewhere along the line politics must have entered the club and there became a parting of the ways. Preston in the 20s always had both amateur and professional clubs, Northcote never did. Maybe Lindsay Smith can tell us about his very early days at NACC before coming over to PACC in the 1960s and the reasons why.

23.01.2022 Back in the 60s on Preston Track - Buck Jacobs and the Sansonettis.

23.01.2022 Recently Fred Harrington who raced with Preston in the beginning of the 60s mentioned he worked with Leo Bates bike shop in High St Northcote/Preston. I also remember riding my bike right in to Bates Cycles as a cheeky 14 YO. I met Leo in another life almost 30 year ago when I was involved in a fundraising program for the MG Car Club when we were resurrecting Rob Roy Hill Climb at Christmas hills. This was quite a significant and historic site of early motor racing. During o...ur fundraising functions I was told that there was a bloke that would like to kick my arse. It was Leo Bates who remembered me from those cheeky days. Leo became a hill climb driver in his self built "Lobito" hill climb car. When we resurrected Rob Roy Hill Climb, Leo became 3 times outright record holder. He never lost his competitive spirit. Tonight I decided to give him a call to say hello to him and his very supportive wife Lorraine. Leo's memory is not what it should be these days but he still has that spark that I remember. Does anyone on this site remember Leo and has memories of his bike shop. The photo is of us together when I presented the trophy of fastest driver on the day. See more

22.01.2022 This one sent by Fred Harrington - possibly a Paul Mosig photo as they raced together in early 60s at Preston. From left: Alan Maher, Mr Woodhouse. Fred Harrington, Brian Barr, ? Adams held by Gary Galvin, Noel Neil held by his father, R Brown held by his father.

21.01.2022 Eric Gibaud - Preston Pro of the 30s. More to come soon.

21.01.2022 Last Saturday was Warren (Buck) Jacobs birthday. His 75th. A man of colourful language and a happy disposition (most times). May you have many more birthdays with you many Preston Cycling Club mates.

21.01.2022 This is the man that started Preston Amateur Cycling Club at the beginning of the 1920s. I'll tell you more about this man's vision for a cycling club in the northern suburbs in future posts. His past history is connected to sporting clubs in the UK and was a driving force in the early years of the VACU. Bill Thompson was the father of PACC.

21.01.2022 Just back from Tour Down Under so more Preston Cycling history posts to come. Firstly commiserations to Peter who recently fell at DISC. Get well soon. I have some photos sent to me by Garry Chapman who's father raced on the Preston track when it first was established. Not great quality photos but they do a story and that in itself is important. 1949.

21.01.2022 Preston Cycling Club have offered me the opportunity to research its history with the goal to the Club self publishing a book for their centenary during 2021. The research covers Preston Amateur and Professional clubs which formed at the beginning of the 1920s. We can also trace the very early history back to 1897 when they went by the name, Northcote and Preston and then Preston and District CC. This site is for you as past and present members to share photos, newspaper cuttings and any information of Preston Cycling Club's rich history. You can also email me with stories and scanned material by going to the RH above "SEND EMAIL" button.

19.01.2022 Preston rider Frankie Thomas joined Oppy for the 1931 TdF.

19.01.2022 1930s - Preston's Oakover Rd track.

19.01.2022 George Goodwin - both a Preston Amateur and later Preston/Heidelberg Pro. Winner of a Sun Tour.

19.01.2022 If you have the time, maybe grab a cup of tea or coffee to read the following. I will be printing directly from my draft manuscript of the "History of Preston Cycling Club" - the first one hundred years. You all can be my proof readers and I welcome comments. Leon Sims. THE GOVERNANCE OF CYCLING 1890s...Continue reading

19.01.2022 Do any Preston riders remember this bike shop in High Street, Preston? Where did you buy your cycling gear before the internet?

19.01.2022 2022 will be the centenary of the Preston Amateur Cycling Club. The Preston Professional Cycling Club was formed during 1922 as well. Although the club did have other incarnations from the late 1880s, it is 1922 that the Club we know today as Preston Cycling Club was founded by bill Johnston. More about Johnston below in a previous post. This page will now be cranked up as we draw closer to 2022. I have been researching and writing the history of the club for publication on the 100th anniversary of PAC - watch this space. Leon Sims.

19.01.2022 Lets remember George Goodwin, Preston top Professional and scratch man with the likes of Mockridge, Taylor and many other scratch men of the era. One for you Audrey.

17.01.2022 Who knows this man - Preston had many great stalwarts that helped the Club prosper over its almost 100 years and Hughie was one of those that gave his time and years to the Club.

16.01.2022 Simon of Mildura asks the following question. Other than Bluey Mutimer or Buck Jacobs, I can't think of anyone else that would be that tall. Leon Hi. I recently scored a track bike that supposedly was a Preston club bike. I'm hoping there might be someone at the club who can identify it and the manufacturer. It's fairly distinctive with a Colnago style cutout on the fork crown and drilled dropouts. Pics attached. It was orange in a previous life I think. Hope you can share this around with anybody in the know. Thanks Simon Rohde, Mildura.

15.01.2022 1927 TdF team with Preston rider Ernie Bainbridge - RHS.

15.01.2022 Two Preston Pro Club riders, Alan Walkley and Frank Thomas before the Warrnambool. What other Preston riders rode the Warny. Lytton Sedley of PPCC was one of our members to win it. Who has memories of the race?

15.01.2022 For those that knew Les (Bluey) Mutimer, Its sad to bring news that he passed away while we were entering a new year. My memories of Knowing Bluey was when I first turned Pro and raced at the Club on Sunday mornings. I did see him race at the Melbourne Olympic board track in my Amateur days. In latter years, I'd catch up with him at the past cyclists get together at the Skinny Dog hotel in Cotham Road Kew. His name first appeared in the Preston Amateur Cycling Club results ...book at the beginning of the 50s as a junior riding from 75 yards on the Preston track. As he started to mature, his handicap dwindled to being on the chopping block. He progressed swiftly to be among place getters on both road and track with placings also in Club Titles. Bluey was still racing at Preston Pros when I joined the cash ranks in 71. He's already been racing for two decades. Condolences to his family and to his cycling mates. Leon.. See more

15.01.2022 Col Tozer kindly sent the following photos of Preston riders during the 1940s. All riders are named.

14.01.2022 I found this on my Cycling Scrapbook page and thought I would share it with this site. It was Noel Carlon who's asked the question if the Pro Club was ever called Preston Heidelberg and I've answered this in a previous post. Here is a program posted by Sue Sharples that confirms that our Pros were pretty good riders. Almost all the bunches were represented by one or more P/H riders. George Goodwin and Bill Neil rode with the best off scratch. Look down the list for others.

14.01.2022 I'm currently researching the starting points and circuits that Preston ran their road races. My father mentioned two starting points in his era, pre and post war II. One was the Rose Shamrock & Thistle Hotel and the Reservoir railway gates. Much earlier than that, one of the first Preston CC's races started from the Junction Hotel, up Plenty Rd, across from where there was the end of the tram line. Turn left to High St and back to the Junction Hotel. Newspapers report that the race was over a few laps. The circuit was not used after as it was becoming too populated.

14.01.2022 1963 Three Day Tour - pre Sansonetti and Don Allen days. Anyone have past programs to share?

14.01.2022 For those past Preston members and those who raced against Preston Cyclist, I've posted the introduction in the manuscript that will hopefully be published by the Preston Cycling Club for their Centenary year of 2022. I'll be posting parts of the manuscript in the near future and I expect that further comments and contributions in words and photos will help me in my quest to produce a a book that is worthy of a great cycling club. INTRODUCTION During the early part of 2017, ...I heard that my old club, Preston Cycling Club were considering publishing a book on the history of the club to coincide with its centenary. It was with the instigation of long term Club President Hughie Schulz and Peter Wykes that I embarked on researching the Club’s history through the various resources available in today’s digital world. The club, and Hughie Schulz in particular seemed certain that the club was formed in 1922 and in the case of the Preston Amateur Cycling Club (PACC) this was proven to be correct. Within the same time frame, the Preston Professional Cycling Club (PPCC) was also formed. Both these clubs with the formation of amateur and professional clubs joining as one, have endured one hundred years of continual affiliation with the Victorian Amateur Cycling Union (VACU) and the Victorian League of Wheelmen (LVW) or the body that administer cycling to this day, Cycling Victoria. It is a fitting date to suggest that 2022 is time to celebrate the centenary of the Preston Cycling Club. Although 1922 in fact was the date of PACC/PPCC’s formation, there was a former life to the club that existed much earlier in the late 1890s. It would be amiss if these earlier incarnations were not documented in this book, along with the riders and the events that lead to the Preston Cycling Club as we know it today. As I delved into the research of PCC, I became more engrossed by the rich history that emerged. We take our own era for granted and can jog our memories of fellow club competitors, the events we raced and the venue’s that took us through own personal little cycling histories. As I read through the multitude of newspaper cuttings, magazines and scrapbooks, the information available for the manuscript became vast. The Preston riders from the past started to impress me more than I had realized, even those from my own era. Then there are those officials that sat at the committee table over those years while steering our club over a stable history. Without those people a club would not have a longevity that we can be so proud. The successes and commitment of the members, whether riders or officials had become lost in time and so it is only right that their efforts should be documented in a published account of Preston Cycling Club’s year of centenary.

14.01.2022 Thanks Col Tozer for your photos - if our members have photos to post but don't have the technology, message me as Col did and I can add them to the page.

13.01.2022 In 1897, Preston and Northcote were one club. This is a cutting from the Australian Cyclist from the era.

13.01.2022 Remo Sansonetti on the cover of National Cycling magazine Oct/Nov 1982.

13.01.2022 Who remembers Doreen Hill on the Yan Yean circuit. This photo may have been 66/67 season. John Rush had returned from the Aussie road titles as a Junior. We had both represented Victoria in the Aussie Track Titles earlier, him a a junior, me as a Subbie. Left to right: Leon Sims, Lindsay Smith hidden behind Rod Andrews, Michael Kent hidden behind Peter Verlysdonk, Kevin Woodhouse and John Rush. How about some of you old Preston riders scanning your photos to post here. Bring back some memories. Leon (Admin)

12.01.2022 Today is Shane Bartley's birthday

12.01.2022 Who remembers riding the Preston CC Madison. Who came up with the idea. First one in 1983 yet I remember riding before this year - do you know Lindsay Smith.

12.01.2022 I want to hear your person stories and memories for Preston's Centenary book that I am researching and writing. Your comments will give further reader interest and you will be quoted by name should we print your words. Now here's a great subject to comment on - "pick a board" at the Humevale bridge and up the mount.

11.01.2022 I've just heard from Warren Jacobs. Buck tells me that his younger brother Wayne Jacobs passed away due to complications resulting from surgery. As a new member of PACC I remember Wayne and I racing and truing together as young teenagers and later having a similar interest in cars. Attached is a photo of Buck (at Preston by Paul Mosig) and I know that all those that know buck and remember Wayne will be feeling for him today especially as its also Buck's birthday. Wayne Jacobs RIP.

11.01.2022 Warren (Buck) Jacobs. Preston amateur and Professional. Who has any stories to tell about training or racing with Buck. I remember in the early hours of morning doing a ride that took us from Northcote to Ringwood, Healesville, Alexandria, back across to Yea, Seymour, Wallan, Whittlesea and back to Northcote. 13 hours on the bike. Due to Buck, I finished the Warny that year. Have a medal to prove it. Leon photo by paul mosig

10.01.2022 Apologies for the page not being active in recent times as we are in the middle of a move from Trentham to Ballarat. Its now up to the removalists with our furniture as we have shifted all our smaller items to a storage container. I should have more time while in lock down now to post. The purpose of this page however is to share your photos and memories of Preston Cycling Club so while in lock down, spend some time here and share. Below are two Preston Amateurs of the 1950s ...1. A young Neil Wray - 1953 2. A young Tom Dobson - 1956 See more

10.01.2022 A question for past PCC members; When did you join - did you get any club championship wins or places. Did you serve as a committee person and what position & for how long. That's either Amateur or Professional Preston Clubs. Below is a Paul Mosig photo of Remo Sansonetti 1963. Unfortunately Paul passed away last year, fortunately we have quite a few of his photos from the 60s. Our header photo is also one of Paul's.

09.01.2022 We need to know more about our very rich history of Preston Cycling Club. We had some greats in the period between the two wars. How much do we know about Alan Walkley.

09.01.2022 With Preston Cycling Club about to reach its 100 year anniversary, I'm compiling a list of members, both racing and officials. I'll post it very soon however feel free to add names during your own era as either amateur or professional. Here's a program from 1953 at TW Andrew's Reserve - Preston's track which at the time was the popular club and combine track in the northern suburbs.

08.01.2022 1973 - Shane Bartley wins the Vic road championships.

08.01.2022 This the man that established Preston Amateur Cycling Club 2021/2022. He rode in the Empire games at Manchester representing the Scottish team before emigrating to Australia and settling in the norther suburbs. He is the father of both the PACC and the VACU. More Bill Johnson to come in future posts.

08.01.2022 A Paul Mosig photo of Rocket Rod with Buck Jacobs behind. Can't identify the two younger riders behind. Maybe someone can identify the location. Maybe in the vicinity of the Mount.

07.01.2022 Racing at Preston track in the 60s. (Paul Mosig photo)

07.01.2022 Another Preston cc scene at the oakover rd track

07.01.2022 Who remembers filling in one of these for Amateur Open races. I can remember riding from Preston to Mordialloc where the VACU entry secretary lived to save a stamp. (Leon Sims)

06.01.2022 More from Col Tozer

06.01.2022 During 1964/65 many Sub-Juniors (under 16) riders were invited by promotor Bill Long were invited to ride at the Olympic Melbourne Velodrome Board Track. Most clubs encouraged their "youngsters" to both train there before being added to the program. Preston ACC was one of the clubs and I was included. Here is a program from my scrapbook showing the riders of what was called the "Melbourne Midgets". If you are from that era, you'll recognise many names. Most carried on until the demise of the Melbourne Velodrome. BTW - this is a sharing face book page so you can scan items from your own scrapbook to post.

05.01.2022 Racing on the Yan Yean circuit - Sal Sansonetti on the front. Can any one pick others? Photo by Paul Mosig.

05.01.2022 We've now settled in to Alfredton, Ballarat and now will concentrate on more PCC photos and history but I'll ask for input from you. comments and posts will be helpful for me to continue on the manuscript for the Club to celebrate its Centenary. In 1931, Alan Walkerley set a 25 mile record. He was one of Preston Professional's elite riders during his career.

05.01.2022 The track that never was!! Over the period of the Preston Cycling Club, we had three tracks for our track racing seasons. The first was Preston Park, home to the local football club, then the gravel surfaced Bol d'Or off Oakover Rd, owned by the Huttons meat company. Lastly our current track at Fordham park which was renamed T.W. Andrews Reserve which was recently resurfaced. More history on that later. There was another track that was specifically designed in the 30s that ne...ver eventuated. Saxil Tuxen was a town designer and produced what he described as a Garden City in the Merrilands District of north/west Reservoir at the end of Hughes Pde. It was a 3 to the mile oval track similar to the Geelong Nth Velodrome. It was back in 1971 I saw the original plans when considering buying land in the developing estate. The plans showed civic buildings and sporting facilities, etc. It was way before its time due to being first surveyed in 1918. In 1937 the Argus announced that Preston would have a new track - the track that never was. However in 1942, we had our current track built - next year we can celebrate its 80th year of continual usage. To show where the Merrilands District track was proposed, I've downloaded a Google Earth screen shot - note the large oval where the track was proposed. See more

05.01.2022 Shane Bartley wins 1973 State Road Title on the Kyneton/Tyldan circuit.

04.01.2022 Sal and Remo at the Three Day Tour with Blackburn. Who remembers these Queens Birthday weekends? How many tours did both twins win? Who were the other clubs? What areas were the stages?

03.01.2022 J. Kean (Preston PCC), winner of the 1929 Wangaratta Wheel Race.

02.01.2022 Don't be shy - we can all pump up our own tires occasionally. I'm inviting you to post photos of your days at Preston Cycling Club. I'll turn the first pedal stroke. This photo is of the 1970 Vic Track Team to the Australian Titles of that year. I'm third to the right behind Gordon Johnson and Phil Sawyer. Beside Gordy was John Nicholson. This was my third Australian Track championships (1966/68/70) before turning Pro. Had some great mentors from those championships including Hilton Clarke, John Hine, Daryl Perkins and champions of the era of which these days I can call friends. So across to you for memories and photos. Leon Sims

02.01.2022 Bill Johnson - the founder of Preston Amateur Cycling Club 1922. He was a big supporter of Junior members to build a foundation for PACC. Preston CC still is an active supporter of young riders as they were for me and many others in the 19960s when I started. The second photo shows Johnson as a member of the Scottish Team at the Empire Games Manchester.

01.01.2022 Preston Junior State Road Premiership with Ken Green, Shane Bartley, Peter Burke - who is the fourth rider and what year was this. Finally, did the team stand on the podium. Ken Green identified this as a Ray Bowles photo

01.01.2022 Another Paul Mosig photo of a Sansonetti but which one?