|
|
|
|
by John Drummond (1992))
It was not a surprise to any Victorian when Eddie Smith won the 1954 Massed Start Sydney to Goulburn for he was a real Star on the tough Victorian racing scene.
On a day when powerful cars had to use low gear for considerable distances in overcoming wind resistance and loose graveled hills, when hoods were ripped off touring cars and trees uprooted, 129 starters set out in the teeth of one of Victoria's worst gales over probably Australia's toughest road race mountain course. Under the prevailing conditions is was no disgrace for any rider to pull out after a few miles, and trainers stationed at the start and finish dressing rooms had a fully occupied day feeding and attending to exhausted 'burn-offs'.
The occasion was the epic 1948 Midlands Tour raced over one of Australia's most tortuous courses. On a calm day the course is notorious as a test of a road cyclist's caliber. On August 14th., 1948 the head winds stood riders still, or cross currents literally blew them off their machines, and veteran rough weather riders sustained three or four falls, it was a nightmare.
On such a day Eddie H. Smith joined the greats of Australian Cycling. A perusal of the race records reveals a story of almost unbelievable performance. Alby Saunders, one of Victoria's best known scratch men, was caught in a Willy Willy that sent him and his bicycle in different directions. In other sections when the wind hurtled across the track, riders were crashed into fences. One rider was seen hanging onto a bike that was lifted to the horizontal by the force of the wind. Dust, and dirt blinded as the riders doggedly and with every nerve strained, stamped their machines on.
On the steeper grades many of the competitors found it quicker to walk than ride. After 25 miles only the toughest and strongest were still fighting the elements. At 62 miles there were no complete bunches, some marks had no representatives at all, the scratch bunch, as such, was non-existent. Eddie Smith had jammed, only the Gods would know how, over Mt. Blackwood and he led the remnants of the scratch men by nearly seven minutes. Continuing Smith gradually overhauled the few remaining contestants. The remaining scratch men organised a working bunch, who rode like tigers in a chase for prey, but it was an impossible position with a demon like Smith out in front. They finally disintegrated and lost what was a forlorn hope.
With a change of direction, and better roads, Smith fell into a rhythmic beat, Now, after displaying a tenacity and fortitude on the hills which were a monument to his condition and stamina, he demonstrated his brilliance as a speedster. At times he was topping 50 m.p.h. In one stretch of ten miles he increased his lead by two minutes.
He crossed the finish line 12 minutes ahead of the second man, also off scratch. It was no bunch finish, just a succession of individual riders strung out by the superb Smith.
Eddie had ridden out the worst conditions ever known at the time, certainly the worst conditions that 1 have encountered in my 50 years of race reporting in the Australian bike game. For almost six hours he fought a 70-mile an-hour gale on apologies for roads, and grades that would test a tractor. The medallion he won should carry solid gold bars, for he had practically immortalised himself in winning by 12 minutes on such a day Eddie Smith was born on September 17, 1926, the son of a professional cycling referee in the state of N.S.W. A tall thin boy, Eddie joined the Lidcombe Amateur Cycling Club in the year 1941. He developed early and by 1946 had won both the S Senior and junior Amateur Road Championship of N.SW. He maintained his early brilliance throughout his career and followed his Road Title win by earning state representation for N.S.W., to the Australian Track Titles of 1947.
The following season Eddie turned professional and continued to achieve recognition as one of Australia's greatest road cyclists of all time.
He was a big man for a road cyclist, over 6 foot tall and riding at 13 stone. Yet. he proved to be great at all aspects of cycle racing. As a tour rider he was supreme and won the Midlands Tour of Victoria in 1948, 1949 and 1951. To this he added the Tour of South Australia in 1953.
In 1949 and 1950 this 'Wizard of the wheel' won the Professional 100 Mile Road Championship, then came the Victorian 125 Mile Championship and again in 1954 the Australian Road Championship. Among his many handicap wins were the two main Australian Road Classics. The Warrnambool to Melbourne in 1955 from scratch and the 'Goulburn' in 1954.
In the long history of cycling in Australia only two races have been held from Sydney to Melbourne. One of these was won by Eddie Smith in 1954.
Eddie Smith toured Europe for a short period in 1955 but returned before demonstrating his great ability. He returned for the birth of his son, Gary.
In the year 1948 and 1949 he represented Australia in Noumea with distinction.
Lucky to be alive:
Not many people knew about it until years after, but Eddie Smith is lucky to be alive. A good looking but rather placid Bull almost gored him to death at the Newmarket (Melbourne) Saleyard. He received 37 stitches on one leg and 25 in the other. The bull lost the fight.
From "90 Years of a Cycling Classic" - Goulburn to Sydney 1902 – 1992" Jack Hepher and John Drummond Ó Rolf Lunsmann, 2000 How you can help Feedback
|