An Interview with Vic Polanski, sort of
Vic was a grass track racer from Scotland, read some excerpts below from several email correspondance I had with Vic about grass tracking!
The Conversation began as correspondance between Vic and I when doing a parts deal. I simply asked Vic, in short.
(Q) So tell me about grass track racing. You raced Pro as well? What teams have you rode for?....I have always wondered about racing track...grass track looks like an extremely awesome time. It sort of reminds me of cross without the barriers...
Vic Replied,
I have 4 track bikes at present, 2 curly Hetchins, a Bates with curly front forks and a modern 753 Bob Jackson. I have however used every make of track bike you can think of When I raced, which was from the early 1960's up to 2001, my first 8 years were strictly Amateur, but close friends who competed on the Scottish Highland Games circuit persuaded me to travel with them and compete as a professional cyclist.The Highland Games were sports meetings held in a ring set up on a grass field or sports field or football pitch but always with a finely cut grass surface and always a large bunch of spectators watching, who of course had their favourites. I always had a talent for riding fixed wheel and took to the discipline fairly easily. Scottish Grass track cycling is rather fast and furious and at the time I started, little sympathy was shown to a newcomer and I had to learn quickly the hard way. I did, in my opinion, become a reasonable grass track cyclist, winning a lot of races including several scottish championships over a near 40 year career. Things are different now but most of my career I was an outlaw, not recognised by the official Scottish Cycling governing body. We were part time professionals who raced honestly for cash prizes when scottish amateur racing cyclists were getting their cash prizes slipped to them when the crowds went away or getting tyre levers and pairs of socks as prizes. Now there is no Amateur/Professional in Scottish Cycling and things are better and healthier. I gave up racing bacause of my age/pressure from my wife and a bit of disinterest as well because the quality of cyclist I raced against in the 70's, 80's and 90's simply wasnt there after 2000.Having said that I like to think I was successful, having won a lot of races all over Scotland. You used a fairly low fixed gear on a track bike with larger clearances than normal, sew up tyres with quite a rough tread to prevent slipping on the grass surfaces. You didnt stop racing when it started raining or got muddy. I have raced in everything from a heatwave to a hailstorm. Racing at Highland Games was from May to September and held all over Scotland. The Highland Games had Highland Dancing (my wife was a dancer) running/cycling/piping competitions/ baby shows/Heavyweight competitors ( throw hammer/shot putt/toss caber etc.). It was and still is a good days entertainment for the village town or district where the Games was held. When I competed I always kept in mind that I was an entertainer as well as a sportsman and have competed in front of crowds of over 10,000 on occasions.
The End
Now, I wish to add several notes. Vic is a very modest gentleman whom I spoke with for many months and dealt with for quite some time prior to getting the info above in one of our coversations. I believe Vic must have been quite the modest Pro in the games and no doubt was quite a gentleman sportster! See other info about Vic and Grass track racing here.
http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/miscellaneous/scot_in_comp.html
Vic is pictured here
Note the black bands on the wheels, those are tape to hold the tires securely in place. I believe this is the wooden rim grasser that Vic raced. The tires are tubbies. Also note the untaped bars, those shiny handlebars with that stem...clips and straps.
If you like those Oldie bikes, check out this link as well. It has close ups of a 1929 Fixed Gear Racer frameset.
http://www.flying-scot.co.uk/other_marques/gibb/gibb.html
Thanks to Bob Reid who keeps the spirit of grass track and Vintage steeds alive with his site.