August 1906
The League of Queensland Wheelmen held a sports day which began on Saturday 4 August 1906 at the Woolloongabba Cricket Ground. The event ran over several days, postponed by rain. Included were two heats and a final for motorcycles and the entrants were:
Nicholas S Chefalo was a Chilean cyclist who, with his American manager E J Kilpatrick, toured widely with Wirths Circus performing a 'loop the loop' with his cycle on a circular wooden track about 50 feet high and 2 feet wide, with a trapdoor for entry and exit. He had performed the feat in Europe, New Zealand and Australia and he had many spills, breaking bones and fracturing his skull, but continued to perform. While doing so in Singapore in 1908 he dropped from the top of the loop and was killed.
During his Queensland tour with the Circus he entered the motorcycle race, and performed his loop demonstration afterwards.
Chefalo rode the Minerva and was third in his heat. Only the first two from each entered the final which was won by James Holcroft. Fred Skov was second and Fred Rickards third.
May 1907
The newly-formed Queensland Motorcycle Club held a trial on Saturday 11 May 1907. starting at Melbourne Street South Brisbane, running to Cleveland and return. The Club Captain was Dr Sidney Fancourt Macdonald, a prominent physician. The entrants were:
The placegetters were Campbell, Webb and Byrne in that order. Skov had two spills and finished late. Wishart fell and broke a crank, and Edwards also fell.
Dowd was another champion cyclist who moved on to motorcycles.
James Holcroft operated the 'Holly' cycle and motorcycle works in Edward Street. Brisbane.
Gerald Edward Byrne was Foreman at the Canadian Cycle and Motor Co. in Brisbane and in 1907 he was appointed Manager of their Rockhampton branch. He left in 1919 to operate a bus service.
THE LEAGUE CARNIVAL.
Motor Cycle Races.
The following handicaps have been declared by Mr D Spencer for the Five-mile Motor Cycle Race, to be contested at the L.Q.W sports on Saturday. N Chefalo's name appears twice in one heat, as he has been given the privilege to ride either of the machines with which he has entered. The first and second in each heat will start in the final :-
First heat C. Pond, Krown, 2 ¾ h.p, 40sec , F Skov, Mlnerva, h.p., 1 min 15sec , G A Jackes, Sarolea, 2 ¾ h.p., 1 min 50sec , A Larson, De Dion, 2½ h.p., 1 min 55sec, H. Joyce, Singer, 2 h.p. , 2 min 20sec.
Second heat N Chefalo, Minerva, 3½ h.p., scratch , H. Henderson, Local, 3½ h.p., scratch , F. W. Rickards, Minerva, 3½ h.p., scratch ,: J Campbell, Local, 2 ¾ h.p., 25sec , J Holcroft, Advance, 2 ¾ h.p., 40 sec , N.. Chefalo, Griffon, 2 ¾ h.p , 40sec.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld.) Wed 1 Aug 1906
MOTOR CYCLE RACE, 3 MILES.
First heat : R. Cummings, 2 horse-power, Minerva, 75sec, 1 ; J. Campbell, 2¾ horsepower, Local, 10sec., 2 ; J. Bauman, 2¾ h.p., Local, 10sec. 3. Time, 5min. 8sec.
Second heat : D. Spencer, 2¾ horse-power. Griffin, 65sec, 1 ; J. Holcroft, 2¾ horse-power, Holly, 30sec, 2. Time, 4min. 20sec.
Final heat : D. Spencer 1, J. Holcroft 2, J. Campbell 3. Won by a lap.
The Brisbane Courier. Mon 27 Apr 1908
Ambulance Sports Carnival, Brisbane Cricket Ground
Sources: Trove NLA; Terry Parker of the VVMCSA.
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