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1936 - The First at Wembley
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Empire Pool, Wembley in 2006
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It was two years after the Empire Pool was opened that the first six was held there. There were fifteen teams. Frank Southall, the English all-round cyclist, who at the time held 20 English records, was competing in his first six but, unfortunately, he crashed early in the race and went to hospital. Another English rider and winner in 1934, Syd Cozens [later Track Manager] also crashed out and was taken to hospital.
An effort was made to get their respective partners - "Torchy” Peden of Canada, and Harry Grant, of Great Britain - to team up and continue the race, but this was unsuccessful. They were given 12 hours to get new partners. Peden's time gave out and he had to retire, and two hours after, Grant, whose time was also getting dangerously low, was withdrawn from the race.
Gradually teams dropped out until at the end of the race only nine remained. After a terrific last hour struggle with the Belgians, Albert Buysse and Jean Aerts, the race was won by the German team, Gustav Kilian partnered by Heinz Vopel. They covered 1,938 miles and the race ran between 20th and 26th September 1936.
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Gustav KILIAN and Heinz VOPEL were the stars of the European tracks.
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Points
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1. Gustav KILIAN
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Heinz VOPEL
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776
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2. Jean AERTS
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Albert BUYSSE
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at 1 lap
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1046
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3. Emile DIOT
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Emile IGNAT
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591
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4. Alfred CROSSLEY
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Jim WALTHOUR
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at 2 laps
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417
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5. Erland CHRISTENSEN
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Willy FALCK HANSEN
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at 3 laps
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824
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6. Jean van BUGGENHOUT
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Michel van VLOCKHOVEN
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at 4 laps
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219
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7. Jan van KEMPEN
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Piet van KEMPEN
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at 5 laps
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926
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8. Gottfried HUERTGEN
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Toni MERKENS
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at 10 laps
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426
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9. Henri LEPAGE
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Douglas PEDEN
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at 13 laps
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311
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Retirements - Frank SOUTHALL, Syd COZENS, Harry GRANT, William “Torchy” PEDEN, Vicente DEMETRIO, Antonio PRIOR, Michel PECQUEUX, Jean TONNELIER, Alfredo MALMESI, ??, Eddie SMITH and Harold SMITH
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 Facts about these races are hard to come by - and even the limited info is sometimes contradictory. Some Australian Press Reports
Does anyone have any more original records or press reports?
This 1936 programme was for sale on eBay recently - but it went elsewhere. Perhaps the new owner could send some page scans or photos?
Update 25-May-2016 Scanned page of teams sent in (Thanks to Mick Butler)
1923-1980 British Riders and Race Programmes
There was no race at Olympia or Wembley in 1935. But clearly one was being considered as this press cutting reveals -
“ROAD ACES FOR ENGLAND. Selecting Opperman's Team.
At the end of April an Australian team of cyclists, captained by Hubert Opperman, will leave for England, where the first of a series of Australia-England cycling tests will be decided, probably over the famous Land's End John o'Groats course. Mr. Bruce Small, the manager, has already announced that the brilliant Eddie Smith (W.A.) will be one of the team. Smith is a first-class sprinter, and his selection was obviously inspired because of his worth as a team mate for Opperman in six day races at Blackpool (Lancashire), Olympia Stadium (London), and in similar classics in America and on the Continent. It also has been announced that the former Australian amateur champion, Joe Buckley (N.S.W.), is likely to be chosen with one or two other leading Australian road aces. While in England Opperman will attempt to regain the world's 12 hours and 24 hours records and the London to York record, which he recently lost to Frank Southall, England's road racing champion.” Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld) 1-Feb-1935
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