Ray Booty
Encyclopedia
Raymond 'Ray' Charles Booty, sometimes nicknamed The Boot, is a former English
road bicycle racer
. In 1956 he was the first man to beat four hours for the 100 miles (160.9 km) individual time trial
- a feat that was reported around the world and compared to beating four minutes for running a mile two years earlier.
Booty rode for Ericsson Wheelers CC, a Nottinghamshire
cycling club
now disbanded and the Army Cycling Union. He won the national 100 miles (160.9 km) time trial championship every year from 1955 to 1959.
, through Theale
, Pangbourne
, Wallingford, Shillingford
, Abingdon
and back down the A4 to finish near where it started. Booty rode a Raleigh bicycle
with an 84 inches (2,133.6 mm) fixed gear to 3h 58m 28s. The second man, future professional Stan Brittain
was beaten by 12 minutes.
Booty had ridden from Nottingham
to the start the day before - 100 miles (160.9 km). For his race he was awarded a medal by Cycling
and a certificate from the RTTC
.
The Daily Herald reported the record, speaking of 'Booty the incomparable', and the News Chronicle
said: 'Rider crashes four-hour barrier'
He was awarded the F. T. Bidlake Memorial Prize
in 1956. The citation read:
Booty recalled:
(RRA) rules. These allowed him to take advantage of tailwinds and gradient drop (time trials in the UK must be on out-and-back courses). He recorded 3h 28m 40s. For the event he used a Sturmey-Archer
hub gear. The record stood for 34 years. It was beaten by Ian Cammish.
competition three times from 1955 to 1957. The BBAR is based on averaged speeds over 50 and 100 miles (160.9 km) and for 12 hours. He was 100 miles (160.9 km) champion from 1955 to 1959 and 12-hour champion from 1954 to 1958.
He first broke the 100 miles (160.9 km) record in 1955, lowering it to 4:04:30. He broke it three times. He twice broke the 12-hour record: 265.66 miles (427.5 km) in 1956 and 266 miles (428.1 km) the following year.
road race
in Cardiff
. He won a bronze medal in the national championship road race in the same year. He also won the Manx International road race in 1954.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
road bicycle racer
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
. In 1956 he was the first man to beat four hours for the 100 miles (160.9 km) individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
- a feat that was reported around the world and compared to beating four minutes for running a mile two years earlier.
Booty rode for Ericsson Wheelers CC, a Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
cycling club
Cycling club
A cycling club is a society for cyclists. It can be local or national, general or specialised. The Cyclists' Touring Club, CTC) in the United Kingdom is a national association; i-Team and are internet clubs; the Tricycle Association, Tandem Club and the Veterans Time Trial Association, for those...
now disbanded and the Army Cycling Union. He won the national 100 miles (160.9 km) time trial championship every year from 1955 to 1959.
The first sub-four hour 100
Booty broke the record in the 1956 national championship with 4h 1m 52s. The next event was the Bath Road '100' on Bank Holiday Monday 6 August 1956. The course was west of ReadingReading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, through Theale
Theale, Berkshire
Theale is a large village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. The village has many of the attributes of a small town, with a high street lined with shops, pubs and restaurants.- Location :...
, Pangbourne
Pangbourne
Pangbourne is a large village and civil parish on the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire. Pangbourne is the home of the independent school, Pangbourne College.-Location:...
, Wallingford, Shillingford
Shillingford
Shillingford is a hamlet on the River Thames in Warborough civil parish in South Oxfordshire, England. It lies on the main road between Oxford and Reading, at the junction with the A329.-History:...
, Abingdon
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
and back down the A4 to finish near where it started. Booty rode a Raleigh bicycle
Raleigh Bicycle Company
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is a bicycle manufacturer originally based in Nottingham, UK. It is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. From 1921 to 1935 Raleigh also produced motorcycles and three-wheel cars, leading to the formation of the Reliant Company.-Early years:Raleigh's history...
with an 84 inches (2,133.6 mm) fixed gear to 3h 58m 28s. The second man, future professional Stan Brittain
Stan Brittain
Arthur Stanley "Stan" Brittain was an English racing cyclist who rode time-trials, road races and the track. He won a silver medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games, came third in the 1955 Peace Race and finished the 1958 Tour de France....
was beaten by 12 minutes.
Booty had ridden from Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
to the start the day before - 100 miles (160.9 km). For his race he was awarded a medal by Cycling
Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
and a certificate from the RTTC
Cycling Time Trials
Cycling Time Trials is the British bicycle racing organisation which supervises individual and team time trials in England and Wales. It was formed out of predecessor body the Road Time Trials Council in 2002.-Time trialling:...
.
The Daily Herald reported the record, speaking of 'Booty the incomparable', and the News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
said: 'Rider crashes four-hour barrier'
He was awarded the F. T. Bidlake Memorial Prize
Frederick Thomas Bidlake
Frederick Thomas Bidlake was an English racing cyclist of the late 19th century who became one of the most notable administrators of British road bicycle racing during the early 20th century. The annual Bidlake Memorial Prize, was instituted in his memory...
in 1956. The citation read:
Raymond Charles Booty For his superlative ride of 3 hrs. 58 mins. 28 secs. in the Bath Road Hundred of 1956, this being the first time one hundred miles had ever been ridden on a bicycle, out and home, inside four hours.
Booty recalled:
- It was one of those lovely sunny summer mornings you crave for when you are time-trialling. It was calm, as I remember, and eventually it became very hot. And I was really having to hang on in the last half hour. I remember it was a real struggle. I knew I was on to a good ride if I could hang on. The thing I remember about that particular event was at the finish, and I was absolutely shattered at the finish. And I sat down. And, of course, when I finished I realised just how hot it was. I was desperate for some drink and somebody came with all they'd got, which was a bottle of milk. And it was sour. And he said it was sour. It was all he'd got. It was really sour. But I drank it all. That was the thing I remember mainly about that event.
The straight-out record
In September Booty attempted the 100 miles (160.9 km) record under Road Records AssociationRoad Records Association
The Road Records Association is a British cycle racing organisation which supervises records on the road but not in conventional races. It is one of the oldest cycle sport organisations in the world, formed in 1888.-Remit:...
(RRA) rules. These allowed him to take advantage of tailwinds and gradient drop (time trials in the UK must be on out-and-back courses). He recorded 3h 28m 40s. For the event he used a Sturmey-Archer
Sturmey-Archer
Sturmey-Archer is a manufacturing company originally from Nottingham, England. It primarily produces bicycle hub gears but has also produced motorcycle hubs....
hub gear. The record stood for 34 years. It was beaten by Ian Cammish.
More time trial success
Booty won the season-long British Best All-RounderBritish Best All-Rounder
The British Best All-Rounder competition, organised by Cycling Time Trials, is an annual British cycle-racing competition. It ranks riders by their average speeds in individual time trials, over 50 and and 12 hours for men, and over 25, 50 and for women. There are similar competitions for...
competition three times from 1955 to 1957. The BBAR is based on averaged speeds over 50 and 100 miles (160.9 km) and for 12 hours. He was 100 miles (160.9 km) champion from 1955 to 1959 and 12-hour champion from 1954 to 1958.
He first broke the 100 miles (160.9 km) record in 1955, lowering it to 4:04:30. He broke it three times. He twice broke the 12-hour record: 265.66 miles (427.5 km) in 1956 and 266 miles (428.1 km) the following year.
Road racing
Booty won the gold medal in the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Cardiff, capital of Wales from 18–26 July 1958.Thirty-five nations sent a total of 1,130 athletes and 228 officials to the Cardiff Games and 23 countries and dependencies won medals, including, for the first time, Singapore, Ghana, Kenya...
road race
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. He won a bronze medal in the national championship road race in the same year. He also won the Manx International road race in 1954.
Personality
The cycling wholesaler and patron Ron Kitching said of Booty:- He was an iron man. But somewhere along the line I think he lacked something, the dedication to make bike-racing a full-time career. Maybe he didn't want to, but he certainly had most of the qualities. He had the strength, he could climb and of course he could time-trial. What he really needed was to be part of a good continental racing team. Then I think he would have gone to the very top. But whether or not his personality would have got in the way, that's another thing. You need a bit of modesty and humility to achieve that. I think the fact that Ray dropped right out of the sport proves that his interest didn't go deep enough. Why he went off and hid away, I don't know.