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| Tom Finnigan who began Malvern Star Cycles, got his big chance when he entered the Austral Wheel Race in 1898. Each December the "Austral' was Melbourne's most exciting sporting event. Finnigan was employed a bicycle mechanic by the local arm of the Canadian bicycle company Massey Harris. He was also a regular professional cycle racer, but no champion. For the 1898 "Austral" he was handicapped on 220 yards. First prize of 240 sovereigns was a large sum in those days, enough to set a young man up for life. In a dramatic race Finnigan held on to win by a foot from the fast finishing backmarkers. Finnigan invested his winnings wisely setting himself up in business with a local bicycle shop.
Ó Rolf Lunsmann, 2000 How you can help Feedback
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