Alf LeTourneur

Alf LeTourneur and Gerard DeBaets 1934

Alf LeTourneur was an exciting racer to cheer for (and a good bet) during his professional career.  From 1928 to 1942 it was likely that the track event you were watching would be won by Alf “The Red Devil” LeTourneur or a team that included him.

Born in France, Alf moved to the United States and settled in new York City. Alf represented his adopted homeland quite well, reigning as the National Champion for four straight years, from 1932 through 1935.  He won a total of twenty-one Six Day races (which is equivalent to twenty-one grand tour or classics victories these days).

In 1938, Frank Bartell’s human-powered speed record of 80.5mph fell to Alf as he averaged 91 miles per hour over the one mile speed trap. “The Red Devil” then went on to beat his own record again in 1941 when he rode his Schwinn Paramount behind a pace car to the astonishing speed of 108.92 miles per hour!

A test attempt at the speed record

LeTourneur and DeBaets win the 1934 New York Six Day

A posed shot. Look closely, the tire Alf is checking is flat

Louis Maltese and Alf Letourneur, 1929

Alf LeTourner at Nutley

Toward the end of his cycling career, Alf filmed a commercial for Airstream trailers. Demonstrating how easy it was to tow an Airstream, Alf towed a 22-foot long trailer with his bicycle.