A UNIQUE 1950s Swansea racer built for Coogee’s Frank Baldoni will be on show at the exhibition Hidden Cycling History.

Italian immigrant Baldoni worked at the Swansea Cycle and Motor Co factory in Fremantle in the mid 1950s, reconditioning second-hand bikes.

A keen track and road racer, he was so enthusiastic and fit he would often cycle to the race, before competing in a gruelling event.

While working at the Swansea factory, the teenage Baldoni coaxed engineers into manufacturing him a one-off racer with a sixth Swan on the head tube—the normal model had five—with custom forks and lugs.

• Frank Baldoni with his unique six-swan racer. Photo supplied

“I think I paid around seven pounds for it back then, which was quite a substantial amount of money,” he laughs.

“The bike has been restored to its former glory for the exhibition and it looks amazing.”

Originally from Edolo, Brescia in northern Italy, Baldoni immigrated to Fremantle with his parents in 1949, and worked at Swansea from the age of 15 to 18.

The now 76-year-old is still fit as a fiddle and works as a tiler, but has swapped bike racing for wine making: the Chook had to wait till he emerged from his cellar at 4.30pm for a chat.

“I’ve just made 130 bottles and am gearing up for more,” he laughs.

“It was a long time ago, but I still have fond memories of cycling and racing around WA.

“The exhibition is a great idea and I’m looking forward to going along.”

Hidden Cycling History is on at the Museum of Perth, on Grand Lane, until March 27.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK