It is Paris, October 27, 1927 and the young industrialist, Albert Champion, has returned to his birth home to receive an award for his company's part in Charles Lindbergh's historic flight across the Atlantic. It is the roaring twenties and in his short life, Albert Champion has become an international celebrity. Albert is the former bicycle racing champion of France, who went to America and became the very successful spark plug industrialist of the new automobile age. This night as the festivities begin, Albert escorts his wife to the dance floor. Suddenly he collapses and dies a few minutes later.
Two days later the young widow sits in a funeral parlor dressed in black, a veil covering the beautiful face. Edna Crawford, Albert's …show more content…
At the age of 12 he starts work as a runner/errand boy for the Clement Bicycle plant in Paris. From the very beginning, he is driven to be faster and better than anyone. His employers see the drive in him, notice the prowess of his bicycle skills and they encourage him. In 1894, at the age of 16, he wins the Middle Distance Bicycle Championship of France. This leads to tours in Berlin and London. By 1897 his professional bicycling career is well on its way and he is a French national celebrity. Bicycle racing and the new motorized bicycle are all the rage at the turn of the century and Albert is now internationally known. Charles Metz hires Albert to promote his motorized bicycles in America. In 1903 Champion is well known as a bicycle and motorcycle racer in America and fate brings the opportunity for him to expand his fame in yet another field of racing. The racing team for Packard motor car bring their latest racing car, the Gray Wolf, to Brooklyn for the final races of the season. Minus their regular driver, they turn to Champion to drive their racer. In the first race he finishes 3rd, the second race he finishes 2nd and in the third race he has a terrible wreck in the second lap shattering his thigh bone and badly damaging the Gray Wolf. After six weeks in the hospital, he returns to France to recuperate for nearly a year. With one leg two centimeters shorter than the other, he again tries bicycle racing. Though he wins the race at the Parc des Princes, the infected and not fully healed leg finally brings an end to Albert Champion's racing
Two days later the young widow sits in a funeral parlor dressed in black, a veil covering the beautiful face. Edna Crawford, Albert's …show more content…
At the age of 12 he starts work as a runner/errand boy for the Clement Bicycle plant in Paris. From the very beginning, he is driven to be faster and better than anyone. His employers see the drive in him, notice the prowess of his bicycle skills and they encourage him. In 1894, at the age of 16, he wins the Middle Distance Bicycle Championship of France. This leads to tours in Berlin and London. By 1897 his professional bicycling career is well on its way and he is a French national celebrity. Bicycle racing and the new motorized bicycle are all the rage at the turn of the century and Albert is now internationally known. Charles Metz hires Albert to promote his motorized bicycles in America. In 1903 Champion is well known as a bicycle and motorcycle racer in America and fate brings the opportunity for him to expand his fame in yet another field of racing. The racing team for Packard motor car bring their latest racing car, the Gray Wolf, to Brooklyn for the final races of the season. Minus their regular driver, they turn to Champion to drive their racer. In the first race he finishes 3rd, the second race he finishes 2nd and in the third race he has a terrible wreck in the second lap shattering his thigh bone and badly damaging the Gray Wolf. After six weeks in the hospital, he returns to France to recuperate for nearly a year. With one leg two centimeters shorter than the other, he again tries bicycle racing. Though he wins the race at the Parc des Princes, the infected and not fully healed leg finally brings an end to Albert Champion's racing