John C. (Cyril) Anderson was born in 1904 in Toowoomba, Queensland, the sixth of nine children. His brother Mervyn John Reginald Anderson (always known as Curly) arrived five years later. Cyril worked in the family’s grocery store before completing an apprenticeship in the bicycle and motorcycle field, then opening his own motorcycle repair shop in the early 1920s. His interest in motorcycling grew quickly, and he established quite a name for himself on tracks around Toowoomba and further afield riding a Rudge. In 1926 he scored his biggest-yet success, the Queensland 25 Mile title at Clifton Racecourse, followed by the Five Mile Track Championship at Warwick.
It was a time when horse tracks and ovals were being pressed into service for motorcycle racing. These were easier to administrate and maintain, usually had adequate spectator facilities, and did not require closure of public roads, as traditional ‘TT’ circuits did. These circuits became
