Hometown Boy Makes Good: Eddie Testa

 Born in Los Angeles in 1910, Eddie Testa was truly a hometown hero when he competed in the Los Angeles Olympic Games of 1932. Eddie followed in the wheel tracks of older brothers Frank and Felix when he started racing bicycles in his youth.

Highlights of his racing career included 1st place finishes in the 1934 Los Angeles Six Day (teamed with Lewis Franklin Rush) and the 1934 Vancouver Six Day (with Cecil Yates). Other podium finishes included 3rd in the 1934 San Francisco Six Day, 2nd in the Cleveland Six (1935), 2nd in the 1936 Des Moines Six Day, and 2nd in the 1937 San Francisco Six Day races.

In an interview Testa gave during the lead up to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, he remembered his older brothers racing at the old downtown stadium track at Hill and Washington. At that time, Eddie was not old enough on that board track, and had to content himself with entering the many road races held in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Eddie rode a bike built by this brother (which brother he did not specify); they bought the tubing and fittings (lugs) from England, fit it to Eddie's size and brazed it together. That, plus a set of wood rims, which remained true longer than the later metal rims, made for a strong and sturdy bike to race on.

Accepting an offer of $6.00 pay per day, Testa turned professional immediately after the 1932 Olympics, training on various tracks in the area including "the old skating rink over on Melrose," and the asphalt track at Montebello Park.

In the photo, Eddie appears before Judge Newcomb concerning a traffic citation that Eddie had been issued. Since I have never heard of a ride-up court, I'm going to go ahead and suggest that some liberties were taken with this part of Eddie's court appearance. Photo dated December 1, 1935, Los Angeles Times Photographic Collection at UCLA.