Stan Gurney, who won many bike races, lost his life on the Egyptian battlefields at El Alamein whilst single handedly charging through enemy fire. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. The Stan Gurney Memorial Race has been held every year sine 1943. Roy Criddle of Safety Bay has published a book, "A Man Called Stan" drawing from Stan's niece Val's collection and on research by George Nelson. 

Since moving to Perth from Victoria five years ago, George has been involved in processing WA results in general and the Stan Gurney Memorial results in particular. George began his racing career at 16 as a member of Brunswick Amateurs and was a Commonwealth Games race caller in 1962. He's been an international referee and is a Life Member of Brunswick Amateurs, VACU and Cycling Australia.