[2] As a youth, Peden was a natural athlete, participating in several sports, and was nationally ranked in swimming.

[1] After winning five titles at the indoor Canadian championships in Montreal, he turned professional.

[3] In 1931, he set a record; riding behind a car providing a shield against the wind, he achieved a speed of 73.5 miles per hour (118.3 km/h).

He would grab a scarf or hat from a spectator and ride around with it for a few laps before returning it to its owner.

The redhead acquired the nickname "Torchy" when a journalist described him as a "flame-haired youth leading the pack like a torch".