North Road Loft History

       My name is Carl Schoelkopf.  My association with pigeons began around 60 years ago when my father's friend from Buffalo, New York, brought two pairs of long-distance racing homers to me as a gift.  My father was a dairyman in southern Michigan north of Detroit.  The racing homers were housed by me in an attic above a large hog barn.  My father's friend warned me that I was never to allow the pairs out to fly as they would immediately home to Buffalo.  The next spring, after raising about 4 or 5 pairs of youngsters who were already flying and after watching the parent's incessant pleas to be allowed to fly too, one sunny day I released the parents.  After a few moments watching the parents fly in a kit with their offspring, I saw four birds break off to a northeast course in the direction of Buffalo.  Two days later I got a call from my father's friend wanting to know if I didn't want the birds anymore.  I had learned a lesson about good racing homers.
      In those days I thought there were only two kinds of pigeons, the wild ones who raised babies in our silo and barn and the ones that came in my gift from Buffalo.  Years later while serving in the army in occupied Germany, I attended a pigeon show there and learned how mistaken I had been.  My fondness for pigeons has grown over the years and I would keep nearly all forms of domestic
pigeons, if I had the time, energy and space for them.  
       Today my charges include; my old favorites, the Racing Homers; Shakhsharli Tumblers; Syrian Coop Tumblers; Indian Mondaines; and a couple of Baku Tumblers.  Sometimes I think these are more than I can handle, but all of them give me joy.
       Pigeons have always shared a part of my life while I served as a police officer, high school teacher and principal.  Over the years my loft, North Road Loft, has housed:  Birmingham Rollers, Swiss
Mondaines, French Mondaines, Miniature American Crests, Giant American Crests, African Owls, Pheasant Pigeons...I even had 15 wild Band-tailed Pigeons fly in for shelter and food during a heavy snow storm.
        After retiring from the racing pigeon sport in 2006, I no longer raise many pigeons during the breeding season, just a few experiments, replacements and some birds for those wanting a good start in long-distance racing or the other breeds I have.  My final racing record is shown below and pictures of my birds can be found throughout my website.  I hope this website is interesting and useful to people interested in the pigeon hobby.  I am pleased to visit with anyone wishing my conversation, opinion or advice.
     
      
Recent Racing Record
2001 Old Bird Series:
IF99RDG906 - 2nd 425 miles, Yakima, Washington
IF99RDG906 - 1st 500 miles, Wenatchee, Washington
2002 Old Bird Series:
IF99RDG906 - AU2002 Digest Ace Long-distance Award
IF99SRP925 - The Only Day-bird from Twin Falls, Idaho, Desert Race
2003 - No Races Due to Family Health
2004 Old Bird Series - Won All Long Races but one:
    AU02RBPC0943 - winner 410 miles, Toppenish, Washington
    AU03SRP331 - winner 425 miles, Yakima, Washington, by
          2 hours and nine minutes.
    AU02SRP2248 - winner 600 miles, Oroville, Washington,
           also California Long-distance Hall of Fame.
     Long-distance Average Speed
     Long-distance Ace Loft
     Long-distance Ace Pigeon Award
     Won Long-distance Average Speed by 12 hours and 52 Minutes.
2006 - Last Old Bird Series for North Road Loft:
AU04SRP4311 - Winner, High-point All Distances,
5th 425 miles & 3rd 600 miles
AU04SRP4321 - Winner 550 miles, Okanagan, Washington

































Home     About Us   Our Champions   Tumblers   White Homers   For Sale   Contact