OK, I just got off the phone with John Issendorf and I got the straight dope.
I had it straight except that George did ride for Lenny/Toga for one year after the Corso money dried up. That year he won the Mengoni race in Central Park, not Somerville. After that race Fred (Megoni) approached George and Charlie and offered them a deal. With the Mengoni money the original team of Charlie Issendorf, George and Ricky Hincapie was back together. George had a deal where he could ride with the National team as needed. Then he got a contract with Motorola and the rest is history.
The Megoni team is alive and well with John ("Mr. I" or just "I") at the helm. The riders are Charlie, Wilson Vasquez, Adam Meyerson and 3 espoirs that I don't know... Not that Lenny wasn't capable but I contend that Mr. I has to get most of the credit for mentoring this rough diamond.
John told me that Charlie has a web site, http://www.racelistings.com, where he has been posting some stories about his adventures in the peloton. I'm going to have a look at it right now.
Jamie "I was there" Swan - Northport, N.Y.
Richard M Sachs wrote:
> jswan@optonline.net writes...
> snipped:
> <I have no recollection of George riding for Toga.>
>
> maybe my timeline is off. but he won somerville whilst
> racing for lenny. before he was 'picked up' by the likes
> of mr. mengoni, he was mentored* by lenny, similarly to
> how nelson was, before he raced for michael fatka.
> heck, someone has to find these diamonds-in-the-rough.
> e-RICHIE
> chester, ct
>
> *'mentored' means much to many; let's not define it here.