Hi Jan:
Yea, I really miss the track. Don was like a father to most of us. I don't think I would have learned as much as I did without him.
I also remember seeing Peter there. Didn't he ride with Jack Disney's School of Speed? I remember he was fast. I have a picture of a blue track tandem that Peter made, which was on display at the original Wheelsmith location.
Most of my track riding was in the "B" category, but in late '77, after winning a 4-wk. Wed. night series of points races and miss and out's, I was encouraged by the other "B" riders to ride with the "A's". I'm not sure, but I think that was my about last ride on the track, (except I did come back once the next year only to be blown away early in a miss and out). I did pretty good with the "A's" too. In a miss and out I took 3rd against Mark Brandt, Steve Para, and one other of the fastest juniors in No. CA at the time (maybe Curtis Miller). I had to go on a two-lap flyer at the end of the 4th place sprint. I knew that I couldn't beat all 3 of the other riders, and that my only hope was to go for 3rd, and I made it.
"Bicycle Mark" Perkins Fresno Cycling Club - Historian Fresno, California, U.S.A.
On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 23:35:03 -0800 "Jan Johnson" <picabo58@earthlink.net>
writes:
> Great story, Mark.
>
> You were at Hellyer just before me. I entered my first track race in
1979
> and went to my first National Championship the following year, 1980,
held at
> the velodrome in Balboa Park, in San Diego.
>
> Sadly, both Don and Ed are gone now, but their vast contributions to
the
> sport of track riding in San Jose will be remembered and appreciated
for
> years to come. I didn't know Ed that well, but Don was my coach and
mentor,
> and father figure for the handful of years I raced there. Jack Disney
also
> helped me a lot. And good friends like Peter Bohl and Mike Blauuw, who
were
> fixtures at Hellyer, made going to the track a joy.
>
> Jan Johnson
> Portola Valley, CA
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
________________________________________________________________ Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today Only $9.95 per month! Visit http://www.juno.com