on 6/9/04 12:14 AM, john jorgensen at designzero@earthlink.net wrote:
> Joe & the List-
>
> In So. Cal. 30 yrs ago, the jamming tool of choice was a kitchen sponge
> wrapped tightly into a cylinder with gaffers tape. A wrench was avoided in
> case of a fall. Cinelli track shorts were the shorts of choice for their
> pleated hind qtrs. and integrated tool pocket. At the Encino Velodrome at
> the time hand slings were frowned upon in competition, they could really
> propel the inbound rider, possibly into the rear wheel of another was the
> fear by the officials.
>
> The retiring rider generally placed his left hand on the bars adjacent to
> the stem (large movements would be the least noticed there), reach back with
> his right to locate and throw his teammate into the fray by grabbing the
> rider by the jamming tool. It took practice to produce a good straight
> throw. When clear, retire above the "red" line. A typical Saturday night
> series would end with a Madison. Very strategic to ride and fun to watch if
> one knew the abilities of the participants, guessing when the exchanges
> would take place was always entertaining.
>
> Remembering the Mantra, Sprint To Victory
>
> John Jorgensen
> Palos Verdes Ca.
>
> _______________________________________________
Our Wednesday day night "Twilight Series" at Kissena Park also ended with a Madison. My partner and I always did hand slings but some other teams used jamming tools. Most guys used a rubber hand grip; probably pilfered from their kid sister's bike.
Every so often somebody would crash while doing a hand sling and Al Toefield, the guy who ran the races, would make everyone use jamming tools for the rest of that season. My partner and I hated it because we were good at hand slings and felt that using a jamming tool slowed down our exchanges. We got "Madison shorts" with a large double fabric area in the back that was diamond quilted and had a pocket for the jamming tool. Those shorts had no stretch so you could really throw a guy without stretching the fabric.
If you did hand slings, before the race, you would warm up buy garbing your partner hand to hand and not let go. You would throw him and then he would throw you. Like leap frog.
One time I my regular partner didn't show up so I did the Madison with another guy. He didn't do hand slings so I had to throw him with a jamming tool. On the first exchange I discovered that whoever pinned on his number on had put it right on top of the jamming tool. I had no choice but to grab the tool through the number. His number came off in my hand and he didn't get any of my momentum. He was still going slow and I was still at top speed. I remember looking back at him with his number in my right hand. It was pretty comical.
Jamie Swan - Northport, New York