If memory serves, a good friend of mine in the Bay Area's father used to ride indoor tracks way back when and when I came across a discarded Clement Seta #3 he gently filled it with air and saw a slight bubble in the sidewall and said "a wrap of duct tape will hold that for a night or two" or something to that effect. So i think tire taping had to do with getting the most out of your tires. You would just be reinforcing the sidewall. Least that was my take on it...
DW
it looks like campbell has his tires taped (grass-track style) while ted does not, is that just a personal preference, or something else?
galen pewtherer
san francisco, ca