Having resided in Spain for lengthy periods for over forty years, part of that time in the military, and being married to a Spain woman for 30 years, I have more than a passing knowledge of the Spanish language.
The notion that a Spanish speaking soldier would respond with "yo" as a reply during a role call seems preposterous at best. The proper reply has always been (similar to that in English) -"presente".
In any event, very few Six Day riders did military service in the Mexican Army.
I suspect that too many beers were consumed before this silly answer was contrived-not to mention the beers afterward.
George Hollenberg MD
CT, USA
>
\r?\n> > >
\r?\n> > > Got to thinking about some of the old bike lingo.
\r?\n> > > This is one I remember from when I was a kid back in the '30's.
\r?\n> > > It was used through the fifties, and slowly died out with
\r?\n> the new age
\r?\n> > > riders.
\r?\n> > >
\r?\n> > > Yo-yo-yo-yo-yo.
\r?\n> > >
\r?\n> > > Ted,
\r?\n>
\r?\n> "Yo" was the term that replaced "present" during roll calls in
\r?\n> the U.S.
\r?\n> Cavalry during the invasion of Mexico in the late 1840's, "yo"
\r?\n> being Spanish
\r?\n> for I. Many early cycling clubs styled themselves after military
\r?\n> units in
\r?\n> the late 19th Century with uniforms and buglers. They maintained the
\r?\n> tradition and it transferred over as some of their members became
\r?\n> professional track racers. I'll venture a guess that it was the
\r?\n> term used by
\r?\n> riders as their names were called out prior to beginning a Six Day.
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Craig "I think I'll have another beer to boot" Montgomery
\r?\n> Tucson