Quite simply the greatest bicycle race I have ever been in!! I overlapped Jeff McKillup's wheel on the Madison exchange in the honestreatch and crashed slidding into the pillbox. Robert Burney and I verses Darrel Batke and John Beckman. It was right out of Hollywood the way John crossed the line beating Robert Burney in the final sprint breaking his chain and then able to ride his bike up on the banking, coming down into the infield hopping of the bike thrusting his arms in victory. My fault John-sorry I took you down!!
John Beckman
08-Mar-2011 22:55
Looks like John Tess coming over to retrieve my bike. (and possibly his wheel)
John Beckman
10-Feb-2011 04:09
August '83, 12 days before my wedding. The last event of the weekend was a Madison, in which Robert Burney's partner, Tim Rutledge crashed himself and me, wrecking my rear wheel. My partner Darroll Batke rode solo while I borrowed a wheel, but it was equipped with a fat cog, my bike had road chain. So limp off the track and onto Burney's Merz (see next photo). A few laps and I flat a tire. By this time someone put a wheel onto my Kellogg (painted then in white Murray colors) and I get back on my bike. Wheel is too far forward, no chain tension. Darroll throws me in for final sprint, we win the race, but at the finish line makes the loose chain come off. I don't want to risk winding the chain into the spokes, so I lay the bike down just before turn three, sliding in the fresh cut grass, green blades scattering through the air, obscuring audience view of me. Carl runs over laughing and implores me to stand with hands up in glory. I didn't know anyone got it on film!