Reading Dave Tealls' reminiscing about track racing is like flipping through an old photo album and recalling the "good 'ole days".  I was first introduced to track racing by the elders of the club, Messrs. Tyson, Dauer, Hammons, Shryock, Skiver and Teall.  It was the dynamic duo of Dave and Dave (Skiver and Teall) that were most active in track racing back in the summer of 1978.  The two Daves were Madison racing at the indoor track in Southfield Michigan. Several of us clubbies went up and watched the racing and cheered for the MVW duo.  

The indoor track had impressed me enough to purchase Teall's Paramount when he went into his first retirement. While Dave was off kayaking and sailing, I was getting ready to race track.  

The board track had impressed me enough to know that Madisons and match sprints were more than I was ready for. Timed events were my focus. The Kilo and Pursuit were my goal.  

Dave has spoken much about Mike Walden. Mike was indeed the indomitable spirit of the Wolverines and Dorais.  Claire Young was another coach that helped many of us. Claire, father of World champion Sheila and Olympic team member Roger, is every bit an equal to Mike Walden.  

Claire taught me how to race the Kilo. The Kilo is fairly straightforward. Not much in tactics, however the start and the first 250 meters or so are critical. Claire spent time coaching me on the right starting stance, positioning, etc. He also yelled at me when I sat down too early or too late. He yelled at me like a grandfather yells at his grandkids.  Claire had a certain icy stare when he was trying to get a point across to a dense headed twenty-year old but he always had a warm smile when you got it right. Claire had a big 'ole smile on his face when I rolled a 1:12 one day in May of 1981. I had an even bigger smile when I received a Cat 2 track upgrade, a Wolverine track silk (that’s track lingo for jersey) and a letter from Mike Walden the next week.  The letter was inviting me to race for the Wolverines. Not the club team, but the elite team.  1981 was turning into good year for me. Earlier I had won my first USCF Cat 3 road race and now this. My smile was however erased when less than week later I was run over by a hit and run driver.   

A 1:12 Kilo is not fast by today's standards, but we did not have aero wheels, aero bars or a fast surface like newer tracks do. But in 1981 it was in the top ten for the US.   Two years of intense rehabilitation passed before I would race another Kilo. This time it was at the Bicycling Gran Prix at Northbrook. While the Detroit system ground out some of the best riders in the country, this race would showcase all the best riders. Riders from Trexlertown and the west coast would be at Northbrook. I rolled my best 4000-meter pursuit time, but my Kilo was off by 2 seconds. Even with all the doctors and trainers at my disposal (thanks Allstate Insurance) I still couldn't overcome the muscle damage from the accident. It was time quit racing.