Kevin McNeill, along with Rob Brown, is the organizer of the Major Taylor team. I have known Kevin for many years and he is a great racer and an all around good guy.  I want to ask him a few question before we get to Vince Oliver.

Campocat

 

 

JC Dude when did you get started in cycling? I think I saw pictures of you at the Kissena Velodrome circa 1980?

 

@##=#<2,L>@##=#KM Actually it was a little earlier than that. I started racing while I was in high school back in 1977. These were the days of tublars and wool shorts and wool jerseys. I only raced track because I only had a track bike. It was a french bike Urago. I used to race for Team Brooklyn located out of the Brooklyn Bicycle Center on Coney Island Avenue. I was one of the very few juniors to race back then. The team had a lot of good riders that some old racers may know, like Tom Donahue and Dave Brooks.

 

JC You have moved from Sony to this new team.  Are you just following the trend of having your own team, or is this about something else? 

 

KM After leaving Sony/Global Locate, Rob Brown and I were looking for a team. In the end we decided that we would just race together.  Around the same time we were helping Mel Corbett with the start of The Major Taylor Club. This club basiclly an ethnic version of the New York Cycle Club. Our goal was to help make the minority community aware of the joys of cycling. We approched Mel about creating a racing arm of the club to help it gain exposure. That’s when the Major Taylor Iron Riders were created. Like most teams we approached a few of our friends like Vince to be a part of the team. .

 

JC You seem to have a good mix of newbies and veterans.  Where is it going?

 

KM Our focus is primarily masters racing and Cat 123 races. However, we have a few strong cat 4’s and two women: one relatively new to the racing scene, Dominique Hall and Daniele Imperiale-Warner.

 

JC Is Rob still racing and can I get you guys to come out to the new smooth Kissena Velodrome?   

 

KM Rob is racing and in great shape. We both plan to come out to the track! I actually have not raced on the track since I was a junior.

 

JC Tell me about Vince Oliver, when you met, his role on the team.  What it means to have a former national champion on the team with Vince’s experience.

 

KM This year Vince has had to take some time off due to work. But when he is riding obviously he is our go to sprinter. When he is in shape, as you know, no one is faster. I actually met Vince in competition. Both Vince and Kirk Whiteman were the men to beat. And me being a sprinter as well they were my direct competition. When Kirk was invited to ride on Global Locate/Sony he brought myself, Rob and Vince,which became a dream team for us. Having a former national champion is great for the team. Vince is very analytical and has an amazing talent for reading races. He is someone we all can learn from.

 

JC What do you have lined up for the future, for youself and the team?

 

KM Our main goal for the team is to pick up sponsors and grow the team. Right now we are financing the team ourselves. So far for the 2007 season we have a few quality riders that we will bring to the table. But as always we tend to have a sprinter’s bias. We hope to find a good time trialist to add to the mix. As far as myself I don’t ever think I will stop racing. It has been a part of my life on and off for so many years.

 

JC Thanks Kevin hope to see you at the races.

 

KM Absolutely!  Check out our website and The Major Taylor Club’s as well. Both are still in their infancy. But trust me we expect to be a force in the local scene.