Re: [CR]another legend goes away...

(Example: Production Builders:Pogliaghi)

From: "John Pergolizzi" <jtperry@worldnet.att.net>
To: <brianbaylis@juno.com>, <richardsachs@juno.com>
References: <20040702.085021.2293.197792@webmail18.lax.untd.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]another legend goes away...
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 16:33:04 -0400
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Dear CR, A some of you know I am in Italy now and am mostly without internet access. I will be back in early Aug. I will give a full report of all my classic bike experiences in a later letter. For now I've put down some memories of my time with an old friend, Sammy Zeitlin. If you would like to know more, read on:

So where do I start? A few days ago Ritchie Singer called me from Brooklyn to give me very, very sad news; the passing of Sammy Zeitlin. Sammy was 58. Sammy was a good friend of mine. I first meet Sam in 1975. I had just built my second track bike, a RIH Sport, second hand but from Amsterdam (63 Olimpic titles, 350 Dutch champions, etc.). My first track bike was an Applehans. Some old guy in Prospect park asked me if I knew who that bike belonged to and of course I said \u201cYea, Me.\u201d in perfect Brooklynese. \u201cNo, before you?\u201d \u201cNo idea\u201d I replied. \u201cWell that\u2019s Sammy Zeitlin\u2019s bike.\u201d I learned that Sammy had ridden a very small (19 ¾ in.) RIH as far as a silver medal in the National championships in 1966 against Jack Disney (multiple National Sprint champion in the mid 60's). I later learned that Sam had ordered two exactly the same track frames from RIH; one for racing and one to train on. Fixed gear on the road you know. A few weeks later, again while in the park, some short, fat older guy (I was 16 so most of the World was \u201colder\u201d) shows up, looks at my bike and declares it was his! So this was Sammy! I had already been racing and Sam started to coach me. Just local stuff on Kissena but hey! I knew by the way we met, that Sam and I were kindred spirits, at least to some degree. Sammy told me that sometime around 1970 he moved to Israel and was to represent that country in the Munich Olympics in 1972. He decided not to attend. After college and I no longer raced, I would still see Sam about once a year; usually going down Coney Island Ave. Chance meetings that make Brooklyn special for me. About 10 years ago I spotted Sam from behind as he waited for a light to change on Ocean Parkway (the other route to Prospect Park). I snuck up behind him, grabbed his saddle as he took off and thought I would have a good laugh as he suddenly gained 180 lbs.! Well once the fun was over and we had exchanged salutations, Sam told me about his coronary bypass operation. Less then two weeks before! Yes, completely against his doctors advise Sammy was on his bike. Sam had his own way. Ands no one could ever accuse him of giving up. So Sam began ridding again. Twenty five odd years basically off the bike and still around 50 lbs. over weight but the legs could SPIN!!!. Downhill sprints were never more fun! It took Sam a few years to get himself back to \u201cspeed\u201d and at especially at first could not be accused of being relaxing to ride next to or behind. But this guy rode against Daniel Morelon (multiple World Sprint champion, mid 70's)! Sam was always very humble about his achievements on the bike. He loved to give advise, to help. Some of it we may disagree with as there is usually more then one way of achieving the same result. But Sam\u2019s was all hard earned knowledge of the old school. Two years ago I had the pleasure of putting together two old buddies; Sam and Dave Staub. Sam sometimes needed a little prodding, but once he got around to calling Dave, they spent an hour on the phone kibitzing. Dave was Junior National Sprint champ in 1957 and one of the first to race out side of the U.S. at that time. Dave hung out with Cino Cinelli and knew Reg Harris (multiple World sprint champion in the mid fifties). Just before the grand reopening of Kissena two months ago, I was riding around Marine Park and saw another old buddy, John Sansone. Hadn't seen John in 23 years. I recognized him at first and then he remembered me. John is 81 now. Used to ride a Torpado track bike around the park but now uses a mountain bike with brakes to keep his wife happy. Turns out that John was the first one to help Sam when Sam decided to get on a bike at about 16. I told Sam that I had met John, but Sam hadn't yet gotten around to giving John a call. During a chat with Richard Sachs on the old days, He referred to Sammy as being known as "Super Jew" because of his national and international acquirements on the bike, having read about them in the cycling papers of the time. Sam told a friend that he raced against Joop Zoetemelk (winner of the 1980 Tour), on the track. I am now in Turino, Italy having returned from Amsterdam last night. Yesterday I visited RIH Sport. Same shop after 85 years. Saw Peter Post\u2019s (most six day victories in history) frame ( Dale, I have jpegs to post). Sammy would have gotten a kick. I looked forward to riding many more laps with Sammy, hopefully a few slow. Sammy would say after a good hard ride in the Park \u201cWhat an experience.\u201d Yes it has been Sammy; what an experience. Thank you. Johnny John T.Pergolizzi Torino, Italia


>
> Richie,
>
> Thanks for passing that along. Having spent a lot of time with Pergolizzi, I know how much John admired and was inspired by Sammy and the old school American sprinters. Reportedly, Sammy was still as fast as lightning while in his 60's. I trust John's opinion of what "fast" is.
>
> Sorry to hear the news. Rest in Peace, Sammy. > Brian Baylis
> -- "richardsachs@juno.com" <richardsachs@juno.com> wrote:
>
> just got a call from pergolizzi - who is in italy without internet access - that 60s racing phenom sammy zeitlen passed away. sammy was a trackie from kissena and got as far as 2nd in the natz (i think...) and also was a peer of dave staub, jack disney, and "that" crowd. sammy was one of those riders who ushered in the modern era as we know it. our condolensces to those he left behind.
> e-RICHIE
> chester, ct bikelist.org/mailman/listinfo/classicrendezvous