FixedGearFever

Superdrome · Cat 2 Joined: Nov 20, 2003 Posts: 441

passed away today at Junior Nationals

Oldfarttrackie · Cat 5 Joined: Jul 26, 2010 Posts: 58 Location: Houston

Sorry to hear, I raced Mark in Houston at the Transco Tower, it was the Michelob street sprint series I think. That was in 88? so he was not that old. What was the cause of death if I may ask

killermeter · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:50 pm Post subject:

He was 50

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/olympian-whitehead-dies-in-texas

corimasd · Cat 1 Joined: Dec 02, 2007 Posts: 595

I feel blessed to get to know Mark over the past 10 months. He has passion flowing that can not be measured. We will all miss you and always remember you!

Rest easy Champion!

HotBlack · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:51 pm Post subject:

I have two specific memories of Mark Whitehead:

The first is from 1987, in the Sundance Gran Prix in Atlanta, at my home track. Mark won the points race by winning the last sprint. On a flat tire that he rode through turn 4 to do so. The tire had maybe 20 psi in it, at most, when he rolled into the infield. That's skill, folks.

The other was later, I think it was at M-Nats in Colorado when I went 10.5 and 1:05 in the 200 and kilo. Mark made a point to tell me that he thought it was a good ride. Eddy B also expressed his admiration later that night in the hotel bar. What a day!

I didn't know Meathead all that well, but I'll miss him because he always brought a passion to cycling, whether racing or coaching, that very few people had.

killermeter · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 10:11 pm Post subject:

I never really got along with Mark. Having said that he was probably the best bike handler I have ever seen. In a race at Dominguez one night he was riding a rear Campy disc, coming out of turn 4 at full speed, the disc completely collapsed to the axle, pedals flat, chainring sending off an impressive display of sparks, he rode it out completely down the straight off the apron and into the infield

smacktown · Cat 6 Joined: Jul 07, 2011 Posts: 1

Like many folks I to had a few differences of opinions with Mark. It wasn't until a week after my brother, Wayne Rutledge, had a horrific near death crash at the Encino Veledrome in California that I really got to know Mark. We were back at Encino for Junior State Track Championships one week after Wayne’s accident. While I was working on the girls bikes Mark approached and asked how Wayne was and how the girls were doing. I remember his heart felt concern and the sincerity in his voice like it was yesterday. Because Mark was a bike racer and a father he understood how upsetting the crash was for the family. Mark offered encouraging words and again demonstrated his sincere concern for Wayne and the whole family. This is the Mark Whitehead I choose to remember. My sympathy goes out to his entire family.

Mark Whitehead was a good man.

RIP Mark

Don Somerville

whit · Cat 2 Joined: Jul 05, 2005 Posts: 308

This was a man born to race a track bike.....

To have seen him race was a privilege. He was always kind to me and he is written into the lexicon of American track cycling.

streetstar · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:50 am Post subject:

50...................... too soon, too soon. may he RIP and i hope the family has the strength they need to get through this

streetstar · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:44 pm Post subject:

Any new news? heart attack -- heat stroke --- congenital thing ?

---- hits a bit too close to home for me due to Mark's age (i am likely echoing a lot of people's sentiments about mortality )

Obviously the guy was about 20 years shy of Olympic shape, but he was definitely not a candidate for "the biggest loser" or anything either

HotBlack · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:49 am Post subject:

Heart attack.

sbrown · Cat 2 Joined: Jul 18, 2005 Posts: 268

Had a chance to work with Mark a couple of times at ADT. Although he was probably know as well for his actions off the track as on it, he was always kind and friendly to me. He enthusiasm for track racing could never be doubted. I have had the privilege to know some great coaches in a variety of sports. Hear Mark yelling at me to get on it, while riding into turn three at ADT on the second lap of a flying 500, was a real treat. I was just some age group racer he has barely met and he is pushing me to do by best against the clock on a workout some other coach planned. I have been yelled at by some pretty poor coaches. But this was something else. He saw my passion for the sport and gave me everything back I needed. You can never ask for anything more. I will miss him.

zilker · Cat 6 Joined: Jul 09, 2011 Posts: 2

HotBlack •wrote• Heart attack.

HotBlack,

Can you confirm that Mark died of a heart attack and provide any other details about this sad thing.

Mark Whitehead was such a character. He was always complaining when I was around him at the '85 Tour of Texas but you could tell he was also trying to live up to his rep. He was a pretty funny guy.

R.I.P. Meat

HotBlack · Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:20 pm Post subject:

All I know is what my single information source said: Heart attack, found in his hotel room. I don't know anything more than that. Sorry.

zilker · Cat 6 Joined: Jul 09, 2011 Posts: 2

HotBlack •wrote• All I know is what my single information source said: Heart attack, found in his hotel room. I don't know anything more than that. Sorry.

This seems to make sense and I want to thank you very much for this bit of info. It is the only thing I've read about what happened.

I attached a photo of Mark at the Tour of Texas '85, Stage One Crit at the Houston Astrodome. I spoke to him for the first time and he was hilarious. He refused to redo his shoulder numbers that weren't pinned on right. I thought they looked OK. It was as if whenever there was a problem he'd be a part of it. He'd complain then laugh at himself but you had to look close to see it.

Thanks again HotBlack

Rick
Austin, TX