Nelson Saldana

Nelson Saldana is a former American track cycling Champion originally from Kew Gardens, Queens, New York. Saldana was a Gold Medal winner in the Team Pursuit at the 1975 Pan American Games ^[1] He was also the 1977 USA Mens Point Race National Champion ^[2] as well as 1972 Junior Mens track champion.^[3]

The Rabbit

Nicknamed "The Rabbit", Saldana was an extremely popular rider in the first several years that the Trexlertown Velodrome opened. He was a particular crowd favorite in the Miss and Out races where he would often ride with a police whistle at the back, blowing the whistle and pointing at the last rider as they crossed the line every lap.^{[citation needed]} Saldana and his partner Bob Veghe were often the winners of Madison races they competed in.^{[citation needed]}

Along with Jerry Ash, Saladana was well liked and respected by younger riders because of his excellence on the bike, his charming personality and the way he gave freely of his time to help younger riders.^{[citation needed]}

In 2006 Nelson Saldana was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Velodrome's Hall of Fame ^[4]

New York State Trooper

After Saldana retired from cycling he became a member of the New York State Police and is a decorated officer.^{[citation needed]} In 1996, as a New York State Police Diver he participated in the investigation of the crash of TWA Flight 800.^[5]

References

1. ^ http://www.angelfire.com/realm/cvccbikers/ten_years/pan_am.html
2. ^ http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/aug06/aug16news
3. ^ http://www.333m.com/velohist.htm
4. ^ http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/aug06/aug16news
5. ^ http://www.cnn.com/US/9607/31/twa.wrap/

• Velocitynation.com
• vlex.com

Persondata
Name	Saldana, Nelson
Alternative names
Short description	American racing cyclist
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