We had an awesome time at the Mad Track Arena in Detroit for our first visit, and we honestly regret not coming sooner. Everyone was incredibly welcoming. Our goal for this weekend was simple: get comfortable on their 166m track and race our first Madison as practice for the 2025 USA Madison National Championship in Detroit in two weeks. Max and I were joined by our Star Track teammates Isabella, Sol, and Viv.
Getting Certified With Coach Luke
We left New York City early Friday morning and hopped onto the track later that afternoon for our track certification and openers. One of the local coaches, Coach Luke, really went out of his way and spent three hours teaching us skills that are especially important for riding their 166m velodrome as well as for the Madison. While Max and I have raced a short track before — the 138m Forest City Velodrome in London, Ontario — this was our first time on a 166m track.
Saturday Morning Training & Night Racing
On Saturday morning, we returned for another two hours of training to spin our legs and make absolutely certain we were comfortable on the track. Later that afternoon, we came back again for the main event, the Saturday Night Rumble, one of the most professionally run track cycling events we’ve ever attended. The production level was incredible — podiums, announcers, awards, and even a multi-camera live broadcast, which is now on YouTube.
First up, each of us raced a scratch and an elimination. I competed in the Semi-Pro B field while Max raced in the Junior A field. I finished 2nd in the scratch and won the elimination, and Max placed 5th and 2nd in his two races. We were pumped.
Our First Madison Race
Then came the event we were really here for — the Madison, which also doubled as the Michigan Madison Track Championship. Watching the Semi-Pro A field race first definitely brought out the nerves. The riders were aggressive and constantly shouting instructions to one another, showing how intense Madison racing can be.
Once my race with my partner Viv started, everything clicked. I entered a flow state — sprint, exchange, recover, exchange, repeat. I loved the feeling of gaining momentum, putting in a few fast laps, making the exchange, and then watching the race from the rail. Viv and I went solo early on and managed to lap the field a couple of times. We ended up winning our first Madison. Max and his partner Aderyn fought hard and finished 5th.
Welcoming Community & Special Thank Yous
What made the weekend even more special was how genuinely welcoming everyone at Mad Track Arena was. From the riders to the coaches to the announcers, people went out of their way to help us, cheer for us, and make us feel at home — something we’ll never forget.
We also want to give a huge shout-out to Carl Wilkins for donating so generously to Star Track’s travel fund, so more kids from New York can experience racing in Detroit. His support even inspired us to film a short thank-you video, which you can see on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
We definitely achieved our goal. We got comfortable on the track, learned so much, and exceeded our expectations for our first Madison race. We can’t wait to be back in Detroit in two weeks for the US Madison National Championship!
And, last but not least, special thanks to the coaches who taught us the Madison: Coach Brian Abers, Coach Andy and Coach Harrison from the Jerry Baker Velodrome, as well as Coach Kimberly Zubris. Racing the Madison wouldn’t have been possible without you.
