Page 22 - DWV PROMO BOOK

PBS Documentary

The Human-Powered World Speed Championships just happened to fall in early May, a few weeks before I was supposed to
graduate. Having raised funds from grants, family and friends, and sponsorships from some serious companies like Campagnolo,
Flying Tigers, DuPont, North Sails, Celanese and others, the pressure was on. Add to this, the Championship was in southern
California and I was in school in Amherst, Massachusetts. I had to arrange to get my two vehicles and a truckload of gear, not to
mention four students (my pit crew) there, all without a lot of travel agent experience. If I thought the pressure was already big, I
was in for a rude awakening–in more ways than one– when the PBS crew and a Bicycle magazine journalist descended upon my
Howard Johnson’s hotel parking lot “workshop.” PBS wanted to interview me each morning before work started, and then follow
me and my band of crazies as we worked day and night to prep the vehicles and riders for the big event. Those early morning
interviews were particularly surreal as the combination of little sleep and high stress led me to answer questions while having a true
out-of-body experience: I felt like I was floating above the interview watching it take place and listening to the answers as they were
happening, all the while wondering if they made sense or should be revised. Truth can be stranger than fiction... – DW

1981 • Images from PBS-TV documentary Human Power about David Wiener’s attempt on the human powered world speed record.