WindsorPark
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:16 pm
Thirty minutes before the start of the B race the rain was coming down. It had stopped by the start, but the streets were still damp. Everyone ended up on the start line though a few of us waited to the last minute to commit. One of us waited until the last second – literally.
Neutralize was the word of the day. If a car is seen on the course, neautralize. If a rider goes down, neutralize. No swearing and no peeing. I have to say I am a bit embarrassed by my fellow residents of Oak Bay. Though I don’t disagree with the idea of neutralizing under these conditions, nor with the peeing, swearing thing, it was clear that Jen was under a lot of pressure not to upset a single person. Non-stop complainers. Just read the local paper and you see what I mean. I’ll never forget/forgive the *#%$! that shooed us off her lawn while an ambulance dealt with Bill a few years ago. I digress.
There was another point to my comment about ‘neutralize’. Two laps into the B race John Guthrie went down in corner two. I think he crossed a manhole. There was a manhole on the way into that corner, and a couple on the exit of corner one. If you could run through those two corners and miss all three, then it was pretty safe. Hit one, and things got exciting. John G. was in about 10th place at the time. Those ahead had started to stretch things out on the way out of the corner, but we all slowed up except the guy in first. He got almost half a lap on us as a result – and ended up winning. Jen’s left with the task of sorting that out. Though I don't quite buy the argument that he didn't know we’d neutralized (the guy in second did get the message and he wasn’t very far behind), the fact that he held off the entire B pack for 40 minutes and 5 laps suggests that he is a worthy winner.
It was a fast pace, but there were a few rest opportunities. Steve and Taylor ran near the front (top 5) for most of the race. Andrew, Al, one of our juniors (Barb’s son?) and I ran between 5th and 10th for most of the race. Apart from the guy off the front, the pack stayed together – sometimes well strung out, but I don't think there were many elastic bands breaking. Everyone, except Steve in turned out, seemed to have at least one tire slip scare. Steve reports that the tubulars were great in the wet.
On the bell I was well positioned. In corner two a few must have been cautious – I looked back, while sitting about tenth, to see a big gap to Calgary Steve (who owns a house in Victoria now – congratulations Steve). Two corners to go – maybe I can get a top ten just by hanging on. Nope. Anyone ever been on Steve’s wheel when he decides to bridge up? It’s a nice place to be because he’s going to do it no matter what. Going into the last corner Steve and at least two others got by – I think I’ll be about 12th overall. Steve, I am guessing, made it to 7th or 8th. Taylor was up there, but it was Brent’s main rival (for VCL B GC) Marty that won the battle for 2nd. We had been catching the guy who got away on lap two, but didn't quite make it.
Lot’s of fun. Then many of us watched the A race. That report could easily be longer than this one. What a drama. I’ll keep it real short: Have a look at the photos from Caleb Pike. Adam beats Ralph and Curtis in a sprint with his hands off the bars. The “Red Truck is Number 1” dance as he crossed the line was a bit over the top. But, he’s 20-something and really fricking good. So, why not? Well, fast-forward a few days. Russ Hayes were out for revenge. No shit. They had a big team and sent guys off the front non-stop. It looked like Pro City were in on the game. Adam pulled the entire A field back up to the breakaway at one point. Then, when another RussHayes/ProCity pair went off the front, Steve Bachop repeated the task – at least three laps on the front of the entire A group. But, the teamwork paid off. Another pair, one from Pro City and one from Russ Hayes, went off the front. This time there was no answer. Epic.
JT
Neutralize was the word of the day. If a car is seen on the course, neautralize. If a rider goes down, neutralize. No swearing and no peeing. I have to say I am a bit embarrassed by my fellow residents of Oak Bay. Though I don’t disagree with the idea of neutralizing under these conditions, nor with the peeing, swearing thing, it was clear that Jen was under a lot of pressure not to upset a single person. Non-stop complainers. Just read the local paper and you see what I mean. I’ll never forget/forgive the *#%$! that shooed us off her lawn while an ambulance dealt with Bill a few years ago. I digress.
There was another point to my comment about ‘neutralize’. Two laps into the B race John Guthrie went down in corner two. I think he crossed a manhole. There was a manhole on the way into that corner, and a couple on the exit of corner one. If you could run through those two corners and miss all three, then it was pretty safe. Hit one, and things got exciting. John G. was in about 10th place at the time. Those ahead had started to stretch things out on the way out of the corner, but we all slowed up except the guy in first. He got almost half a lap on us as a result – and ended up winning. Jen’s left with the task of sorting that out. Though I don't quite buy the argument that he didn't know we’d neutralized (the guy in second did get the message and he wasn’t very far behind), the fact that he held off the entire B pack for 40 minutes and 5 laps suggests that he is a worthy winner.
It was a fast pace, but there were a few rest opportunities. Steve and Taylor ran near the front (top 5) for most of the race. Andrew, Al, one of our juniors (Barb’s son?) and I ran between 5th and 10th for most of the race. Apart from the guy off the front, the pack stayed together – sometimes well strung out, but I don't think there were many elastic bands breaking. Everyone, except Steve in turned out, seemed to have at least one tire slip scare. Steve reports that the tubulars were great in the wet.
On the bell I was well positioned. In corner two a few must have been cautious – I looked back, while sitting about tenth, to see a big gap to Calgary Steve (who owns a house in Victoria now – congratulations Steve). Two corners to go – maybe I can get a top ten just by hanging on. Nope. Anyone ever been on Steve’s wheel when he decides to bridge up? It’s a nice place to be because he’s going to do it no matter what. Going into the last corner Steve and at least two others got by – I think I’ll be about 12th overall. Steve, I am guessing, made it to 7th or 8th. Taylor was up there, but it was Brent’s main rival (for VCL B GC) Marty that won the battle for 2nd. We had been catching the guy who got away on lap two, but didn't quite make it.
Lot’s of fun. Then many of us watched the A race. That report could easily be longer than this one. What a drama. I’ll keep it real short: Have a look at the photos from Caleb Pike. Adam beats Ralph and Curtis in a sprint with his hands off the bars. The “Red Truck is Number 1” dance as he crossed the line was a bit over the top. But, he’s 20-something and really fricking good. So, why not? Well, fast-forward a few days. Russ Hayes were out for revenge. No shit. They had a big team and sent guys off the front non-stop. It looked like Pro City were in on the game. Adam pulled the entire A field back up to the breakaway at one point. Then, when another RussHayes/ProCity pair went off the front, Steve Bachop repeated the task – at least three laps on the front of the entire A group. But, the teamwork paid off. Another pair, one from Pro City and one from Russ Hayes, went off the front. This time there was no answer. Epic.
JT
) John Guthrie went down in the same corner soon after (Apparently he cracked his noggin so decided not to rejoin. Hope he is ok). Trevor McKenzies tire goes off like a bomb and he follows it up with his own f-bomb. 
