Speedway VCL races

[JohnT]

Hello everyone,

Work was very hectic up until a few days ago - Now that my head is just above water, I see that we're a week away from the first of three Wednesday Speedway races in a row. Several people volunteered, here and/or at the membership page. I will ask JohnD of that info, but in the meantime, please remind me of your willingness to help by replying to this post.

What this entails: Arrival at the speedway by 5:30 pm. That might be the hardest part of the commitment.

We need at least two people to help with sign-in, which includes collecting racing fees and checking waivers. Waivers will be easier this year (there's one for the whole VCL series), but the Speedway does attract people that avoid the road races, so waiver check won't be trivial at the first event.

I also need help scoring the results. As many as possible, ideally l with cameras/GoPros/phones. This is key. It's nice to know who won!

While I have yet to come up with awards, I have not given up on the idea of a medal presentation. Someone to take on that job would be fantastic. I think we all have old cassettes in the garage - anyone willing to clean/polish them - paint them gold, silver and bronze?

Finally, it would be really great to have someone with medical training on hand. A nurse, doctor, paramedic. Even if you can only commit to one event, please let me know. In the past three years, there's only be one on-track accident. We've also had two riders arrive with minor injuries collected on the way to the race. Nothing we couldn't manage, but qualified help makes thing a lot less stressful for me.

Lastly, I haven't given up on the idea of a Speedway Championship. A trophy for best 4-race result in each category. Come to think of it, the kit order might be right on time! TS caps? I will talk to JohnD and Hugh, but if you have other ideas let me know - Artists in the club, have you got/can you make a trophy from wood, clay, metal?

Cheers,

John

[Fozzy]

Hi John

I should be good to help out with registration and results if needed.
Cheers

Neil

[L2R]

I can help with registration on the 3rd as well if that's the first one.
Shelagh

[Paul C.]

John.
I will talk with and forward to you the contact info for Len Maycock...who has a medal-trophie-ribbon business here.
He may be able to get us some generic medals for the first event.

Paul O callaghan who rides with us is a part time race announcer..I have participated in a number of events he has annonced at.He is very knowledgeable of the bike races and I recommend we try him at WSW.

Mark Ford and I will be asking other members to help us obtain some draw prizes from the coffee shops and bike shops we visit.And also from our existing sponsers and club members.
Any ideas or prizes that you have... please contact us at coffee or P.M./ email Mark Ford or
text Paul C.at 250 419 2426.
We will have at least 6 prizes for the first race and more for the others.

And all you newer members...thinking of trying a bike race:
Speedway C race is the one to try...Just show up and register May 3 10 or 17. Myself and
The Tripleshot C team will help you.

[Lister Farrar]

Thanks to John and all who can help. The ts youth coaches will be escorting groups to the race and coaching during, so can't help other than making sure our riders do as requested, but certainly appreciate these events and welcome them as ideal development opportunities. And encourage any ts rider with bunch riding experience to give them a try.

For new riders, this track is flat smooth, clean and wide, so you can focus on the bunch dynamics. And the short circuit means if the pace is a bit fast, and you get lapped, you can jump back in the bunch until the last lap, when courtesy (and empathy for the judges) suggests not contesting the sprint.

I couldn't find the start times posted anywhere. Can someone remind us of when each category starts?

[Fozzy]

Typically start times are as follows:
6:30 pm C race: 15 min plus 5 laps
6:55 pm B race: 20 min plus 5 laps
7:25 pm A race: 25 min plus 5 laps

Cheers

[Lister Farrar]

Thanks Neil. I thought western c started earlier because the races go consecutively, not concurrently like most VCLs? I could be mistaken.

[JohnT]

Sign-up starts at 5:30 pm

Racing:

C: 6 pm
B: 6:30 pm
A: 7:15 pm

Add 30 minutes to start times as the days get longer (either next week or the week after. I will let you all know).

If you get dropped you can jump back in when the pack comes round again, as Lister mentioned. Yes, don't challenge for the sprint if you are a lap down, unless you've been given a 'free lap' by the organizers.

This year we will have a 2-sprint finish if there are two or more people in the field that have lapped the group. That will be explained in more detail on site, but the short-version is this: First bell for the field followed by a second bell for the lap-ahead leaders a few laps later.

No disks, no enclosed wheels, no fixed-wheels.

No free 2nd race for the winners this year.... because you'll be busy accepting your awards.

Finally, try to arrive with a $10 bill. Making change can be an issue. Or, if you have a twenty, offer to pay for someone else this week in return for a freebie next.

JT

[Roland]

Thanks John, that was good times!

Full Race Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aAyLtOHq2c

Ain't Nobody Got Time for That: (Last 5 laps)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt2CnRoaKjs

[Greg F]

Some slo-mo action from yesterday's races. I probably can't be there next week, but the iPhone slo-mo feature was very useful to gather results. It's even MORE useful when the riders put the numbers on their left side!

C (my first attempt so the timing was off for the first 3)

https://youtu.be/aVh4E7QzslY

B

https://youtu.be/4W1_46xxay4

A : getting harder to see in the fading light.

https://youtu.be/FZkd_pSh5qk

[BPhelps]

Roland, what is your camera set up? I.e. mounts, camera.

[JohnT]

Great videos guys. I was about to post an image from my on-the-line GoPro, but it would be a waste of time now. It's terrible by comparison. We'll certainly need someone with an iPhone/SloMo app next week!

Great racing everyone! And thanks for all of the help. We'll improve the podium presentations (e.g., by getting a podium), but I think it was worthwhile. Anybody know someone who can print a really big cheque? That is, big in size, not amount.

JT

[Stéphane Tran]

Thanks John and all the TS volunteers for putting on a great event and for your efforts to have podium prizes. Super job!

[Roland]

Roland, what is your camera set up? I.e. mounts, camera.

Garmin Virb XE. It comes with a mount that hangs the camera off of the bottom of the GPS mount. Pretty slick.

[Greg F]

The A winners

(with Stephane's bike photobombing)

and B winners:

I did not get the C race winners, unfortunately.

Greg

[alan boden]

Will the Speedway races be 1/2 hr later
this coming week of May 10th?
That is, starting the C's at 6:30, and so on?
Thanks...

[JohnT]

Speedway Race #2 tomorrow - Those you offered to help, please don't forget.

Times will be the same as last week. Racing starting at 6 pm. With the clouds last week, we were close to darkness by the end of the A race.

It went very well last week - thanks again to those who helped. More of the same, and we'll be in great shape.

JT

[David Hill]

Pics of the C and B race winners on Wednesday May 10th... Sorry, didn't stick around for the end of the A's...

[JohnT]

MAY 17 Speedway Race schedule

C Race: 6:00 pm 25 min
B Race: 6:45 pm 30 min
A Race: 7:30 pm 35 min.

A 5-lap count-down follows the timed component of the race.

[EricS]

Darn! Missed all of these! Grrrr... Really wanted to do them. Any more later in the year, or just these three?

Thanks to John and the crew for puttin' this on though!

Eric