05/28/02 by Jim Mullins
Ted mentioned that he enjoyed the articles already submitted about the race weekend and put out the call for any additional articles. While sitting back and reflecting on the events of the weekend of racing I couldn't help but think "Didn't they make a movie about this...The Fast and the Furious!" oh wait a minute that was a car movie or well the title applies anyway!!!!
The weekend held a lot of excitement as well as some disappoints too (at least for me). Sunday's Cat 3 race started out fast and seemed to stay fast most of the way. The race saw a few attempted moves but those did not last long since the pace was so high. The field seemed content on staying together for a field sprint. With the road conditions being what they were this made everyone a bit nervous. There was one pile up earlier in the race just before the final corner (I think someone had their front wheel drop in the groove between the lanes). For me I was hoping that a small field would slip away just before the finish. The opportunity came with 4 laps to go, the bell was rung for a prime. The field came around and and did not seem to anxious to go for the prime. I too was not too interested in the prime (did not hear what the prime was for). I was more interested in what might occur immediately following the prime. As we came to the final corner there was a small group about 4 bike lengths off the front and they did not seem to gung ho about working for the prime. I said what the heck and cranked it up down the right hand side of the road and no one followed. Easiest prime I have ever won. No idea at this point what I had won (turns out I had won a pair of Rudy Project Skeey sunglasses valued at $110, Yipee!!!!). Tris jumped at the start of the last lap and three of us went with him (I was sitting 4th inline). We developed a small gap but the guys sitting 2nd and 3rd in line would not pull through. The field caught back on over the bridge and we were definitely coming down to a pack sprint. The field got very aggressive around the back stretch (the roughest road). I guess the Team Summit guys weren't quite as crazy as some of the others (Gilmore was riding on a cracked Zipp rim). Several teams advanced and I came around the final turn sitting about 15 back (too far!!!!)...made it up to 9th. Disappointed that I allowed so many to advance on the last 1/2 mile. Oh well! To end Sunday's commentary on a positive note it was nice to finally race in a Cat. 3 only field. Team Summit rode a more aggressive race and Denis and Gilmore chased a lot of moves down to try and keep it together. Good work guys.
Monday was the dreaded Cat. 1,2,3 field held on the deceivingly tough Quick Road course. Some of the big guns were there (a few of the GoMart guys) also Mike Luther out of Buffalo. For those of you who aren't familar with Mike he is a 22 year old Cat.1 who has raced with the National Team and is riding with Mercy currently. Tough! The race was fast from the time we rolled out of the parking lot. Actually a guy from Maple Leaf took off right away after catching a small draft from the lead car. He stayed away for nearly a lap. The field of 68 was content to let him sit for a few miles anyway. After he was brought back in the fold things managed to stay fast and furious with a few small attacks here and there. The pace was high (no computer so I can't tell you what kinds of speeds we were hitting). I can say that there was a strong smell of burning rubber at the bottom of the descent into the corner. I think I will need to replace my brake shoe pads. The hill was not too bad the first time up but definitely got harder and harder with each passing lap. Team Summit was hangin in there and trying to maintain position on the climb. Gilmore got separated on the third time up the climb. Denis got separated on the 6th time up the climb and you guessed it...I got separated on the 7th time up the climb. The race was done at that point for Team Summit. Needless to say we were disappointed with the outcome. It would have been nice to at least finished with the Cat. 1,2, and remaining 3's. Hopefully next year they will separate the fields and give the 3's a fighting chance. By the way Mike Luther came in 2nd.
A special thanks should go out to all those who helped to make it a terrific weekend of racing. There were a lot of people working behind the scenes to make it a success. My personal thanks goes to Mosie for working the feed zone for us during the road race, without you we would have been out of the race a lot earlier.