NEBC Junior Team Race Report: Breaking Away Little 500
Breaking Away to Cure Diabetes - Little 500
Derby, CT - Sunday, June 8, 2003
JDRF Breaking Away web site
A USCF race promoted by the Laurel Bike Club, to raise money for Diabetes Research.
Junior 13-14 race (16 laps, Dirt Crit):
1st place: Erin Dwyer
Main Event (200 laps, Team Relay):
5th place: Patrick Goguen, Chris Parker, Kyle Williams, Kevin Wolfson
Have you seen the movie Breaking Away? How many times? Do you cheer for
the Cutter Team and shake your head in disbelief when the Cutters tape
Dave Stohler's shoes to his pedals to finish the race, even though
you've watched this same scene a dozen times before? Did you ever want
to compete in this race? Well, that's what the NEBC Junior Team had a
chance to do this past Sunday.
This was the second year that the Laurel Bike Club promoted a race based
on the Little 500 event showcased in the movie Breaking Away. The course
is a 1/4 mile oval, cinder running track. Each team has 4 racers and is
given a bike by the promoter to use during the race. The bike is a
heavy, low-end hybrid; with drop bars replacing the stock handlebars;
and with the shifters removed - each bike is "locked" into the same gear
by adjusting the derail stops. The team members can exchange riders
anytime they want, as long as the exchange is done within the "pit" box.
One racer from each team lines up for a mass start, and the first team
to complete 200 laps wins. The remaining places are determined by the
number of laps completed by the other teams by that finishing lap.
Gee... 200 laps, quarter mile track, that's only 50 miles... that
doesn't sound too tough! Did I tell you it's on a dirt track, the bike's
have slick tires, and there's a 180 turn every 17 seconds! Oh, yeah, and
the competition you're lining up against is Fiordi Frutta (Kurt Davis,
Pat McNamarra, John Funk, Joe Salem), plus a Cat 2/3 Ridgefield Bank
squad and a couple seasoned teams from the club promoting the event!
Sounds like a walk in the park! What a blast!
Dick Ring has been coaching and riding with the NEBC Juniors every week
this wet spring, and has focused their training on track riding and
relay-team exchanges for the last couple of weeks. The top 4 Juniors
made the Breaking Away squad, while Erin went to race in the younger
junior event held earlier in the day.
Junior 13-14 race (16 laps, Dirt Crit):
Erin Dwyer's competition was a field of 6 young juniors, including two
experienced NECSA/Fraysee kids. After a few laps, Erin and the 2 NECSA
kids were off the front and trading pulls. But when it came down to 3
laps to go, Erin tested their legs with a feigned attack on turn 2.
After seeing he could hold them off for the rest of the lap, Erin eased
up and settled in for the final lap. Like clockwork, he attacked again
in turn 2 and got a small gap which he was able to hold through the
entire back side and through the final corners of the oval track to win!
Main Event (200 laps, Team Relay):
Patrick Goguen, Chris Parker, Kyle Williams, Kevin Wolfson:
The Main Event was preceded by a qualifier run (one lap per teammate) to
select pit position - and bragging rights. With their dedicated practice
sessions paying off, plus cyclocross experience in some of our boys, the
NEBC Junior team placed SECOND to Fiordi Frutta! That's a nice way to
start the race! The plan this year was for each rider to stay out on the
course for about 8-10 laps each. Last year the NEBC team had exchanges
almost every 3-4 laps, and while they placed 5 in a field of 9 teams,
the plan this year was that fewer exchanges might improve their position
on the course. Then reality set in, and the brutal conditions of the
soft track with never ending turns caused for a change in plan. The NEBC
boys began exchanging on a 4 or 5 lap rotation with Chris Parker and
Kevin Wolfson staying out for a few more. They all began to get the hang
of jumping on a red jersey from the Fiordi Frutta team for a fast
half-lap or so; or getting in with a group of Laurel or Ridgefield Bank
riders; but often the racers were out on their own, in time-trial
dirt-mode, for lap after grueling lap. (Last year was definitely a bit
easier with more teams on the track.) The fastest lap of the day was
turned in by Pat McNamarra (Fiordi Frutta) in 35.2 seconds. Our team
finished the event in 5th place with 181 laps (down from last year's 185
laps), but accomplishing a great feat of team effort, coordination and
pure stamina.
During the post-event ceremony, the promoter awarded the NEBC Junior
Team the Derby, Connecticut Mayor's Cup for showing true grit at a very
tough race. The team celebrated by gorging themselves at the world
renowned Vernon Diner on the way home.
The NEBC Junior Team wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the
Northeast Bicycle Club; and to Anthony and Jerry and all the folks at
Cycle Loft for sponsoring them at this great event. And a special thanks
go to Dick Ring for doing the wonderful job that he does with these
young racers.
The NEBC Junior Team
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