Radius #1
From: Sara Brokaw
Date: Jun 18, 2007 7:04 PM
Saturday night was the first event in the Radius series (3 Saturdays)
at the track. 5 races, $20, hot temps. Drug the gallon of water into
the infield to set up for a long evening of racing. 7 women, peace
coffee, state crit champ, 2 U of M, grumpys sprinter, and Alan all
arounder. Smaller field. Ran 49×15.
First race of unknown distance. We knew only 3-10 laps. Read state
crit champs mind at one point & immediately neutralized her attack.
3rd in the sprint…not too bad.
Second race was a snowball, 10 laps. 4 pts first sprint, 6 for second
sprint, 6 for third, 10 for last, sprints every 2 laps only the winner
receiving points. Knowing I had a good 2 laps, I jumped from the gun
to take what I could get. Got 4 pts & noticed a gap behind.
Hmmm..still not closed by the next bell, so I put the hammer down &
took the second…and third sprints. 16 pts. Since I had the win I
sunk back through the pack ’till the end. First win on the track a
bit sooner than I expected.
Third race was a Win & out, winner of the first sprint wins, winner of
second sprint 2nd, winner of third, 3rd, etc. Since I’ve been unable
to get around Grumpys yet this year, I knew if I wanted the win, I had
to go with my 2 good laps again. Played the same card as in the
snowball from the gun…& again stayed away for the win. Things at
this point were looking good for the omnium…
Fourth race was the Australian Pursuit… 6 riders at different
points on the track. Goal is to catch rider in front. IN the event
of a stalemate, officials ring a bell & that’s the last lap…whoever
gets back to their start position first wins. Grumpys ahead, U of M
behind. Took what seemed like FOREVER to catch Grumpys, but it was
accomplished and the race was down to myself & the state crit champ.
At least 10+ laps of flat-out this was becomming like a time
trial…in my head. Eventually I heard she had 10m on me, a few laps
later a bell, & I couldn’t close it. 2nd, but still satisfying
effort.
Last race in the evening was a 40 lap unknown points race. Sprint
laps are indicated by a bell only and can be anytime during the
points. I allow a gap to open with state crit champ, hoping to force
grumpys & alan to chase (thus tiring them). Everyone is working
except U of M (former teammate/teammate of state crit champ), so she
brilliantly counters immedaitely upon the catch. Alan is shed,
Grumpys & I have a small gap on state crit champ (who is rightly
tired), but I notice our gap too late & state crit champ is back.
Eventually we catch U of M, and I finish 4th in the end.
The win on the omnium was satisfying. DanS timed the last event (10
km), & based on the time we averaged 25 mph, which is pretty
impressive given 4-5 of us were involved in the pacemaking. Good fast
rodent racing. Interested to see how the 49×15 goes again Thurs given
that I seemed to spin it out last thurs.
Thanks for reading.
Sara
ps nice riding by Dan, too, with 3rd in the omnium (?) and at least one win.