Post date: Mar 12, 2012 8:29:15 PM
Hello Vets, welcome to another issue of The Bleat. In this week’s issue;
· Race Director for Gunning Two Day.
· Race Director for this weekend
· This week’s Member Profile we look at another new club member, Scott Sparkman.
Please send me contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton.
Many thanks to club stalwart, Bill Frost, who has stepped up to the role of Race Director for the Gunning Two Day. Thanks, Bill.
He will still need a cadre of loyal supporters though. Minimum will include a chase car driver, 5 marshals for turn points and start/finish line. Please let me know if you can help.
Race Director for this weekend
We have had a late withdrawal of Race Director for this weekend at Lookout Hill on Sunday. Any volunteers please let us know at: handicapper@actvets.cc
RACING THIS WEEK:
Where: Stromlo Forest Park Circuit.
Sign on: 15 mins before your grade's scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
When: (approximate start and race times): G at 5:45 for 15 min+2; CD at 6:05 for 25 min+2; EF at 6:35 for 20min+2; AB at 7:00 for 30 min+2. NOTE that race times will be reduced in the coming weeks as daylight fades earlier. If the weather is overcast, it is a good idea to time your arrival at the track a little earlier in case start times are brought slightly forward to allow for this.
Event: Stromlo Graded Criteriums
Race Director: Peter Prammer
Contact: pmcp@grapevine.net.au Ph 6288 8708
Where: Queanbeyan Park
When: Warm up from 5:30 pm; first race at 6:00 pm.
Event: Scratch races, two lap handicap, derny races and Italian pursuits. Road and track bikes welcome.
Contact: track@actvets.cc
As always events can be found on the RMS and more detail at http://www.actvets.cc/track/tracknews
Where: Lookout Hill
Time: 8:00am
Sign-on: At least 15 minutes before scheduled race time. Numbers must be worn on the bottom left of your jersey.
Race Description: Lookout Hill - Apollo Rd Turn - Lookout hill - Geals Ck turn - Finish on Lookout Hill
Race Director: tba
Contact:; tba
Help Needed on Sunday: In addition to needing a race director this weekend, we will also require some road marshals and at least two others to help at the start/finish. Please advise if you can help.
G Grade:
A brave field of 3 riders took the track. There were suspicions that an agreement had been made as the early pace was very friendly. Eventually Bruce Jones and David Gould upped the tempo, pulling away from Helen in the final 2 laps. Bruce Jones prevailed in a tough sprint to the line.
F Grade:
Given the conditions, a field of 10 riders was a reasonable turn out. Jeff Keyte was first across the line, followed by Mick Donaldson and James Meridith.
E Grade:
Another close race with a bunch sprint saw Brian Chugg get the money over Brad Sellwood and Liz Lowe.
A Grade:
Charles Nicoll, self promoted to A grade, attacked from the start and maintained a 150m gap on the field for most of the race. With 4 or 5 laps to go, Brendan Byatt attacked the bunch and bridged the gap to join Charles in the break. Just when it appeared that the break would stick, a fall on the main straight which saw Reinhard Mauch and Rod Bates hit the pavement, seemed to throw out the momentum of the breakaway group. 2 laps later the bunch are back together with Michael Tollhurst attacking on the final lap to pull away for a victory. In the bunch sprint Paul Scherl (2nd) held off a strong finishing Charles Nicoll for 3rd. It was a relief to see Reinhard get to his feet and walk from the track. Hopefully bumps and abrasions are the only damage.
B Grade:
A field of 21 riders stayed together for the duration of the race. Andrew Terracini got points over John Thorn who held off a fast finishing Rob Diamond. B Grade were lucky to avoid the kangaroos on the final lap who decided break up the bunch just as the pace was picking up for the final assault.
C Grade and D Grade
Someone in C or D Grade has upset the weather Gods!! For the 3rd race in succession, C and D Grade rode in torrential rain. In C Grade Mike McGurgan won the sprint over Paul Leadbrook and Jack Hermes. An unlucky Janine Ridsdale retired with 2 laps to go after setting the pace for most of the race. In D Grade Adrian Keough outsprinted Lloyd Bennett and John Dickman.
Thanks to Graham Tanton and Henry Beaverstock who assisted on the night in unpleasant conditions.
Many Thanks to Race Director - Paul Angelatos
Race cancelled due to Road closures.
Our next member profile looks at new club member, Scott Sparkman;
How long have you been a member of ACT Vets?
Since way back in 2011 at the minimum age of 35. A couple of years prior to that I was sick of hearing 'Vets is so good this' and 'Vets is so good that' but as the date approached it wouldn't come quick enough. I was really looking forward to a variety of race courses that weren't limited to Uriarra or Tharwa..
What is your favourite course in the ACT Vets racing calendar and why?
It'd be Dairy Flat and Stromlo circuits or even Sutton DTC, these are courses that almost always involve you having to use your head as much as your physical ability. The additional tactical element makes racing so much more rewarding for me. Always good to get a couple back on the scrawny bird feeders that pop me off on the first decent hill in the road races.
What Grade did you start in with the Vets?
A grade. I struggle big time in the hills, but I love the challenge.
How long have you been cycling?
Started way too late at age 30, in 2005, prior to that hadn't turned a pedal since riding school, was so naive to the sport I didn't even know there was adult racing!
What got you interested in cycling?
After an awakening, closely followed by a transition period, I went cold turky from seven years of full on motorcycle (road) racing. There was a large void to fill, and around the same time a new work college joined us. He was riding his bike to work - all 19 km's of it! I couldn't believe someone would/could ride that far, thought he was nuts. Then one day I capitulated out of frustration and I thought I'd give it a crack on my MTB. Boy did I suffer, my first commute took me an hour and I was wrecked, even needed a lift home. Then I realised if I rode to and from work I could eat nearly twice as much. Enough said.
What was your most memorable ride?
There's been a few, I try to forget the memorable bad ones of which there's been a few too. The day I met Fi at Kingston crits was a stand out (she was running the CCC crits), it was my intro to crit racing and to my future wife. Our ride/s in the French countryside around Bordeaux and Saint Emilion were very memorable, but most of all I remember jumping right on the back of the support cars behind the last rider of the ITT at the Giro in Desio in 2008, we flew back into Milan in the draft and averaged about 55 kmh for 10 k's with thousands cheering us on. Very unreal.
What is/was your favourite bike?
I have three faves - my custom Ti (2010 out of China), it is such a durable and capable all-rounder, it's last longer than five carbon frames put together and was so cheeeeap. My 2005 alu Cervelo Soloist would be my fave race bike but I rue doing more than 2 hrs on that sucker, it is very rigid. So far I've owned seven carbon frames and I find them good to ride for the most part, but very 'delicate'. My other fave would be a 1989 Daccordi, all chromed and single-speed, it's a joy to ride.
Where do you work?
Aviation Rescue & Fire Fighting, Canberra Airport
How do you find the time to train?
You make time.
Do you have a special training regime?
I used to, but once realising that race results isn't relative to satisfaction I wound the structured training right off, and I've found that 6 - 10 fun hours per week is way more enjoyable than 10 - 15 hard slog hours! The only 'actual' difference is one grade...
What does your family think of your cycling?
Very supportive, within realistic limits around far more important commitments.
An interesting fact about yourself;
I was once 104 kilos and was Mr Teenage Canberra (bodybuilding) in 1992. That is a pointless, stupid sport!!
And here’s Scott with some light refreshments after a hard ride;
See our website for list of future events and allocated race directors. http://rms.actvets.cc/
Please notify James Jordan (handicapper@actvets.cc) if you are unable to meet your obligations or provide a substitute director in your absence. If you are unable to direct for any reason please try to make alternative arrangements by swapping with other allocated Directors. If you cannot make a swap please give us at least a week's notice so we can call for a replacement in a timely fashion.
Peter Prammer (13/3/12)
Director Required (18/3/12)
Graham Tanton (20/3/12)
Mike Spoljaric (25/3/12)
Director Required (27/3/12)
Bill Frost (31/3/12) – Gunning 2 Day