2005 Kissena Classic

May 21, 2005

A Day at the Races

The 2005 Kissena Classic started bathed in wonderful sunlight considering that the weather report predicted thundershowers, the only thunder remained where it should be, on the track. A stellar crowd from every quarter of rider assembled on the track yesterday afternoon from beginners to Olympic gold medal winners. The most heart warming for the Kissena coaches and myself was the appearance of the after-school children from the Star tracks 2012 Olympic program, which assembles interested children (9 to 13) and gets them started in track racing and on a path pointing them hopefully to the Olympics. Lots of our Junior racers (14 to 18) were also on hand Emma, Erin, Dan, to mention a few and Ben Miller who won himself a IRO bike and TimBuk2 messenger-bag, not to mention a pocket full of cash prizes. Mom and Dad Miller were beside themselves, and immensely relieved to see Benji destroy the field of over thirty riders in the Miss and Out to win himself the bike.

The ultimate reward came bringing World Champion Delroy Walters and myself to tears confirming once and for all, our hope and dreams, for the Kissena Velodrome, when hand to hand combat ensued between my hand two picked local sprinters: Andrew Andrew LaCorte and Plucky going against Marty Nothstein, Olympic Gold Medalist at the Sidney games, and also, Marty in an Olympic Sprint battling all-messenger Team Puma. All dashed off as if shot from a blunderbuss spewing dust and rocks from under their wheels in an attempt to unseat the worlds best rider USA has produced in many years. To no avail, disconcerting as it might be, but when you get it taken to you in the midriff once in a while by the best, it gives you a yardstick to measure your future workload by. I can tell you it was the most exciting thing I have ever seen at this track in a day filled with one special race after another.

Not one group let the crowd down, there was nail biting excitement every minute, most of all the women who at one point track stood on the banking outside of turn three for a full minute. Ashley Kimmett the Silver medalist world champion was tops on the day but had her hands full with our local racers, one being a pregnant Nanci Modica who won a match sprint, and Rosie McCall from New Zealand who came away with a few wins.

The B riders gave the most excitement in sheer numbers Ð 40 Ð at the start of the day, a few thrills and spills later they still remained Ð 35 - whirling around the track like a large funnel cloud singing somewhere over the rainbow in hope of a piece of the gigantic prize list and lap primes put up by the crowd and sponsors like Timbuk2, FORTYNINESIXTEEN, and our miraculous promoter Bucky Turco of Animal Magazine/ Fixed Magazine.

The A riders were spectacular I can testify too, being old enough to be their father and having ridden with most of their fathers, they gave me a good workout and I thoroughly enjoyed the high quality competition. The Madison and motor-paced Keirins was just a walk through for me, but in the points races I was able to mix it up a little. The USA team members I have known for years and Bobby Lee and Gui Nellesen always have my support and I know they watch-out for me also. Tri-state-velo boys, Taylor Brown and Jackie Simes Jr. are up-coming young riders and it is only a matter of time before the make the USA team themselves. Old favorites Jason Snow and Patrick Gellineau were on hand. Patrick interrupted my fine breakaway in the masterÕs field taking my win away at the line and I had to ride three more laps alone to get second place in the win-and-out.

Both feature races were incredible going 20 laps for the BÕs and 30 laps for the AÕs respectfully. All riders completely worn down by this point finished leaving it all on the track the way it should be. A big thanks to Puma and Red Bull for their sponsorship and support and the music spinners, DJ Falafel and Reid van Renesse, that made the day special. Nothing in the world happens without good music and a high standard of tune are going to be a future must at all of our event. By the same token nothing happens without great officialÕs Ð hats off to Andy Taus and his crew: Mrs. Taus & Mr. Dolan Ð they are the worlds best, including our own home grown Don Winston, Eric Raggot, and Ann Marie.

Everyone should check the newspapers in the coming days to get the press point of view and check us out at State Championship in June 17 Ð 19. This year riders will have to qualify for Nationals so you can bet the competition will be fierce and national coaches from around the world will be on hand to access our talent pool. So come on Down and spend a day at the races, it is fast, exciting, no spitting tobacco, no scratching, primping, posing, or playing with balls, just plain war on wheel. Be there Ð or be square.

Campocat