Tuesday I went down to Ace Speedway, http://carolinaspeedwayseries.com/default.aspx, again. However, the story doesn’t start there. Tuesday’s races came after a weekend of racing at the Tour of Possum Creek and only one day off. Thus, I started the “C”, Cat 4/5 race on what I thought were tired legs.  The “C” race was 25 minutes with two primes. As I started out I was thinking “I just want to finish in the field sprint.” I took care to make sure I didn’t do much work for the first half the of the race and didn’t compete for the first prime. Nothing exciting happened until the second prime at four to go. As I wasn’t thinking about winning, I went for this one. I hopped on a wheel of one of another rider and then sprinted for the line and took the prime. By this point the two us had opened a gap and I heard Webb yelling to keep going. I briefly looked back and saw that I had about 50 yds on the field and the other
rider was no longer there. Two choices lay before me, 1) keep going or 2) drop back into the field and compete in the sprint. I’d rather risk it all have a good win than play it safe and fight it out in the sprint. On the next lap around I saw two to go. After looking over my shoulder I saw I wasn’t being challenged. With one to go my gap was still strong and I eased up a little to save some for the next race and easily took first place.

“B” Race.
Less than 10 minutes later the 40 minute “B” race got started. I’d told Webb that I would work for him as I was blown from the first race. A few people tried to pull off the front and Webb did a good job of getting in these groups. I tried to block for them, but nothing usually happened as the groups didn’t come together. The race continued this way until 15 minutes to go. Two groups of two had gone off the front and had been out for a while and the main field had let them go. I asked Webb if he thought they’d be brought back and he said yes. I moved up to try and lead a bridge to them, but when I looked back no one had followed. I decided to keep going and joined with chase 1. This time the break was working together perfectly. We then caught the lead group with 11 minutes to go. 8 of us then became 6, and then 4. However, the four that remained lead a textbook break. Perfect rotation with steady hard power. With three to go we caught the main field and
each of us knew we were in the top 4. I found Webb and we quickly discussed out a leadout. I sat on his wheel as he pulled me through the last 3 laps. With a 1/3 of a lap to go he opened it up and pulled me out of the field. Surprisingly, it didn’t seem like anyone had followed!! Webb pulled away and we both crossed the line together, I took first and Webb won the field sprint for fifth, still in the money. The leadout was textbook perfect. Racing with teammates does pay off.

Thanks to Webb for the leadout and tactical advice during both races. I also have to credit SOS Message for helping me get ready for nearly back-to-back days of racing. I’m not sure this will happen again as I’m probably a marked man from winning two races back to back. Rogues should continue the momentum and  put the hurt the Ace Speedway Races the rest of the summer!!

On Saturday, August 15th their will be a family day of a racing at Ace. This is a make up race for an earlier one. The concession stands will be open and other events to make it more family friendly.

The Tour of Possum Creek, 10-12 July, provided for another great weekend of racing. I was flying solo this weekend as teammates where moving, getting married or recovering from each. Saturday started off with a 56 mile, rolling hills road race for the Cat 4’s. None of the hills were worst than the out and back WW course. This was two laps of a 28 mile course. At the pre-race briefing we were told by roads were narrow and to be careful. I started the race on the back to save energy for later. Bike Zoo maintained the pace for the first lap and didn’t allow any breaks to get started. On the second lap the attacks started. Bike Zoo’s sprinter, a Krystal rider, and I got a break started with a few others, but after a few minutes people weren’t pulling through so we fell apart. With no real hill to cause a separation, nothing happened until 5 miles to go. I missed the initial break, but was able to get in the bridge up to it. By the last 3 miles, which were flat to down hill, top riders were fighting for position for the field sprint. We were given the whole road about .5 miles out, but I hadn’t pre-riden the finish line so I wasn’t ready for the all out effort at the end. I finished 10th after gaining back ground I lost for not being ready.

The 12 mile TT was later in the afternoon on a course with similar terrain, rolling hills. Even through it was in the evening, temperatures where still in the upper 80’s with no cloud cover. Coupled with too much of a warm up, this was very tiring combination. This was my first long TT with my new aero bars and helmet. However, due the hills, I didn’t spend as much time in my bars as I wanted to. The first half the of course had 4 hills had got me out the bars and on the hoods. We did have one railroad crossing on the top of a hill at which most riders got air as they crossed. I got passed at mile 4 by a Krystal rider and then again at mile 9 by the Bike Zoo sprinter. The last 3-4 miles were mostly down hill and were fast. The bars and helmet definitely paid off there as I was hammering just for the sake of finishing. In the end, I finished in 35 minutes and took 7th.

The Crits took place Sunday afternoon. After Saturday’s races and heat I decided I was better off skipping the Master’s 30 race and focusing on my Cat 4 crit. Due to a last minute decision by the Gale City, VA mayor, the crit was moved to a highschool parking lot with 2 hills, 4 U-turns and little distance between to work with. By the trip we showed up 3 juniors had wrecked out and the races were behind schedule. The 4 field set off for 30 minutes. I quickly found out that my legs weren’t ready from Saturday’s efforts and my nerves weren’t up for the course. I held on the best I could for 20 minutes. After that it turned into a windy TT for me. In the end, I finished without wrecking and in 12th.

Overall, I took 7th in the Omnium. This weekend also proved Rogues are not unknown. I parked next to one of Matt L’s coworkers who was heading back for the wedding. Sunday, I was asked about John M. and told how he put the hurt on the 4’s last year. I think people are looking forward seeing us out there later this season.

Webb completed in the RR but flatted.  Other notable resutls from Blacksburg, Cora took 1th. Andrew took 1st and last in the Pro’s. Ben won enough primes that he could now open his open sock shop.

Rogues had a good showing at Tuesday’s, 23 June, Ace Speedway crits. Sam H. and I rode down with Reid. It was unexpected surprise to run into Matt L. once down there. He had the same plan that I had. Combine two races into one drive and claim points for a Cat 3 upgrade. We both entered in the 4/5 and 3/4 races. Turn out at Ace was extremely high this week with 58 in the 4/5 and 63 in the 3/4 race.

The 4/5 was challenging race due to a very unsteady speed. However, Matt and I were able to get in and help a break pull ahead by one whole lap and rejoin the field. Efforts where made to break again, but the field wouldn’t let us go. The race finished in a confusing sprint as both lapped riders and leaders went for the finish. I lost count of the laps and wasn’t sure if we were on the last lap, thus my sprint was pretty poor. Regardless, Matt L. finished 4th and I came in right behind in 5th.

10 minutes later the 3/4 race started. Matt, Sam and I were in this one together. The race pace was steady, with minor acculerations, and mostly stayed together. Matt and I talked about positioning and making sure we stayed behind the front, but not lost in the back. We managed to work together a little helping each other stay out of the wind, but no real tactics to speak of. About half way into our 40 minute race we were about 14 and 15 back when three guys made contact and went down in the middle of the group. I was right behind this as it happened, but was able to go high and miss it. Matt got slowed down a little as they were sliding towards him. Luckily, none of us went down. However, nerves were shot a little. The next lap, the race picked back up. About this Sam took his leave to save up for the Pro 1/2/3 race. This race I was much more aware of lap count and time left. With 2 laps to go the acculeration started and the sprint took off on the back
straightaway one the last lap. I was on the outside to get a clean lane. I was able to move around the group in the last turn and took 10th across the line. Matt finished 19th.  This leaves me with 3 tops 10’s towards my Cat 3 upgrade and Matt L with 13′ish points towards his 3.

Sam raced the Pro 1/2/3 next. I missed part of the race as I was changing, but when I returned I saw Sam working with the first of two breaks that were trying to catch the back of the main group. He dropped from the first break and quickly intergrated with the second group. A few minutes later this group caught on to the back of the main group. Sam slowly worked towards the front as the lap count started dropping under 10. While I can’t remember his exact place, he did finish well within the top 10 in a mixed field sprint.