Sunday, October 05, 2008

First Rain, poor timing

Knew it, just knew it

Team Fremont, cursed this year to not be able to promote a day of massed start racing, decided to organize a time trial on out very own team course on Calaveras Road, near Sunol. The core group beavered away and it was agreed to move our event back a couple of weeks to avoid clashing with some other races. But this meant we were in October, and it is the beginning of the rainy season here in Mid Cal.
And on Friday it doth precipitate, mightly. Not Ark building amounts but more than the usual splash.
So, with a late season event, with short advertizing, only two thirds of those who registered turned up. It was a lot of work for twenty racers, but dang, some went really fast. Upto last Saturday, the fastest time in the modern era had been done by Lar Nolan with a 23:43 from 2007, done on a typically windy summer evening. Saturday morning was calm, cool and the roads where damp, providing some lube for the rubber on the road. Add to that the term that British testers call "Float conditions", and the scene was set. No one was that quick until the same Larry N came thundering down the road to record a 22:36. He easily won the Masters 45+ with that. A very short while later the 'big Boys" of the pro 1/2 finished with Skinny Kevin, Lars team mate recording the fastest time of the day with 22:19.
When you consider the 1 mile climb, dead turn in the road, the tight left and right turn combo and the rolling roads, that is really really fast. I predict these times will not be bettered for many years to come.
And what of the promoting and work crew. Remember, its dark, raining, low entries and low key, but when I arrive at 06:10, three ten by tens are up, tables are up and there are a mass of Team Fremont and friends lending a hand.
In no particular order, and apologies if I miss anyone.
Boner the breaker, Chuppa, aka Ed Falsken, Krush, Sandy, Carl, Andrea, Kim, Audry and two of her sisters, Gary the Younger, Kilo Joule, German, Scott, BB2, Damaral.
Special awards to Krush and Chuppa, who worked their socks off and both deserve a couple of $20 lap dances with the SF Twilight umbrella girls. Maybe a virtual lap dance will suffice.