upcoming events @ hellyer president`s message: riders to the rail!
Transcription
upcoming events @ hellyer president`s message: riders to the rail!
Velodrome News RIDERS TO THE RAIL! P2 / SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT NCVA President, Steve Jones gives Mike Hughes of Hughes Allmart gives tips for insuring bikes and personal us a peek at the 2013 race season property COVER / P3 / CELEBRATING 50 YEARS Genevieve Fire shares tales of the inflield in 1973 / WHY I RIDE THE TRACK Newbie Natalie Dell tries track cycling after medaling at the 2012 London Olympics / WHY I RIDE THE TRACK Korina Huizar shares her track season so far PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: RIDERS TO THE RAIL! RACE SEASON IS AFOOT! Wednesday Night Racing (WNR) at Hellyer kicked off April 3rd and has attracted an average of 55 riders per week. WNR promoters include Team Specialized (Larry Nolan), HWTPP (Michael Hernandez), Junior Racing Foundation (Greg Tsutaoka), and Team Chica Sexy (Fergus Liam). They have been bringing the fun to the sprinter’s lane with fast and furious Scratch, Points, Snowball, Win & Out, and Miss & Out race variations weekly. A $100 cash omnium prize payout, plus primes and prizes, have made this a must-see event for spectators and a must-race mid-week fix for hungry racers. In addition, the Get Ready for Summer (GRFS) series started April 27th, bringing out more than 50 racers on a sweltering Saturday afternoon to compete in Team Sprint, Keirin, Points and Scratch low key ATRA racing. Guest announcer Alfred Nash was on the microphone as part of his “Keep on Trackin” California Velodrome tour. Cool podium prizes and a bit of cash was up for grabs. A good time had by all. Follow-on GRFS events are scheduled for Saturday May 18th and Sunday June 23rd. Much of the proceeds from GRFS will go toward the 2013 Hellyer Velodrome Challenge cash prize pool. Andalé Matadors and Bulls! Friday Night Racing (FNR) started on May 17 with exciting racing and spectator fun! Old and new rivalries across categories P1/2/3, W1/2/3, and Elite 3/4 battled it out for the $500 in cash podium money. The young Ford-Hutchinson ladies brought their “A Game” to the “Kiddie Kilo” but alas! They could not beat the Pelaez duo, who went “one-two” in the 2013 season opener. Rumor has it that the Coler-Franklin boys are polishing their spokes for the May 24th grudge match. P4 / TRACK 101 The spectators’ “Quick Reference” guide to this summer’s common track races! MAY 2013 SUMMER EDITION The 2013 Hellyer Velodrome Challenge (June 28-29), our biggest event of the year, is just around the corner. Registration is now open. Racers from across the US will converge upon Hellyer to compete over the two day event for $10,000 in cash and prizes. The event, which is included as part of USA Cycling’s National Track Calendar (NTC), will coincide with our 50th Anniversary celebration. Please plan to join us as we celebrate this milestone year in Hellyer history and witness spectacular racing in San Jose, CA. See you at the track! Steve Jones President, Northern California Velodrome Association (NCVA) [email protected] FRIDAY NIGHT RACING - MAY 17 through Sept 6! Join us weekly for exciting and hotly contested track racing! UPCOMING EVENTS @ HELLYER We look forward to more racers and spectators joining us in the coming weeks Friday night racing continues through September! Wines by MatadorVino will go to the adult omnium victors at the heavily contested Friday night thrillers. Bring the family for evening fun! Spectating is always free and complimentary frosty beer (by El Toro Brewing in Morgan Hill, CA) is on tap, as well as other beverages and stadium snack munchies. The weekly race cards are up to promoters NorCal Elite Cycling, State Bicycles, San Jose Bicycle Club, and Almaden Cycling and Touring Club (ACTC). Each night is guaranteed to be exciting! May 17 Friday Night Racing starts! Weekly May 4-Sept. 6, Gates open 6P, Racing 7P May 18, 1-5P “Get Ready for Summer” Race Series #2 May 26, 12:30-4P Junior Series #2, session #1 Jun. 1, 12-6P Human Powered Vehicle fun day Race Jun. 2, 12:30-4P Junior Series #2, session #2 June 4 6:30P Hellyer Team Pursuit Championship Series #1 Jun. 7, 7-10P Burbank Memorial Omnium Race Jun. 8, 12P Performance Cycle Sprint Series Jun. 9, 12:30-4P Junior Series #2, session #3 Jun. 15-16 NCNCA Jr. State Track Cycling Championships Jun. 22 Festival in the Park - Track demos every hour; No scheduled track sessions July 30, 6:30P Hellyer Team Pursuit Championship Series #3 Jun. 23, 1-5P “Get Ready for Summer” Race Series #3 Aug. 18, 12P Performance Cycle Sprint Series Jun. 28-29 2013 Hellyer Velodrome Challenge Sept. 7 Performance Cycle Sprint Series July 6, 12P Performance Cycle Sprint Series July 9, 6:30P Sept. 14-15 NCNCA Elite State Track Cycling Championships Hellyer Team Pursuit Championship Series #2 July 13-14 NCNCA Masters State Track Cycling Championships **Always check www.ridethetrack.com/calendar for updates and changes** Photographs and images courtesy and copyright: Tim Westmore/ http://www.argentumimago.com, Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Europe, Bess Hernandez-Jones, Erika Fulk/Detroit Spoke, Genevieve Fire. Poster design by Steve Anderson. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT Hughes Allmart - Mike Hughes www.ridethetrack.com Hughes/Allmart Insurance Agency has been assisting customers with choosing the right product to meet their individual needs for more than 20 years. We provide a variety of insurance and non-insurance products and plans custom designed to meet the needs of their clients and customers. Mike Hughes is an avid cyclist who has been riding and racing since the age of 15. He has been a long-time supporter of Hellyer Velodrome as a sponsor, volunteer, and parent. Mike has three daughters: Lauren 14, Ashley 12, and Emily 11. Emily is part of the Hellyer Velodrome Junior’s program. Did you know that you can insure your bicycles under your homeowner’s insurance policy and that they can be covered, even if you are on the road or traveling? I personally have a homeowner’s product that insures my bicycles for replacement cost, so if I buy a similar bicycle in the event of a covered loss, it would be replaced after my deductible is met. Here are a few tips for shoring up your insurance to cover your bikes: • Pick a reputable insurance company and representative to help you. A broker is someone that usually represents multiple carriers and finds the best product to match your needs. Captive agents may only offer one company that may not afford the correct coverage in the event of a loss. • Keep receipts, pictures, maintenance records, and upgrades. Like other personal property, this will show what you have done to maintain and improve the bicycles along with everything else. • Take pictures of serial numbers, headbadges and other unique items that may identify your bicycles. Make sure you have enough coverage for all of your bicycles in the event of a loss where your entire inventory goes missing. Replacement cost is a crucial aspect of coverage. Depreciated values are often used at first after a loss, but usually when you replace the item for a like kind and quality product you will be compensated fully after your deductible. Some carriers have sporting product limitations so you want to make sure that you are not with a company that has a maximum payout of $500 for your $7500+ ride. Your bicycle can be covered when it is away from your home too, when property is in transit, there is often coverage afforded for the time it is away. For questions on insuring your home, personal property (including bicycles), business, etc., contact me at [email protected]. (510) 415-3962 office, (510) 415-3962 cell, or visit www.allmartinsurance.com. BECOME A HELLYER VELODROME SPONSOR Advertise your business at the velodrome Hellyer has 8x3 foot rail board advertising space available on the inside of the rail boards on the track. The ads are seen by racers, spectators, and are often captured by professional photographers who document the action of our weekly races. Advertising space rate is $600 per board plus $160 for full color printing & installation of vinyl signage by Zaavy (www.zaavy.com). If you need graphic art assistance to create the best looking sign possible, Zaavy can help you at an additional charge. Check out www.ridethetrack.com/sponsors/advertise/ or contact [email protected]. WHY I RIDE THE TRACK Korina Huizar When I moved to San Francisco last year, several friends of mine introduced me to the track. They encouraged me to come down for a Saturday beginner session and see how I enjoyed racing there. One of my mentors, Steve Jones, also encouraged me to sign up for the Women’s Track Clinics. After that, I was hooked. Michael Hernandez then started the Hellyer Women’s Team Pursuit Program (HWTPP) and solidified my desire to be a track racer. I’m competitive by nature and love the challenge of the track. I love that you can do five different races in a night, explore new tactics, and improve racing skills. It also fosters a great communal environment; I love races because it’s an opportunity to hang out with friends and compete in a sport I feel very passionate about. Track racing has helped me improve my bike handling and pack riding. I’m a much better sprinter on the road because of learning how to sprint on the track. I would have never imagined that only a few months after my first time on the track, I’d be racing at US Nationals and bringing home a silver medal. After Nationals, our team (Beth Newell, Amanda Seigle and I) received an invitation to a USA Cycling Talent ID camp focused on finding riders for the 2016 Olympics. A few months after camp, I was invited by the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation to race in Trinidad at the Easter International Grand Prix. The Women’s Track Clinics (run by Annabell Holland and Bess Hernandez-Jones) and HWTPP have helped me develop as a rider and supported me throughout this crazy process. I owe Hellyer a lot! My season is just starting. I take off for Frisco, Texas on May 17th for the Matrix Track Cup. After that, Jennifer Zierke and I are racing the National Track Calendar (NTC) and excited to represent Hellyer. My goals are to do well in the Endurance events of the NTC, but my focus is on Nationals where I want to do well in the Team Pursuit and Omnium. It’s been an exciting season so far and I’m just hoping to keep learning and improving. www.ridethetrack.com CELEBRATING 50 YEARS 1973 - Genevieve Fire www.ridethetrack.com Genevieve (Jenny) Fire was one of only a handful of women racing at Hellyer in 1973. She started racing on the road at age 14 for Pedali Alpini and found out about track racing while attending Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, CA. How did you get started in bike racing? Ken Spears recruited me for the Pedali Alpini bike club after seeing me riding around in my neighborhood in Sunnyvale, CA. I raced mostly in the Bay Area and once in Nevada for the State Road Championships. Back then, my parent’s did not approve of my bike racing, so traveling around to races was not ideal. I came from an academically-focused family that did not really approve of spending time on sports. I often joke that I could have been a Nobel Prize winner like my brother Andrew, but I preferred to race my bike instead! How did you get started at Hellyer? I only raced track for about 3 years, but I have fond memories. I heard about it from other Pedali riders and it was a great chance to race close to home. On weekends we went to San Jose to train and race. At that time, there were very few women on the track locally. Some would come down from Davis but I remember being one of a few women at any given time. I used to borrow a track bike from someone in the club. I worked in a local bike shop as a kid and eventually was able to save up WHY I RIDE THE TRACK Natalie Dell Life after Hellyer? After going off to UC Berkeley, I had very limited time for cycling. My academic programs were very intensive and Berkeley did not have an organized women’s racing team so it was hard to get anything going. While attending grad school at UC Davis, I joined the Davis Racing team for a while. Hellyer was so far away (and the only velodrome at the time) so it was hard to find time to get down there. my money and buy my own candy apple green Schwinn Paramount track bike. Around 1974, Jack Disney and his family moved from SoCal and started racing at Hellyer. Alice Disney (Jack’s wife) and Jackie Disney (his daughter) were some of the other women who raced at the time. Jackie and I were school friends and Jack became my track coach. Fremont High let us substitute bike riding as PE so we were able to train with him. I currently work for the City of Mountain View as a civil engineer. I believe my love of bike racing and the mechanics of bicycles contributed to my career path. I’ve worked on a number of projects to build bike facilities, including two bike boulevards for the city. I ride on the road now – commuting and endurance riding with a group of women called “The Bike Moms.” We ride together almost every Saturday. I still see a few Hellyer friends and track riders like Mike Jacoukowsky, Terry Shaw, and George Mount at annual events like the “Old Farts.” I occasionally see Vic Black, the official who gave me the ABLA sanction back in 1975. What are some of your Hellyer memories? Jackie, Alice, and I were on the track in a 3-up match sprint. We were inching around the track when Alice dove down and cut me off. I was only about 17 at the time. I got angry and used a swear word or two. I received a sanction letter from the Amateur Bicycle League of America (ABLA). I still have that letter today. I loved hanging out on the infield with my friends and other diverse riders – high school kids like me, older guys, and even some Olympians including Jack Disney, Smiling George Mount, and Leonard Harvey Nitz. The Gatto’s were a local family and they had a bunch of kids (Gus, Richard, and Vince) who raced. There we also a lot of team rivalries between clubs like Pedali Alpini, San Jose Bicycle Club, and Palo Alto, but everyone was really friendly on the infield and camaraderie was great! The last time I was at Hellyer, I was a spectator; over 22 years ago. I used to go for Friday Night Racing but it’s not the same as being in the infield – that was something special. Even though I will be out of town for the 50th anniversary celebration, I hope to get out to the track again sometime soon! Training full time, all year is a challenging commitment. But selection for Olympic boats, occurring 6 weeks before the 2012 Games, was unparalleled in intensity. It was an honor to be selected with 3 incredible boatmates to represent the United States. After 9 years of training, my fiancé and I moved to the Bay Area for a “permanent vacation.” I kept an open mind as to whether I would pursue another Olympic cycle in rowing, but as the months passed, I still had no urge to pick up a piece of rowing equipment. I did, however, start cycling. Natalie is a retired US Olympic rower, who recently moved to the Bay Area from Pennsylvania. After discovering rowing in college, she trained hard and received an invitation to the USA Rowing Training Center. She has competed in two world championships, two World Cups, and eventually competed for a seat in the Olympic Women’s Quad (four rowers, 2 oars each, for 2,000 meters). Natalie and her team went on to win the bronze medal, becoming the first USA crew in history to win an Olympic medal in this event. My teammates from the Bay Area suggested track cycling to me. Watching the London velodrome events and seeing the size of the legs out there definitely made me curious (the rowing motion is largely leg intensive as well). When we moved to Redwood City and realized the track was only 30 minutes away, it was a no-brainer. I started bicycling in November 2012 and attended my first track session in December. I couldn’t stop talking about it. What stood out the most were the open arms and welcoming attitude of everyone at Hellyer. I’ve participated in Saturday sessions, Intro to Racing, GRFS, the Women’s Track Racing Training Series, Team Pursuit clinics, and Wednesday Night Racing so far. This season, I’m looking forward to working with a team again. As fun as it is to whip around the track solo, it’s within a team that I get the biggest rush. After Olympic selection and the racing that followed, nothing scares me. Racing bikes is pure fun – exciting, fast, fun! www.ridethetrack.com TRACK 101 Spectator’s Quick Reference Guide to Common Track Races at Hellyer Velodrome www.ridethetrack.com “Scratch” Race: All the riders in a Scratch race the team can come in and ride for a turn. During the balancing precariously. The reason for this tactic is start at the same time. The riders all cover the changeovers, the rider coming off the track literally the lead rider wants to force the rider behind to take same distance, with the winner being the first rider throws the second rider into the race with a handsling. the front in order to gain the benefit of the “draft” in to cross the finish line at the end of that distance. The Madison is considered to be the ultimate event in the final sprint. By drafting, a rider not only gets to Although speed is important, tactics and teamwork bicycle track racing, not only because of the length of keep a watchful eye on their opponent, they can also are equally vital. Groups of riders often take an early the race, but also because of its incredible combined save enough energy for an extra burst of speed to lead, and then work together to increase it while their demands of speed, endurance, teamwork and tactics. the finish line. Winners of each match advance, while teammates try to block and slow down the “field.” On losers are either eliminated or given a second chance. a small track, the leaders may gain an entire lap This second chance is called the “repechage” bracket on the other riders and then join in with the main or rep round. Most tournaments follow the double group again which is called “lapping the field.” elimination format, with riders exiting after 2 losses. Points Race: A variation of the Scratch race, Once the field has been whittled down to the top 4 points are awarded to the top placing riders in riders; the gold, silver and bronze medal winners a series of sprints contested at various intervals are decided in a ‘best of three’ match sprint contests during the race. The winner of a Points Race is between pairings. not necessarily the first to cross the finish line, but Team Sprint: Teams of three men or two women rather the rider who has accumulated the most compete in these timed events, with the men riding points during the race. 3 laps of the track and women riding 2 laps. From a Win-And-Out: A type of mass start race where standstill, the riders sprint from the start and line up in the winner is decided on the first sprint. The race pace line form, accelerating to top speed as quickly then continues on as the winner pulls out. Second as possible. The first team member sprints one lap place is awarded to the winner of the second on the front and pulls off. The second rider continues; sprint. The second place rider pulls out, and the and either finishes the race (for the women) or for race continues on. Third and final placing is then the men, pulls off with one lap to go. In the men’s decided upon the last sprint of the race. It can be race, the third rider continues solo for the final lap, a very difficult race for the athlete who goes for the driving through to the finish. This is an all-out drag win and doesn’t get it, but has to stay in the race race, dependent on explosive speed, teamwork and and challenges for second or third. precision. Miss-And-Out: This race is sometimes called “Devil Kilometer, or 1k Time Trial: A timed race that pits a Individual Pursuit: A race in which two riders start Take The Hindmost,” because the last rider to cross solo rider against the clock, the “Killer Kilo” is a test on opposite sides of the track and chase each other the line after each (or every other) lap is taken out of of speed and stamina in which each rider covers a for a given distance. If one rider “catches” the other the race. The field diminishes rapidly, until there are distance of 1000 meters in as little time as humanly before they’ve gone the full distance, the race ends only a few riders left to contest the final sprint. Always possible. The Kilo is three laps on 333 meter tracks immediately (although the winning rider may have to a crowd favorite! and 4 laps on a 250 meter track. Ridden from a continue on to ‘go the distance’ so that he may record Keirin: This Japanese version of the Motorpace, standing start, the Kilo is won by a rider pushing to the his overall time). If neither rider catches his opponent, which is subject betting in Japan, has become very utmost limits of strength and endurance. the race goes the full distance, and is won by the rider popular in the US, although, so far, without the Match Sprint: A A short event with 2 to 4 riders who covers the distance in the least amount of time. betting. Keirin races, in which all the riders on the competing head to head in tournament format. Riders Women and juniors go a distance of 3k, amateur men track jockey for position behind a single motorbike, often do a flying 200m time trial for seeding. In the go 4k and there are Masters distances of 2k. Hellyer is runspot” by volunteers help to run smoothly. There are many ways you involved. Contact a member of trying to getVelodrome into the “sweet behind theand needs your first round, the fastest rider races the slowest, the can get Team Pursuit: Team Pursuit of is the like Board the Individual DirectorsJThe for more information. are some ways tosecond pitch in: motorcycle. motorbike pulls offHere the track with 1.5 fastest races the second slowest, and so Pursuit, except that it involves two teams of riders laps to go and the riders sprint madly to the finish line. on. To start, two riders line up on the start line with a instead of two individuals. There are four riders on Madison: Named for the famed Madison Square holder, then roll or pedal off – all the while keeping each team, and they ride in a single file “pace line.” Garden in New York City, and known as the a close eye on their opponent. The first lap is taken Each of the riders takes a turn at the front, changing ‘American’ race in Europe, this most prestigious of at a slow pace, with riders eyeing each other or the lead every lap or every half lap. The front rider track events is a race for teams of two riders. All jockeying for position. Approaching the final lap, the swings up the track’s banking, letting his teammates riders start at the same time, and the winner is the race evolves into a tactical sprint for the finish line. pass, and then drops back down to catch on to the team covering the most laps in the time allotted. Each Depending on the track, this race is contested over back of the line. The team’s total time is taken as the team has only one rider in the race at any given time. 2 or 3 laps. It’s in the Match Sprint that you may last rider in the group crosses the line. Teams only After covering one or two laps at top speed, that witness a “trackstand,” wherein a rider brings his/ need to have 3 (of 4) riders finish. rider drops out of the race so that another member of her bike to a complete stop and remains upright, NCVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013 NCVA Executive Officers and Board Members Steve Jones President [email protected] NCVA VOLUNTEER COMMITTEES Elizabeth (Bess) Hernandez-Jones Vice President [email protected] Infrastructure Liz Reap Carlson (chair) [email protected] Rich Allen, Peter Bohl, Steve Jones, Bess Hernandez-Jones Supervisors Bess Hernandez-Jones(chair) [email protected] John Simmons, Greg Tsutaoka Greg Tsutaoka Secretary [email protected] Track Scheduling Greg Tsutaoka (chair) [email protected] Rich Allen, Bess Hernandez-Jones Policy and Procedures Steve Jones (chair) [email protected] Bess Hernandez-Jones Steve Jones (Acting) Treasurer [email protected] New Racer Development Michael Hernandez (chair) [email protected] Anthony Borba, Liz Reap Carlson, John Cheetham Upgrades Dan Smith (chair) [email protected] John Simmons Rich Allen Peter Bohl Beth Lubov Butrymowicz Liz Reap Carlson Michael Hernandez Dan Smith Marketing/PR Special Sub-Committee - 50th Anniversary Beth Lubov Butrymowicz (chair) [email protected] Beth Lubov Butrymowicz (chair) [email protected] Bess Hernandez-Jones Bess Hernandez-Jones We need you! Contact the committee chairpersons below to volunteer at Hellyer or sign up for current volunteer requests here: http://tinyurl.com/c9suaca Sponsorship Rich Allen (chair) [email protected] Beth Lubov Butrymowicz Newsletter design and editing by Ampersand Ellipsis Jones LLC Copy editing by Beth Newell and Liz Reap Carlson www.ridethetrack.com Special Sub-Committee - Velodrome Challenge Bess Hernandez-Jones (chair) velodromechallenge@ ridethetrack.com Hellyer County Park Velodrome is operated in partnership with