Vernon Hills Grand Prix 09'

Cat 4

What a day! What a Team! What a set of wheels!

I was pretty excited about this race. Great weather. A big group of the Cat 4 guys got together before the race at turn 4 to talk. Many things came out of that and I think it got everyone pumped. I know it worked for me. I think times like that really foster the whole idea of ‘The Team’. Dave Dokko was the only guy that made it known as a target. And if it came down to a sprint he wanted in. So the plan was to lead him out. And Kyle and I wanted to be there for the final kicker if it panned out that way.

The race started as usual in a Cat 4 field, very slow for the first lap and every time we would turn into the wind it would slow down considerably, and then all the movement of riders shifting to get into the draft behind the rider in front of them. I thought this was a great course with the winding road, but it did cause problems when the shifting of the pack happened. I remember about three laps into it right after turn four, Stocky got pushed out hard, and then a chain reaction to me and the guy behind, rubbed me and went down. I was upset, not with the guys the made the move. But with the guys that just rubbed my new HED Stingers, My Wheels!!

Let me tell you about these things. Wow!! It is true what everyone has been talking about. They feel great. They corner like mad. And somehow they push you along by holding their momentum. It was a good feeling having those HED Stingers below me holding the ground, or should I say gliding along it. When I picked up Kyle for the race I joked with him about not having the advantage on him now that he had also got a set of HED Stingers. Oh and I have a small tip for everyone too. Make sure when you are spending all the time prepping to glue your tubies, that you actually check the tread pattern before you set them on the wheel. I have not done this in 20 some years, glue a set of sew-ups, and it was going great until I checked the tread pattern before finishing up the second wheel. Son of 43#$^!!!!. It was like cotton candy correcting the first wheel. Another thing that I am unfamiliar with are the valve extenders. So when I rode them fast for the first time, there was this crazy knocking sound. Kyle to the rescue. Wedge a toothpick in the valves to keep them from moving around. No toothpicks but there were hay bundles on the course. I used the valve extenders the wrong way and could not remove them. Anyways the HED Stingers are the way to go.

So back to the race and a couple laps into it, Liam takes off the front into the wind and gets a one man break going. It was tough to move up but we finally got up there to block after a half a lap. And you could hear the pack talking as soon as we moved up. ‘They are going to block’. Liam stayed out for two laps but it was not meant to be. Great effort Liam. And that effort got a number of us to the front. So we started to control the pace. After I did a pull, Dave Dokko came around and asked if he should pull. I told him yes, but not long. I knew that he wanted to save himself for the finish but thought proper thing to do here would be to keep the pace up and make it look like we were all working. It would get the attention of the other teams and then we could sit back. So Dave takes a pull. I realize as I fade back the number two guy is not one of us and is not going to come around. And after a quarter mile I move back up to Dave and tell him to ease up. He does not respond. ‘Dave’ a say louder. Does he not hear me? DAVE. There is something about being in the front. I am not sure what it is but I do know it is addictive. “DAVE”, I screaming now. He pulled us around for at least ¾ of a lap. I found out later he did hear me, but just went with it.

With three laps to go it got interesting. You always talk about a getting a train going in the lower categories but it never really seems to work. All I know is there was a lot of yelling as we came up from mid pack into the wind in the inside about 7 deep. Now the front was load with black jerseys. We worked a little harder being on the inside with the wind but we were not going that fast and held each other’s wheels. With two to go, I have to give it to Stocky here. A real powerhouse, up front pushing it and sacrificing for the team. He did that for a lap and a half and everyone else just waited to see what we were going to do. Stocky was in control. With MacFarland right behind helping hold our line together up front and pushing the pace. With a half lap to go and heading into turn three, it was Stocky, Mac, Kyle, Myself and none other than Dave right on my wheel. I did not think Stocky had much left and moved up along Kyle to tell MacFarland to go wide in the turn. I should not have said it so loud but I wanted to make sure he knew we were ready and figure that would give us room right after the turn to start our two man lead out for Dave. We need to work on our communication during the race so we know what’s going on and no one else does, or atleast I do. Anyways it could not have been better. Right after the turn Kyle accelerates and we float together moving up fast. We started to get pinched to the inside as the road curved but made it through. Kyle torched it up into turn 4.

It is hard for me to say this but I was nervous here. It all seemed to be coming together. And then I am watching Kyle tear it up around the turn. I had never seen someone lean the bike like Kyle did and continue to pedal. He kept the bike more upright and leaned his body, I guess so he could continue to mash the pedals. Ok now that was my second thought. Then I was thinking, ‘We are Flying’. Then, ‘Why am I not pedaling?’ Then ‘These HED’s are fantastic if I can go this fast without pedaling’. And this all within a split second. And then sometimes thinking equals hesitation. Wake up. Time to get around Kyle. I go to the outside now for Dave, trying to get close to the curb as it fades in to stop anyone else from coming around. As the curve fades back to give room for Dave to come around on the outside, I feel him approach with 200 to go. This could not be better. To my surprise it was not Dave and I jumped. After I think about it, my ever so slight hesitation gave this guy the chance to come around me and have more speed when he did it. His front wheel was still inline with my rear wheel when I realized it was not Dave. As I jumped for the sprint, he passed me and got on him. But could only manage to get my front wheel to the middle of his bike as we rolled over the duct tape.

Dave ended up getting pinch on that inside before turn 4 and did not make it through with Kyle and I. He still got a very respectfully 9th place. Nice work Dave. And, we as a team got three in the top 10 because of solid teamwork. Hats off to Stocky and Mac for holding the front in check. This could not have happened without you guys up their and your work in turn 3. Kyle, I don’t what to say about you that has not been said before. Thanks for all you help with the bike knowledge/expertise, but mostly for being such a powerhouse and absolute phenomenal job of being the engine to that lead out. The return favor is there whenever you want it, I am only sorry I did not get the win for everyone’s efforts.

Thanks again to RDS Cycling for putting on a great race, and to everyone that came out to help run the race from the officials to the volunteers. I will say it again; this is a great course and a race that I will definitely go back to. And to top off the whole day by going out with Loukas, Liam, Chris, Kyle, and Pat for a couple of cold ones to celebrate was by far a great team experience.