4 replies to this topic

[Rodgers]

Mike Weiss and his team - great freaking job this weekend!  Seriously - I cant even begin to tell you how.... actually wait I can!  

I really enjoyed every aspect of this weekends racing, from racing, spectating, eating at the local establishments on the perimeter of the race course, watching my teammates sit on top of podiums and get kissed by taller girls then they were (cough Roy), even the registration and results seemed seamless to me.  My teammates on Momentum Racing also agree.  I do believe Mike and his team may have even broken a record getting the results posted on usacycling.org.

Anyway, MOPRO was very PRO and I was thankful to be apart of it in my own small way.

Keep up the great work!

Also - dont forget Momentum Racing is hosting this weekends next race at Fort Zumwalt park in O'Fallon MO.  Racing starts at 9am and goes until 4pm.  See you all there! (and we will have FREE beer via our Sponsor Boulevard Brewery)

http://momentumracin...es/ofallon-cup/

Edited by Rodgers, 14 May 2012 - 11:12 AM.

[Thomas13ss]

I had fun and everything was great except for starting 30min late on sunday. I dont know if the cop crashing into a car was the issue but starting that late is not pro. Nor is the car driving the wrong  direction on the course during the  cat 4 race.

Thomas

[tankrider]

I ditto Josh's sentiment and thanks.  I believe this was a top notch weekend with fantastic opportunities to race, mingle, and watch races.  This could never have happened without The event staff, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and Big Shark.  A big thank you to everyone involved, who invested countless hours behind the scenes to make this happen.  I hope everyone took a few seconds to thank a volunteer this weekend.  

I look forward to many more events like this.

Cheers,
Patrick Kirkes

[2 π R]

Thomas13ss, on 14 May 2012 - 03:54 PM, said:

I had fun and everything was great except for starting 30min late on sunday. I dont know if the cop crashing into a car was the issue but starting that late is not pro. Nor is the car driving the wrong  direction on the course during the  cat 4 race.

Thomas

Thomas,

The delay was caused by all of the cars still parked on the course. If the course is not clear and more importantly safe to race upon the CR (chief referee) will not start any race until it is safe for the riders AND spectators. Having to tow cars off of city race courses is typical. Dutchtown, Benton Park, Soulard are all problematic in this regard. No the delay of the start of racing Sunday was by-the-book professional.

The incident during the first race (cat 5's) was unfortunate. Thankfully the police officer was alright. From my viewpoint and experience, the Dutchtown course it is one of the more difficult courses to keep safe for riders and not upset those who live there. All day I was multitasking between neutral support, course marshaling and assisting locals get through road closures so they could get to work or mother's day festivities. Yes there were many problems Sunday. One gentleman on a motorcycle when stopped from driving on the course immediately threatened to sue anyone and everyone if any action was taken against him. Reasoning with him was impossible, thankfully another neutral mechanic noticed a policeman on turn two and got him to take over with Mr. Non-compliant.

I realize that starting delays are undesirable but sometimes it is not avoidable. Also delays affect every rider in each field. 30 minutes is not all that bad, the average delay when we raced Soulard was consistently one to two hours. CR's do not like start delays either, it complicates their entire day not just a couple of the fields. I understand your complaint and I agree with you that it should not occur but racing on a course that is not safe is much worse than any delay.

@swikles

[S&M]

There was also a fair amount of glass that had been recently deposited on the back side of the course. Clean-up by Mike's crew and volunteers was fast, but not fast enough to meet the original start time. Again, safety of the riders prevailed. Nobody wants to send a pack of riders onto a downhill section and into a fast right-hand turn w/ punctured tires.

M.