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Save the 'Drome Madness Cyclo-cross
Northbrook, Ill, November 23, 2003
Racing for glory has never been this messy
Event adds $8,000 to Northbrook Velodrome effort
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Save the 'Drome Cross Madness, a running and cyclocross event to help save the Northbrook Velodrome, featured no prize list and ankle-deep mud in an all-day fundraiser that will put more than $8,000 toward the effort. More than 100 different competitors took part, with many of them doing multiple events to compound their suffering.
In the men's A race, David Sachs spent the last 100 meters looking more like Servais Knaven at Roubaix, trying in vain to wipe the thick mud from his darkened Alberto's Sport jersey. Sachs jumped out to an early lead over teammate Brian Haas in the hour-long race, with Higher Gear's Ryan Calilung completing the podium.
Competitors were faced with a flat but very challenging course laid out on the Anets Golf Course and adjoining property, complete with a short run-up, a three-barrier Triple Swamp through a quagmire, and the "Pit of Despair," a deep pool of mud that was responsible for ten head-first endos and countless other slow-speed crashes on the day.
Sachs himself was not immune to the Pit, going head-first over the bars at the end of the first lap. He had already built a sizeable lead on the 2.1km course, and was able to remount and stay away from the chasers.
The Northbrook Bicycle Club worked tirelessly to pull together the event in just over a week, collaborating with the Northbrook Park District and local shop Alberto's Rides and Rags to put together the course. A huge group of volunteers turned out, and racers were treated to schwag from Clif Bar, component manufacturer SRAM, and local supporter George Garner Cyclery.
United States Cycling Federation officials Heidi Mengesz, Rich Weiss, and Carl Wilkins were on hand to officiate, and between them donated more than $175 worth of time and expertise.
Riders came from as far away as Davenport, Iowa, and a large selection of Wisconsin racers took part - all racing for glory; with no prize list, all proceeds from the event went to the Save the Velodrome Fund.
In the men's B race, Steve Chapin drove to an early lead, distancing himself from Travis Boland and Erik Weisenberger. The master's 40+ race was run concurrently, with Gonzalo Andino taking out the win ahead of Dave McCullom and Alberto's Franco Panveno. Bob Hayson won the masters 50+ sub-category.
The master's 30+ race was run concurrently with the women's A/B race, and Michael Vom rode a strong first lap to distance himself from the pack. Vom came through the Triple Swamp with women's A/B leader Rebecca Much (XXX-AthletiCo) following behind. Much then dropped her chain in the Pit and followed with a flat, forcing her to run most of a lap while losing six places before a wheel change. She recovered, and eventually was the third finisher in the field, taking the win in the women's race.
Although normally found in competition only in velodromes, fixed-gear bikes seemed perfect for this mostly flat course, with Andrew Hargarten (Hampshire) and Craig Buechel taking first and second in the large men's C field while riding "fixies." Kris Over dominated the competition in the women's C field, which featured many strong first-time competitors.
Marcie Weiss (Team MACK) won the junior race, while Jacob Zionts won the youth 6-year-olds and Aaron Harrison won the youth 9-year-olds.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images click here
Images by Troy Henikoff
- James Buddenbaum (Alberto's Sport) lands head-first in the Pit of Despair during the men's B race. Ten riders pulled endos into the mud.
- An Alberto's Sport rider gets bogged down in the Pit of Despair. More than $8,000 will be generated from the event to save the Northbrook Velodrome.
- Northbrook Bicycle Club's Daryl Kunz flies over the handlebars into the Pit of Despair. The mens' C race had nearly 50 riders.
- Franco Panvelo (Alberto's Sport) leads the masters men's 40+ race on the first lap. Panvelo took 3rd in the race, finishing full of mud from the Triple Swamp and the Pit of Despair.
- Marcus Moore (XXX-AthletiCo) smiles as he trudges through the Pit of Despair, knowing every effort goes to help save the Northbrook Velodrome.
- The men's B field jumps the barriers on the short run-up. The race featured three barrier sections and a Pit of Despair on its 2.1km course.
- Men's C winner Andrew Hargarten (Hampshire Cycles) demonstrates his prowess on a different type of fixed gear during the men's B race.
Images by Dee Dee Scandron
- A Higher Gear racer takes on the barriered run-up with a smile on his face to help the Northbrook Velodrome.
- Junior winner Marcie Weiss (Team MACK) shows perfect form dismounting into the run-up.
- Riders in the men's B race dismount to attack the run-up near the start of the race. Race winner Steve Chapin (left) distanced himself from the field on the first lap.
- The masters men's 30+ race heads into the run-up, with women's A/B winner Rebecca Much (XXX-AthletiCo) dismounting (left). Much ran into mechanical troubles, but outdistanced many of the male competitors.
- Racers in the men's B event remount after the run-up. Volunteers put together the event in just over a week.
- A women's competitor takes to the run-up with a smile on her face.
Results
Steeple Cross Running Race 1 Joel Feinberg 2 Larry Swanson 3 Chris Strout 4 Eric Goodwin 5 Mike Carreras 6 Jim Mac 7 Marc Calder 8 Matt Nelson 9 Jason Meshberg 10 Jay Mac 11 Mark Winston 12 Bill Cassidy 13 Sharon Blake 14 Maureen Henning Men's A 1 David Sachs 2 Brian Haas 3 Ryan Calilung 4 John Gatto 5 Brendan George 6 Mitch Cohen Men's B 1 Steve Chapin 2 Travis Boland 3 Erik Weisenberger 4 Bob Schrank 5 Brooke Furio 6 Mark Harris 7 James Buddenbaum 8 Brian Nilsson 9 Adrian Redd 10 Marcus Moore 11 Jonathan Moncton 12 Marc Calder 13 Neil McNamara 14 Jason Meshberg 15 Bruce Grell 16 Stathy Touloumis 17 Steve Benedetto 18 William McDade 19 Mark Olson 20 Pat Kelly 21 Unknown Rider 22 Rich Delgado Men's C 1 Andy Hargarten 2 Craig Buechel 3 Chris Henning 4 Nico West 5 Jim McEneaney 6 Peter Tampa 7 Joe Meis 8 Jason Para 9 Brian Leverenz 10 John Burrell 11 Joel Feinberg 12 Michael Berman 13 Peter Rolewicz 14 Hugh Kelly 15 Greg Donovan 16 George Ganas 17 Jason Muelrer 18 Max Sloan 19 Mike Machelek 20 Patrick Milani 21 Julian Coupland 22 Stathy Touloumis 23 Gareth Newfeld 24 Phil Curran 25 Bruce Grell 26 Thomas Shafer 27 Mark Tanker 28 Jonathan Fowler 29 Tom Nevills 30 Ed Reed 31 Daryl Kunz 32 John Karen 33 Ray Wiltgen 34 Steve Goldberg 35 Camron Petroff 36 Kyle McClups 37 Michael Zuzmaier 38 Estes Boshes 39 Michael Kruger 40 Eric Nicholson 41 Charles Hall 42 Michael Kaplan 43 Robert Sliwinski Men Master's 30+ 1 Michael Vom 2 Lowell Kellogg 3 Chris McKenny 4 Peter Tampa 5 Jay Keltner 6 Stathy Touloumis 7 Marcus Moore 8 Peter Rolewicz 9 George Ganas Men Master's 40+ 1 Gonzalo Andino 2 Dave McCollum 3 Franco Panveno 4 Bob Hayssen (50+ 1st) 5 Chris Mailing 6 Phil Curran 7 Douglas Holt 8 Peter Duthie 9 Hugh Kelly Women A/B 1 Rebecca Much 2 Francine Haas 3 Katie George 4 Anne Barnes Women C 1 Kris Over 2 Amy Weik 3 Dana Schneider 4 Paula Hall 5 Ann Torralba Juniors 1 Marcie Weiss Citizen's Youth 6 years old 1 Jacob Zionts Citizen's Youth 9 years old 1 Aaron Harrison
