Alpenrose Six Day - 6DPortland, Oregon, August 20-25, 2001Schedule
Day 1 - August 20ReportBy Jamie Mikami Well it is that time of year where we get to play on the track for 6 straight days. Lucky for us unlike last year the only six day in the country will not be held the week after AVC, but a few weeks after to prevent the 8 day from occurring. So onto the action. Nine teams show up, which is the maximum allowed in one group, so again there will be only one group and all the teams will race together, there is even one all women's team (Emily Thurston and Darien Curl) and one mixed team (husband and wife no less). First on the list is still the madison pursuit which is used to seed teams if needed for two groups but also to allow the officials to get a good look at the quality of exchanges and the crowds a chance to see the action in a more bit-size fashion. For those of you who have never seen a madison pusuit, it is exactly that, teams start on opposite sides of the track with a single rider and then must exchange a minimum of 4 times in 12 laps. So while at times it looks just like a regular pursuit, at other times it doesn't and there are no trick bikes, just regular sprint bikes. With so many teams we were expecting to see some distinct time differences, but really all the teams were fairly close with the top two teams only 2 tenths of a second apart. Another big factor in the Madison pursuit is the fact that it is worth 20 points or the same as 4 sprint victories for the win, with only 12 points or 4 second place sprints for the next team, then 8 and 4 points. So with the teams so close in abilities it was time to race. The defending champions, Chauncey Curl and John Lombard are the obvious favorites even after a 3rd place finish in the pursuit - just too much experience as partners and great endurance and bike handling to go with it. The race started off a little nervous as my team's (Bill Groves and Jamie Mikami - thats me) goal was to stay at the front and keep out of trouble. The first day of a 6-day is not the time to be hanging out in back looking to rest up for later, and our goal worked very well. The defending champs were caught sleeping most of the first half of the race and had to play catch up while us and the team of Bill Cass and Mark Godfrey tried unsuccessfully to get away at various times. John and Chauncey even though they were having an off day were still too strong to lose a lap. The married couple of David and Norrene Godfrey were the first crash victims just between the first and second sprints causing them to go a lap down as David came back in iron-man style a half lap down. The surprise team of the night was two new track riders and first time 6-day racers Tony Kic and Peter Drake who were able to stay on even laps through the night, and launched many attacks all night long. The only other team to stay on even laps was the promoter of the race and many time 6 day racer, Mike Murray and his teammate Joshua Wright, a very fast and light racer, in only his second year of racing, although also his second 6 day. The first night's race came down to the final sprint with a small break starting to form of the top three teams in the pursuit, the defending champs, Bill and Godfrey and my team. John Lombard was the rider doing a full two laps and leading it out as Mark Godfrey and myself both came in with a lap and a half to go. Mark kept the lane and I tried to box him in as we took the bell, but Mark just squeezed through and was able to get around John out of corner one and two and tore up the track with me trying my best to come around to no avail. That gave them the madison win by 5 points, but we got the overall days win because of the 8 point differential in pursuits. The defending champs were just starting to come into play the last few laps and were likely wishing that the race went a few sprints longer. Results
Madison Pursuit 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 4.09.6 2 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 4.09.8 3 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 4.10.7 4 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 4.12.9 5 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 4.14.7 6 Duncan Oliphant/Josh Kadis 4.17.8 7 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 4.22.6 8 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 4.23.6 9 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston 4.43.4 Madison 1 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 28 pts 2 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 23 3 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 12 4 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 8 5 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 7 One lap behind: 6 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 7 Two laps behind: 7 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 2 Three laps behind: 8 Duncan Oliphant/Josh Kadis Eight laps behind: 9 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston Overall 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 43 2 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 40 3 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 15 4 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 12 5 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 8 One lap behind: 6 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 7 Two laps behind: 7 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 6 Three laps behind: 8 Duncan Oliphant/Josh Kadis Eight laps behind: 9 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston Day 2 - August 21ReportBy Jamie Mikami The first victims of the race are the team of Josh Kadis and Duncan Oliphant as Duncan was not able to ride Tuesday and Josh could not find a replacement. That left only 8 teams and with rain on the way it was decided to just do a madison and try to get in as much racing as possible. So with an hour on the clock the race started with again my team going to the front to keep out of trouble. However unlike the first night I noticed the defending champs on or near our wheel and figured it would not be long before they were launching attacks. The attacks started coming right around the first sprint and the best of the early racing was by Mark and Bill who quickly got a 1/4 lap. But with a sprint coming up they decided to leave a rider in to go for the points and that allowed John and Chauncey to counter. As soon as we saw John and Chauncey go, we tried our best to get with them but this took until almost the next sprint before we could catch them. Finally together we became a four rider two team madison style pursuit team if that makes any sense. Basically we smelled blood and were riding as hard as we could to put a lap into all the other teams. Well it turns out that the team of Mark and Bill were passed at some point by two other teams, so when we caught them thinking we had lapped the entire field, we were off by two teams. The still surprising and now making us nervous team of Tony and Peter stayed on even laps, along with the Married couple of Godfrey and Godfrey who took yet another tumble and yet remained on even laps. The last sprint came down to just two teams and my teammate Bill Groves was able to hold off John Lombard to clinch the night's victory as the rain started to fall. That was too bad as we were starting to get a gap on the other teams and were hoping that maybe we could have put all the teams down that time, but timing is everything in a madison and there are still three teams on even laps with Joshua and promoter Mike losing a lap along with Mark and Bill.
ResultsMadison 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 30 pts 2 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 15 3 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 8 4 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 8 1 lap behind 5 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 13 6 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 2 7 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 1 5 laps behind 8 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston *Note: Rain started after 30 minutes of the Madison and daily results were made final at that point. Standings after day 2 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Grovesi 73 pts 2 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 30 3 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 20 1 lap behind 4 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 53 5 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 15 6 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 10 3 laps behind 7 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 7 14 laps behind 8 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston 0 Day 4 - August 23ReportBy Jamie Mikami A wash - although we will still get 6 sessions in 6 days, it is just going to require a daily double of madisons on the final night. So we just wait and have the 3rd madison on day 4. And tonight we had to do the omnium events as well. Normally Thursday is the easy omnium night as it includes the miss-n-out and win-n-out. Well the win-n-out it only worth 7 points for the win and takes up about 10 laps, but the miss-n-out also normally a 7 point event was upgraded to a 16 point event with 15 points for second. That meant that a team could grab 31 points for first and second. A little to many to just let them have so the racing was fast from the gun, in both races. The Miss-n-out was first with me getting in trouble fast and finding my self playing the devil for the first 5 or 6 riders. I finally made it to the front, where miss-n-outs get easier, or at least more manageable, and was able to hold off until the final three of John Lombard, Jason Lange who is teaming with the youngest rider, Marty Cahill, only 16 and just back from junior nationals. The promoter is older than both Marty and Jason put together...and his team was ahead of them by two laps at the start of the day...madisons = experience. So with the final sprint coming up in the Miss-n-out Jason takes it long and gaps off John and I. I wait a bit then finally jump up to Jason who slows as I catch him, so I slow as well, then jumps me and gets enough of a gap to hold me off at the line. That effort made the win-n-out a chore and I just watched, from way back as teams sprinted for points ahead. It was obvious that Bill and Mark wanted to get their lap back and were going to try to do it by getting a lot of points. Another rule in the 6-day is that after you reach 100 points you can exchange them for a lap. So by the end of the omnium events Bill and Mark were in the lead with 32 points, Lange and Cahill had 29 and Groves and myself were in third with 27 points. As sunset was approaching the madison clock read one hour, but everyone was expecting a call well before that for darkness. The defending champs started out in the lead tonight, maybe a signal of things to come, but the team of Tony and Peter were also always near the front along with the married Godfreys. It seemed that Bill and Mark were a little tired from the efforts earlier in the day as they soon lost contact with the field and the action got heated. Again it was the defending champs and us doing most of the work trying to get as many teams down a lap as possible, but we just could not shake Tony and Peter or the Godfreys, until the sprint at 30 minutes. Just then we were able to get the team of Tony and Peter off our wheels and did not mind the Godfreys being there as they were already one lap down. So we were going as hard as possible to try to get a lap as it was getting dark quick. Then just before the final Sprint a miscommunication between myself and Chauncey led to a crash between his teammate and mine. I saw Chauncey go for a drink and I was well in front of him as we were both on relief, but his partner was in front of mine. This meant I should let him in front of me so that we can exchange without incident. Well I asked him what he was doing and not hearing anything back figure I could quickly make it to the other side of the track - I was wrong. Well he either saw me and tried to get in front of me, or I was just slow and he caught me anyways, but I look back to see him exchanging right behind me with my partner trying to get to me and tangling with John. Lucky for me Bill G. was ok and was back in before we really missed an exchange, but bad for them as John did not get up very quick. This slowed things down and everything came back together for the final sprint which once again was won by Mark over myself, but this time we had enough points to get the win and extend our lead on the rest of the teams. Lucky for Chauncey and John that the night ended early and hopefully John will be back up and running tomorrow. Regardless we are now half way done and we still have 8 teams flying along and for the most part racing well together.
ResultsOmnium Events 1 Godfrey/Cass 32 pts 2 Lange/Cahill 29 3 Groves/Mikami 27 4 Drake/Kic 19 5 Lombard/Curl 19 6 Murray/Wright 11 7 Godfrey/Godfrey 9 8 Curl/Thurson 8 Madison 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 26 pts 2 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 23 3 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 14 4 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 8 1 lap behind 5 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 18 2 laps behind 6 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 7 7 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 3 6 laps behind 8 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston *Note: It ended up dark after 35 minutes of the Madison and daily results were made final at that point. Standings after day 4 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 26* pts 1 lap behind 2 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 72 3 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 53 2 laps behind 4 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 32 5 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 3* 4 laps behind 6 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 28 6 laps behind 7 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 39 21 laps behind 8 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston 8 *Note: Two teams converted 100 points for 1 lap Day 5 - August 24ReportBy Jamie Mikami Well we finally finished our first one hour madison and then added two omnium events as well. The length made a big difference in the standings for the teams in 3rd through 7th place, however the top two teams remained steady. Things will get very interesting tomorrow with 2 one hour madisons, making for 3 hours of madisons in just over 24 hours, plus 4 omnium events as well. If you have ever wanted to watch a madison and are in Portland, Oregon tomorrow is the day. So to get things started John and Chauncey took the lead with our team in second and we basically rode tempo to the first sprint when things started getting interesting. Knowing it was going to be a full day my team was hoping to crack at least one of the teams still within a lap of us to make sure that on the final day there was only one team remaining. As luck would have it the team of Tony and Peter were in trouble much of the day and twice we had them chasing back on before the final straw came about half way into the race. Then four teams got away, the married Godfrey's (David and Norrene), the defending champs (Chauncey and John), the sprinters (Bill and Mark) and the leaders (Bill and myself). That meant trouble for the team of Tony and Peter as they soon found themselves a half lap down and worse yet, all by themselves. Plus all the teams were working hard to get them a lap down as we all had an incentive to see one of the top teams tumble a little. To add some spice to the race there was also some jostling for 6th place as the kids, Jason and Marty were busy going for all the sprints they could trying for that 100 point exchange for a lap rule. Soon after the half way point it was all over for the team of Tony and Peter and four teams were all that remained on the lead lap. Then just as Tony and Peter caught back on after almost losing a second lap, Tony crashed and was unable to continue. This left peter alone and after awhile the attacks started coming. The race up front was coming down to the sprinters versus the leaders with the defending champs and the Godfrey's willing to wait until tomorrow for final blood. As the sprints went by it came down to the final sprint of the night with Bill and myself down one point 33 to 34 with one sprint left. However, Mark is by far the fastest rider for two laps and I was trying to drop them before the final sprint. None of my attacks worked so it came down to the final sprint with John Lombard leading it out and my teammate Bill in second with two laps to go, then Bill C. sent Mark screaming in and around both leaders as Bill G. got on his wheel to throw me in with a lap and a half to go. Well it was not even very close as Mark won by just under a bike length, and I think he shut it down a little early. So that was enough to move Mark and Bill C. past not only the Godfrey's but also past Tony and Peter as the speed over the final 10 minutes ended up costing them more laps and dropped them from 3rd to 5th, losing 3 laps on the day. In the battle for 6th Jason and Marty not only picked up a lap on Mike and Joshua, but also increased their points to 67 and are looking to exchange and get back on even laps with them soon. Lucky for us the omnium events were short and Tony was able to get back in after some bike repair work. The sprinters team made quick work of the events as only 4 teams were even able to score any points, and with the points being so small, no real changes in the overall standing took place. So we still have our lap lead over the defending champs, but tomorrow is a whole different story. Results
Omnium Events 1 Godfrey/Cass 21 pts 2 Godfrey/Godfrey 7 3 Lange/Cahill 4 4 Groves/Mikami 4 5 Drake/Kic 0 6 Lombard/Curl 0 7 Murray/Wright 0 8 Curl/Thurson 0 Madison 1 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 44 pts 2 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 39 3 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 24 4 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 19 2 laps behind 5 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 24 3 laps behind 6 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 3 7 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 0 12 laps behind 8 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston *Note: The first of three straight 1 hour madisons was completed. Standings after session 4 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 69 pts 1 lap behind 2 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 96 2 laps behind 3 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 68 4 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 58 4 laps behind 3 Tony Kic/Peter Drake 53 7 laps behind 6 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 32 8 laps behind 7 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 67 33 laps behind 8 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston 8 Day 6 - Session 1 - August 25ReportBy Jamie Mikami Well we are almost done but there is still one session to go. Today's morning session was just an hour Madison and once again started of with the John and Chauncey riding tempo at the front. After the first sprint things once again got heated and teams started to attack. The youngest team (Jason and Marty) was the most aggressive as they not only wanted to move up a position or two, but they also wanted in on the sessions prize list. Just after the half way point they got a gap and each of the other teams looked around not knowing what to do. Finally Mike and Joshua went to the front to try to limit the damages as the attack was costing them their position in the overall. Just as they were about to catch us I realized that not only were they about to move up to 5th place overall, from 7th, but also win the night as they did not lose a lap during the attacks before the half way point. Lucky for Bill and myself the other teams were not paying attention and we soon found ourselves a half lap up with just under 10 minutes to go. Things were going to be tight, because as we made it to the same straight as the pack just before the sprint with 5 minutes to go, the Godfrey's attacked and strung out the field behind. So Bill and I took a quick rest hoping that the other teams would ease up after the sprint with 5 to go. They did, so we made a final push and with 2 laps to go Bill threw me in with only 50 meters to go to the back of the field. But they were sprinting too, and with one lap to go I blew up and just could not close the final 40 meters. That meant that we did not gain an extra lap, and Jason and Marty won the night. So going into the final session tonight there will be one lap separating each of the top 4 teams after all the points were exchanged for laps. And with so much racing in so few days anything can happen with the laps. I expect at least one of the top teams to tumble tonight, and there is also the battle for 5th place with only one lap between Jason/Marty and Mike/Joshua. Then there is the final battle with Darien and Emily trying to become the first all-women's team to finish the 6 day. They might be 47 laps down, but they have rode well and are getting better each session.
ResultsMadison 1 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 18 pts 1 lap behind 2 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 56 3 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 37 4 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 24 5 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 18 2 laps behind 6 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 14 laps behind 7 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston DNF Tony Kic/Peter Drake Standings after session 5 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 25* pts 1 lap behind 2 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 20* 2 laps behind 3 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 5* 3 laps behind 4 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 76 8 laps behind 5 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 85 9 laps behind 6 Joshua Wright/Mike Murray 32 48 laps behind 7 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston 8 *Noted teams exchanged 100 points for 1 lap Day 6 - Session 2 - August 25ReportBy Jamie Mikami The day and week are over and another six day is finished, but not before many attacks from many different teams all with agendas of their own. The women were there to say they did the six day, Peter and Joshua were there to finish even if it wasn't with their original partners. The top 5 teams however all had thoughts of winning, if not the overall, then the session. The kids Jason and Marty finally figured out this madison thing and were looking strong after winning the morning session, the only married couple in known six day history was looking to move up into 3rd, while 3rd place Mark and Bill Cass were looking to move into second, 2nd place and defending champs Chauncey and John were looking to get the lap they lost on points back from Bill Groves and myself who were just looking to stay out of trouble and hopefully win the night. So the Madison was first, only five and half hours after our last madison and 22 1/2 hours after session four, meaning that we would do 2 one hour madisons and 4 omnium events in just over 1 day. That did not affect the speed as the team of Chauncey and John wasted no time attacking in the madison and tried as hard as possible to get their lap back in the first 15 minutes. While they kept getting gaps we were able to close them and after the first three sprints we were in the lead on points. After Chauncey and John got tired of attacking, the kids Jason and Marty, with a combined age of less than 40 continued to attack until well after the halfway point. At this point Chauncey and John tried a few more times along with the married Godfreys. After that Bill and I started to attack along with Mark and Bill and put the defending champs in some serious trouble a couple of times, but they clawed back into each time. So that left the score 44 to 40 with Bill and I in the lead over Mark and Bill, the best two sprinters out there. While Jason and Marty had been picking up alot of points in the last few sessions they were not in the front of the group on the final sprint. So John Lombard led it out and I jumped with Mark on my wheel as we heard the bell. With only 4 points between us whoever won, won the madison, the final madison. Lucky for me I was able to hold Mark off for the first time in a serious sprint for the whole week giving Bill and I the win and keeping us ahead on both points and laps going into the final two omnium events. The first event was a Miss-n-out with modified scoring, so it was import to stay near the front if you wanted the session win. Chauncey led out the first few laps then John and I went to the front to chase down Joshua who attacked as Chauncey moved off the front. Then I heard music to my ears as both Mark and Bill Cass got called out with Bill G. and I still in. Bill was next out, but I was able to stay in with who, the kids again, Jason led out the sprint then opened the door and let me through to give me the win, but with second and third they moved a little closer to Bill and I for the session win. So the final event was a points race and Bill and I figured we had the session win locked up with 18 points on Mark and Bill. However after a couple of early attacks a serious move with David and Mark got up the road, then Bill G, and the kids followed. Noticing that my teammate was pulling two riders into the winning and likely lapping group, I yelled at him to sit up, well get out of there was what I actually said. And get out he did, and come back to the group, oops. That left a bunch of dangerous riders up front and the kids put the effort into it to take the points race and scored enough points to win the final session, leaving Bill and I in second for the third straight session. However the overall win was why we came, and is what we were able to come away with after 6 hard days. It will feel better tomorrow I hope, but for now Bill and I get to be the only six day champions in the US. So with the event over I would like to congratulate Emily Thurston and Darien Curl for being the only known women to survive a six day as a team. Also a big thanks to the officials and Splinter for being there the whole week. And as always a big thanks to the Cadonau's for letting us even have a track in Oregon and all the sponsors of the race for giving us lots of cool things. Final Session - Results
Omnium Events 1 Lange/Cahill 75 pts 2 Godfrey/Cass 33 3 Groves/Mikami 27 4 Lombard/Curl 16 1 lap behind 5 Drake/Wright 23 2 laps behind 6 Godfrey/Godfrey 15 4 laps behind 7 Curl/Thurson 9 Madison 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 54 2 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 46 pts 3 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 26 4 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 18 5 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 16 4 laps behind 6 Joshua Wright/Peter Drake 23 11 laps behind 8 Darien Curl/Emily Thurston Final Unofficial Standings 1 Jamie Mikami/Bill Groves 106 pts 1 lap behind 2 John Lombard/Chauncey Curl 62 2 laps behind 3 Bill Cass/Mark Godfrey 84 5 laps behind 4 David Godfrey/Norrene Godfrey 107 8 laps behind 5 Jason Lange/Marty Cahill 178 25 laps behind 6* Darien Curl/Emily Thurston 13 53 laps behind 7* Joshua Wright/Peter Drake 23 DNF Mike Murray Tony Kic Josh Kadis Duncan Oliphant *Note: Since Joshua and Peter changed teams they traded laps with the last place team. Note: Points can't be exchanged during the final session
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